Ms. Samaria Rice to Join Rep. Shontel Brown as State of the Union Address Guest

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Shontel M. Brown (OH-11) will be joined by Ms. Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, as her guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

In the State of the Union Address, President Biden will highlight the myriad of accomplishments of the past two years and Democrats’ commitment to protecting American values in the face of GOP extremism.

“Communities should never have to make a choice between safety and justice,” said Rep. Brown. “The American police brutality epidemic is unsustainable, and police reform innovated through community-driven solutions must be one of the President’s top priorities. People like Ms. Rice know that bad policing exists regardless of political party and state of residence. It is my prayer that Ms. Rice’s attendance for the State of the Union will give her hope in the President’s ability to address unnecessary deaths of innocent people at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve us.”

“The policing in this country is horrific, and I am still searching for an indictment for my 12-year-old child,” said Ms. Rice. “I am hoping my presence here will give the powers that be a change of heart to change policies in this country so that the police can serve everybody.”

Ms. Samaria Rice is the mother of Tamir Rice, who was murdered by Cleveland Police in 2014. Since the murder of her son, Ms. Rice has committed herself to advocating for police reform and social change. Throughout our community and across the country, she has been a tireless advocate for her son and countless other victims of police violence. It is thanks to Ms. Rice that many communities have come together to work for the greater good and a future without police brutality.