John–
Let me be clear: Police violence is gun violence.
Since this country's founding, our law enforcement system has repeatedly failed, oppressed, and killed Black people. There's a direct line between the police officer who killed George Floyd, the two white men who shot and killed Ahmaud Arbery, the officers who killed Breonna Taylor, and so many other incidents of racism and violence that have not made the headlines. That throughline is systemic racism in our country and our law enforcement.
We can—and must—do everything in our power to make sure it ends. That's why I encourage you today to tell your U.S. Representative to pass the Justice in Policing Act.
This bill is long overdue, and while the federal government only has so much control over state and city police, this legislation is a step toward creating an America where Black lives matter and Black people receive justice. Among many other crucial reforms, it would restrict when officers can use force on civilians, ban the type of chokehold that killed George Floyd, mandate body cameras, publish national information on police misconduct, and make it easier to hold law enforcement accountable when they kill civilians. Every year, police shoot and kill more than 1,000 people in America, and Black people make up an outsized portion of the victims of these shootings. We're dedicated to supporting this legislation to combat systemic racism, white supremacy, and police brutality, and to make sure that gun violence is prevented in all of its forms in the United States.
John, make no mistake: this bill wouldn't have been introduced if not for the generations of activism that got us to this moment, and the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many other Black Americans who have been killed by police. We applaud the protestors and activists for demanding action and Congressional Democrats for stepping up and introducing this bill.
Tell your U.S. Representative to pass the Justice in Policing Act.
There is a long way still to go, but this bill is an important step in the right direction. The fight to eliminate racism, violence, and injustice in our police system has gone on for generations. We are in it for as long as it takes.
Thank you for being in this fight.
Sarah Trumble
Senior Director of Federal Affairs
Everytown for Gun Safety
