In New York, Civil Rights Law 50-A keeps police misconduct records hidden from the public. Now, thanks to the hard work of activists across the state, the New York State Legislature has voted to repeal this law and Governor Andrew Cuomo has said that he’ll sign the bill. New York is long overdue to join the states that already have broader public disclosure laws to provide for law enforcement transparency and accountability. This is a great step forward, and hopefully more states will follow.

The protests in response to the murder of George Floyd are not just expressions of outrage at his death or the long history of police using excessive force against Black communities. They are also a people’s rejection of the state’s violence and infringement on the rights, liberties, and autonomy of its citizens. Brennan Center Fellow Theodore Johnson shares his experience in this powerful essay for the National Review.

We can see in the massive, nationwide protests that have taken place since George Floyd was killed by police officers in Minneapolis that something truly different is happening on our streets. The moment is here and now, and the movement depends on the ability of protesters and their allies in public office to build on the momentum of the past two weeks. As an American Spring of protest heads toward another summer of discontent, nothing is impossible.

Opponents of President Trump are starting to go public with a fear that he will refuse to accept the legitimacy of an electoral defeat or use some extralegal means to stay in power, triggering a constitutional crisis. In reality, if Trump is going to stay in power illegitimately, it’s far likelier to be by undermining the election on the front end, through a mix of old-fashioned voter suppression and the spreading of misinformation.

While many voters in 2018 were able to cast their ballots quickly and easily, others faced hours-long lines, malfunctioning voting equipment, and unexpectedly closed polling places. This new Brennan Center report analyzes two surveys regarding the 2018 election, and it finds that Latino and Black voters were more likely than white voters to report particularly long wait times.

With Election Day less than five months away, the election system continues to face significant cybersecurity threats and infrastructure challenges. Add in a global pandemic, and it’s even more important for election officials to develop resiliency plans that will keep our elections fair and secure. Learn more about the unique challenges facing our election systems.

Tuesday, June 16 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. EDT | This is a virtual event.
What explains the gap between what We, the People want and what our elected leaders do? How can we fix our politics before it’s too late? And how can we truly understand the state of our democracy without wanting to crawl under a rock? That’s what former Obama speechwriter David Litt set out to answer in his much-anticipated new book, Democracy in One Book or Less: How It Works, Why It Doesn't, and Why Fixing It Is Easier Than You Think. He’ll be joined by his former White House boss, Valerie Jarrett, to discuss bold changes that are within our grasp and how to restore the balance of power in this country before it’s too late. RSVP today.

PODCAST: Listen to Brennan Center Live’s newest episode, George Washington: You Never Forget Your First.

What We’re Reading
Ángel Díaz, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Liberty & National Security Program, recommends The Police Have Been Spying on Black Reporters and Activists for Years. I Know Because I’m One of Them, a story that explores our nation’s long history of political surveillance and how it looks in the digital age.