Advocates hold conference at the State House for police reform, “These mothers are crying.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Organizers said they called the conference in response to the “Police crisis in the state of South Carolina.”

Brenda Murphy of the NAACP, “We have got to look at mental health needs in our state. They are great, they are underfunded.”

Murphy said, “Recidivism is a major problem.”

She continued, “We need to be at the table, we need to speak loudly on that.”

Organizers said Thursday night 39-year-old Darius Holcomb from Spartanburg was killed after a confrontation with police.

Speakers called on Senator Tim Scott to apply political pressure to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

The conference called on Governor Henry McMaster to take more action on police reform, “These mothers are crying.” Speakers included multiple families of people killed by police officers.

The National Racial Justice Network said it is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the Spartanburg jail.

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Multiple organizations are holding a conference at the South Carolina State House Friday to address police and prison reform.

The National Racial Justice Network, the Brenda Murphy of the State NAACP, the Columbia Urban League, and Carolina for All are attending the 11 a.m. conference. Organizers said they will be joined by people who’ve been beaten by police or lost loved ones.

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