Letter: Support for the Justice in Policing Act

Posted on by Letters
Graphic by Lori Deaton

I just watched the U.S. House Judiciary Committee meeting on the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which has been put forward by the Democrats on that committee. Both Democratic and Republican congresspersons called witnesses to speak to these issues. The act bans certain lethal actions by police, creates an accountability system and proposes implementing services in communities that would ultimately create less of a need for policing.

I encourage everyone to read the act. It says nothing about abolishing police departments, yet most of the witnesses that the Republican congressmen called focused on this and on supporting police rather than addressing the issue at hand. Why, in this time, when the inequities in our justice system are laid bare and at a tipping point as a result of the latest police abuses and murder of George Floyd and other African Americans, does the GOP choose to turn this opportunity for true healing and growth and change in our country into a fight?

Since I wrote this, another Black man running away from police, this time in Atlanta, was shot by police. Before another person is killed in our neighborhood, I am writing to and calling my North Carolina Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, along with my representative, Patrick McHenry, asking them to do the right thing and co-sponsor the Justice in Policing Act.

— Erica Burns
Black Mountain

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One thought on “Letter: Support for the Justice in Policing Act”

  1. Dopamina

    You know what’s truly pathetic? I hounded the offices of Tillis and Burr until I actually got someone on the phone (this was a few weeks ago). Apparently they only want you to leave a voicemail and dont feel having a discussion with the people they serve is important, big surprise!

    When I finally got someone on the phone (reaching Tillis’ office took a few calls, Burr’s office was like a brick wall…), neither Senator had a stated position on police brutality but they did have prepared statements denouncing civil unrest.

    That tells me all I need to know about these two slimeballs.

    Tillis we need to vote out of office; thankfully Burr is seeing himself out after his term is over!

    1

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