In 2015, Marilyn Mosby made national headlines when she attempted to put an end to a corrupt system. The death of Freddie Gray, which occurred while he was in police custody, sparked protests as citizens spoke against police brutality.
Serving as Baltimore’s D.A., Mosby wanted to do what was right by charging the six police officers who were involved in Gray’s death. However, the systemic corruption and bureaucracy allowed the police to go unscathed. Mosby took a lot of criticism, but she vows to keep fighting the good fight.
In February, Mosby announced that she will run for re-election.
During Essence’s “My Journey” event in Washington, D.C., Mosby spoke with rolling out about the importance of having diverse prosecutors across the nation.
What were your thoughts on the “My Journey” event and how it inspired Black women?
I thought it was an incredibly inspiring event. We were celebrating Essence who has been a voice for Black women and the experience for Black women for more than 48 years. It’s extremely important for us to celebrate and inspire and encourage and empower one another. Especially at a time when regression is being touted as ‘Making America Great Again’ on the backs of Black and brown people. It’s the Black woman that is the foundation of our communities so I was incredibly inspired and empowered tonight.
What advice would you give to young Black women who would seek a career in the legal field?
Never allow anybody to define your purpose. Forget about the naysayers and the haters. We need more Black women in this profession. And from my perspective, being a prosecutor in this country is extremely important. When we think what the role of a prosecutor is, it’s probably one of the most important stakeholders in this criminal justice system. They’re the ones who decide who’s going to be charged, what they’re going to be charged with, what sentence recommendations they’re going to make. You can not ignore the fact that 95 percent of the prosecutors in this country are white. Over 79 percent of prosecutors are white men. As a woman of color, I represent 1 percent of all elected prosecutors in this country. That is completely unacceptable when they look at the disproportionate impact that the criminal justice has had on communities of color. So I would say that as a Black woman, there is nothing that you cannot do. Every great movement towards progress in this county began with Black women who were unafraid to challenge the status quo and the pursuit of justice. So I need you warrior women to come on, I’m here.
What would you consider your superpower to be?
I would say resiliency. There’s nothing that we cannot accomplish if you put your faith first and God has you. If God is for you, who can be against you?
