Fellow Conservative,

This is one of the hardest emails I have ever written.

On Wednesday, on the five-year anniversary of the tragic shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston, I stood with my colleagues to introduce the JUSTICE Act to reform policing.

This legislation includes significant policing reforms including more funding for police worn body cameras, anti-lynching statutes and de-escalation training.

These are serious reforms to respond to the serious moment our nation is facing.

My colleague from Illinois, Dick Durbin, took to the Senate floor to call my efforts to reform policing in our country a “token process”.
 

Those words hurt me in my soul.

Senator Durbin went on to call my bill a “half-hearted approach” to police reform.

I don’t know exactly what Senator Durbin meant, but his rhetoric was out of line and represents a divisive moment for our country.

As the only African American Republican Senator, I have been leading  efforts for years to reform our police and on the issues impacting communities of color all across our country.

Democrats like Senator Durbin are more interested in scoring political points and getting soundbites on CNN or MSNBC. They care more about the next election than making real progress towards policing reforms.

We cannot allow Senator Durbin’s partisanship and offensive words go unanswered. Will you join me and fight back against these hurtful and divisive remarks?

Chip in whatever you can afford to send a strong message that we won’t tolerate these insults.

As the only African American Republican US Senator, this is not the first time I have faced vicious attacks from Democrats. I know the struggle and heartache that impacts communities of color all across the country.

When Dick Durbin tried to downplay and call our efforts “token”, it hurt me to my core. When did rhetoric in this country, much less the Senate, devolve to this low point?

Fellow Conservative, I need you to stand with me. This is not the first time I have faced attacks from the Left, and it certainly will not be the last.

Please join me by making a donation of $5, $10, $25 or whatever amount you can afford to fight back.

Instead of offering ideas to improve our bill, Senator Durbin took a cheap shot in an attempt to score political points.

Our country is facing immense challenges and I will continue working towards reforms that benefit all Americans.


Senator Tim Scott