Tamir Rice’s Mother Speaks Out About the Non-Indictment

By Kenrya Rankin Jan 06, 2016

Samaria Rice, the mother of slain 12-year-old Tamir Rice, is speaking out about a Cleveland grand jury’s decision not to indict the police officers who killed her son.

Rice appeared on NewsOne Now yesterday (January 5) and shared her thoughts on Cuyahoga county prosecutor Timothy McGinty, her views on the justice system and who she feels has—and hasn’t—been supportive on her quest for justice for Tamir.

On McGinty:
"I hoped things could have been different, but due to Prosecutor McGinty and his misconduct in handling Tamir’s case—he failed to advocate for my son. … He basically lied to my face the whole time and said that he was transparent with me, which he wasn’t. Tim McGinty was very biased. I just don’t really care for him too much."

On whether the police dispatcher should be fired:
"Yes. She failed to tell the officers that Tamir was a child and the gun was fake."

On a lack of support:
"Some people that’s out there supporting me—that say they’re supporting me—[are] not really supporting me. … It’s sad to say that all of the clergy leaders that’s out there haven’t even reached out and asked me how I was doing after the grand jury response."

On Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James saying he hasn’t followed Rice’s case:
"I think it’s quite sad that LeBron hasn’t spoken out about my son. I’m not asking him to sit out a game. I know his kids got to eat too, but you could at least put a shirt on or something."

On the justice system:
"I think that this system needs to be dismantled and rebuilt."

Watch the interview here