SPLC Settles Wrongful Death Suit of 73-Year-Old Retired Black Man in Louisiana

Aug. 30, 2010
Southern Poverty Law Center
Morris Dees, Founder

Dear Friend,

I'm proud to tell you that we've settled the lawsuit we filed on behalf of Louise Marie Monroe, the widow of a black man who was shot to death by a police officer in Homer, Louisiana.

Earlier this year, we filed a civil suit against the town of Homer, seeking damages for the wrongful death of Bernard Monroe. The 73-year-old retiree was enjoying a family reunion on Feb. 20, 2009, when two white police officers came onto his property. Our suit claimed that the police officers created a volatile situation when they chased Mr. Monroe's son into the family home and shot the young man in the back with a Taser gun.
During the commotion, Mr. Monroe went to check on Louise Marie, his wife of 49 years. As he was climbing his porch stairs, one of the police officers in his home shot him several times through the screen door. Because he had lost his voice to cancer, Mr. Monroe was unable to call out during the incident. The officers said they thought he had a gun; several witnesses said he did not.

Morris Dees and Bernard Monroe's widow, Louise Marie

The settlement will allow Bernard Monroe's family and the town of Homer to move forward from this terrible tragedy. The town's attorney, Jim Colvin, agrees that the settlement will help heal the community. "The town needs an opportunity to recover from this unfortunate event. This settlement is a key step in that healing process."
Because of the nature of the settlement, I'm not allowed to disclose the amount of the monetary damages, and the town did not admit liability. Both officers have left the police department.

One of Mr. Monroe's family members told me how grateful they all were for the SPLC's help, saying that "everyone we met at the Center was kind and considerate" and that the attorneys were "real people who cared about our family."

But we could never have won justice for Mr. Monroe's widow and family without your support. As you may know, the SPLC takes no portion of the damages we win for our clients. Your dedication to fighting injustice and intolerance enables us to take on cases like this. Please accept my personal thanks for standing with us in this important case and all the other work we do.

Sincerely,

Morris Dees
Founder, Southern Poverty Law Center

Southern Poverty Law Center Files Wrongful Death Suit; Elderly Black Man Shot Down by White Police Officer in Lousiana

SPLC has filed suit in Louisiana for the wrongful death of an elderly black man, Bernard Monroe, who was shot down on his own front porch by a white police officer who had intruded on a family gathering. Mr. Monroe was shot seven times when he went to check on his wife of 49 years. SPLC believes that this shooting is the tragic result of racial profiling practiced by the Homer Police Department.

Last year, the white police chief told a newspaper: "If I see three or four young black men walking down the street, I have to stop them and check their names. I want them to be afraid every time they see the police that they might get arrested." Please send a special gift today to help us win justice for the Monroe family and pursue our other work fighting injustice and intolerance.

(From the Southern Poverty Law Center at http://www.splcenter.org)