Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after Ed Buck was finally arrested on September 17, 2019, more than 2 years after the death of Gemmel Moore.
“It’s incomprehensible to me that it took a third Black man to be attacked and almost die to finally dissolve the unconscionable apathy that has allowed Ed Buck, a racist sexual predator, to roam free. Everyone knew that he preyed on young Black men — two died in his apartment. The inaction in response had a message was loud and clear: Black gay lives obviously didn’t matter.
“There was an absence of justice when Gemmel Moore was killed. Timothy Dean paid for that egregious dereliction of judicial duty with his life. There was an absence of justice when Timothy Dean was killed. More young men nearly paid for that egregious dereliction of judicial duty with their lives. For Gemmel, Timothy and the other young men, last night’s arrest is too little too late. Now, finally, thanks to the tireless work of advocates and a community that has had enough, Los Angeles is a safer place for Black gay men.
“The court system must now do its job. Justice must finally be served.”
