We begin by taking a moment to acknowledge and celebrate two important wins this past week. The Supreme Court surprised us with rulings protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from workplace discrimination and preventing the immediate elimination of the DACA program that protects over 650,000 “dreamers.” This is progress and it shows the value of organizing and supporting legal challenges to protect rights.
At the same time, yet another black man, Rayshard Brooks, was shot in an encounter with the Atlanta police that raises the question of what it will take to truly change police behavior. We have a long way to go in order to eliminate the systemic racism that is built into police culture and society at large. Meanwhile, people continue to die at the hands of our militarized police.
While much of the media has moved on to other subjects, persistent and widespread protests continue against police violence targeted at black people. Legislation is being developed and debated - nationally and in some states - to address issues related to the historical and structural racism in law enforcement. The results are mixed. In Colorado, Democratic control of the legislature and the governorship led to the passage of one of the strongest bills in history. In Minnesota, where George Floyd was killed, Republic control of the state Senate stymied a similar agenda.
Whether Congress, state legislatures or local governments ultimately enact comprehensive community safety reforms what we need right now are immediate harm reduction policies everywhere. Legislatures, town councils and campus leaders overseeing their own security services must take concrete steps to reduce the threat of violence and murder that are faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and other People of Color) when they encounter the police.
Campaign Zero has developed an agenda for change called #8Can’tWait that limits common police “use of force” policies. These eight policies are necessary now but not sufficient. They are only the first step toward deep structural and institutional change. Much more needs to be done including, most importantly, ending the court approved doctrine of qualified immunity.
The eight harm reduction proposals are:
Ban all chokeholds and strangleholds completely
Require de-escalation by maintaining distance and communicating clearly in order to reduce the felt need to use force
Require verbal warning before any use of deadly force
Exhaust all alternatives before resorting to deadly force
A duty to intervene by other officers when a fellow officer is using excessive force. These incidents must be reported immediately to a supervisor.
Ban shooting at motor vehicles which is both extremely dangerous and ineffective.
Establish and require use of a force continuum that restricts the most extreme types of force to the most extreme situations
Require comprehensive reporting of each time force or the threat of force is used against civilians
These eight policies are a minimal starting point to change policing and police behavior and should be accompanied by the elimination of qualified immunity and breaking the stranglehold of police brotherhood associations on police accountability.
The fight against police brutality and racist policing is just one part of the struggle to face and overturn the systemic racism in American society. As we said last time, the transformation also demands that white people must also listen, learn, honor the stories of our fellow citizens and do the hard work of examining our lives, privilege and complicity.
Call To Action
Go here to learn more about #8CantWait. Any legislature or local jurisdiction can make these changes right now. Learn about the rules, policies and procedures in your own community regarding police conduct. Lobby your local officials to begin improving policing by adopting these common sense harm reduction strategies.
Continue to learn about systemic racism and the history of oppression. As promised, here is a link to our resource list.
Starting now and continuing through November 3rd, do whatever you can to elect local, state and Federal officials who will enact transformative policing legislation.