With your support, Oxfam has successfully campaigned to limit the unchecked flow of weapons that fuel human rights violations around the world. Together, we achieved the historic Arms Trade Treaty, which set new standards to help keep people safe in the countries where Oxfam works. 

Now, we are turning our attention to the human rights impact of weapons flows here in the US, and we need your help. >>

For years, the Pentagon's obscure '1033 Program' has been used to transfer $7.4 billion worth of military weapons and equipment to local and state law enforcement agencies, including armor-piercing ammunition, bayonets, weaponized drones, and tear gas. Even schools have been part of this free-for-all: Los Angeles County Unified School District has received grenades and grenade launchers through this program.

Far from increasing community safety, these weapons transfers are associated with increased killings of civilians by law enforcement. Black and other historically marginalized communities have been organizing for years to end the militarized policing of their communities and their children's schools. But too often, their demands for justice have been met with the same militarized over-policing that they are protesting. In recent weeks, our screens have been flooded with images of police concealed in head-to-toe tactical gear, and carrying high-powered rifles, and using tear gas against peaceful demonstrators.  

But now we have a chance to take the message from the streets to the halls of Congress to stop police from using weapons of war against civilians once and for all.

On Monday, July 20, the Senate is voting on whether to ban the transfer of dangerous military equipment from the Defense Department to local police, by amending the National Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) – the annual "must-pass" bill that funds the military.

Send a letter NOW urging your Senators to vote YES on the Schatz-Murkowski-Harris-Paul Amendment 2252 to support community safety and human rights by demilitarizing the police.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Noah Gottschalk
Humanitarian Policy Lead
Oxfam America Action Fund

P.S. If you'd like to learn more about how to demilitarize the police, read more here.