Dear Friend,
My first email to you as Executive Director came in May 2020 -- I called
for justice for Black and brown victims of police violence after the
murder of George Floyd. Almost three years later, Congress still hasn’t
passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and now I’m writing to
you again in the wake of the murders of Tyre Nichols, Anthony Lowe Jr.,
and Keenan Anderson.
The George Floyd Act faces a difficult pathway this year with a
Republican-controlled House. But protecting our communities from police
violence is a priority that crosses race, class, and parties. That’s why
I’m personally asking you to [ [link removed] ]call your congressmember and demand that
they vote for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
Since 2020 we have made clear progress on police accountability:
* Courage partnered with Black Lives Matter LA to call out District
Attorney Jackie Lacey for not holding police accountable for killing
Black and brown Angelenos. We elected George Gascón as a reformer DA
in 2020 and defeated several recall efforts against him.
* California passed a package of police reform bills in 2021, including
Senate Bill 2 to decertify officers for serious crimes.(1)
* Los Angeles County voters rejected Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s bid for
reelection and approved Measure A to give the Board of Supervisors the
power to remove the sheriff with cause in 2022.
* Courage-endorsed Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price
established a Public Accountability Unit and is reopening
investigations into eight people killed by police.(2)
* Courage partner Chispa successfully organized to establish a Police
Oversight Commission in Santa Ana in November 2022.(3) Now they are
fighting two recall efforts driven by the Santa Ana Police Association
against Santa Ana City Councilmembers and progressive champions Jessie
Lopez and Thai Viet Phan.(4)
Community demands for change and reform fueled each of these wins and many
more. We need to keep calling on our elected officials to act with courage
and vote for more critical police reforms. [ [link removed] ]Call your congressmember
today to ask them for their vote for the George Floyd Justice in Policing
Act.
Yours in the fight for safe communities,
–Irene, along with Angela, Annie, Isidra, Lindsay, LisaMarie, Mai, Mai,
and Scottie (the Courage team)
[ [link removed] ]Donate
PS: Courage California is fighting for equity and justice across the state
and country. [ [link removed] ]Will you become a monthly donor and help sustain our work?
Donations go to support all of Courage California's work for a more
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Footnotes:
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Courage California (formerly Courage Campaign) makes sure our democracy works for ALL of us by fighting corruption in California politics. We believe the solution lies in exposing and solving systemic problems through strategic organizing, enhancing coordination between progressive organizations, and mobilizing civic engagement from our communities, particularly voters of color, young voters, and self-identified progressives.
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