Community Justice Opportunity: from the ACLU of California

From the ACLU of California: Keep Abusive Cops Out of Our Communities

Pass SB 731

Over the last few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Californians have taken to the streets to demand an end to police brutality. Addressing police violence requires re-examining the role of police in our society, and re-imagining how to advance public safety by investing in resources for mental health, jobs, and crisis response that do not involve law enforcement. But we still need to hold police officers accountable for abuse.

California is one of only five states that has no process to decertify abusive cops. Decertification ensures those cops cannot be hired as police officers somewhere else. Over 200 other professions in California have licenses that can be revoked if they violate their licensing rules. California gives police officers a license to kill without the ability to revoke it if they abuse their authority.

Community organizations like the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, Anti Police-Terror Project, Black Lives Matter California, California Families United 4 Justice, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, PolicyLink, STOP Coalition, and Youth Justice Coalition are mobilizing to stop these abusive cops by cosponsoring SB 731, the Kenneth Ross Jr. Police Decertification Act. CA must create a process to remove abusive police from the streets to protect those who are targeted by police violence: Black people, indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, and those with disabilities.

If you would like to know more and sign the petition click here.