“It is utterly heartbreaking that another young Black man has lost his life to the hands of police. This, after a new report shows that at least five Black women have died in police custody since mid-July alone. Sam DuBose’s tragic death — and that of the many who came before and are unfortunately to come after him — is a startling example of the systemic racism that continues to persist in this country and is consistently perpetuated by the police force.

“While we mourn with the families who have lost loved ones, we are inspired by their strength and stand with them and the leaders of the Movement for Black Lives in calling for justice against police brutality and fighting for policies that will finally hold those who uphold this structural racism accountable.

“As a provider and advocate to communities of color throughout the nation we know that people of color face heightened and often violent forms of discrimination. Planned Parenthood continues to listen and improve the ways in which we show up for those leading the work to combat this discrimination and center the lived experiences of people of color in our work. We are committed to our role in ensuring equity in health care access for all, particularly for people of color, who all too often experience limited access, but we know that this is only one piece of a much larger fight for racial justice.

“Everyone deserves the freedom to live without fearing for their lives and we are committed to ensuring that the people of color in our communities and beyond are able to achieve that fundamental right. We stand with those doing this work on a daily basis and we call on you to join us.”