Tell your local officials: End police violence and reimagine public safety

Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and most recently Rayshard Brooks are just some of the black people who have been tragically killed by current or former police officers in the past few months. The videos that have emerged from these incidents have been crushing to watch, particularly for black people and communities of color who know all too well the experience of being under constant threat by law enforcement. Enough is enough! Now is the time to embrace bold, immediate reforms and reimagine what public safety requires, starting with your local officials. Email Your Local Officials Now Police violence and brutality against unarmed black men and women stems from the abhorrent system and legacy of white supremacy and hundreds of years of institutionalized oppression. Mayors and local police departments have the power to do away with policies that lead to the unequal treatment of and violence against black, Indigenous, and people of color by conducting a rigorous review and adopting evidence-based reforms being called for by experts and activists alike, many of which were in the Task Force on 21st Century Policing Report. As we push for these immediate reforms, we must also reimagine what public safety means and requires, including investing in and diverting funds to education, housing, and mental health issues. Specifically, we call on mayors, local officials, and local police precincts to: Ban chokeholds and neck restraints in all cases Require officers to de-escalate situations when possible, eliminating or reducing the need to use force Require officers to give a verbal warning before shooting Require officers to exhaust all other alternatives, including non-force and less-lethal force options, prior to resorting to deadly force Ban shooting at moving vehicles Require officers to intervene and stop the use of excessive force by other officers Establish a use of force continuum that restricts the most severe types of force Require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force against civilians. Every city should adopt these policies immediately. Furthermore, we are calling on mayors and other local elected officials to begin reinvesting and adjusting city budgets to expand and enhance restorative justice programs, provide alternatives to incarceration, demilitarize the police, provide crisis intervention and de-escalation training, increase community engagement, and expand holistic collaborative service. Email Your Local Officials Now We are at an inflection point in America. In theological terms it can be understood as a potential Kairos moment that leads to transformational and long-lasting change.  The killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and others shed light on and lay bare the ongoing impact of institutionalized racism tied to America’s original sin.                        The way to honor these lives and the countless others who have been lost to police violence is to ensure that these vicious deaths are not in vain, to demand bold change now, and to reimagine what deeper transformation requires. The time is now to finally fix this broken system, locally and nationally.  The time is now to transform policing in this nation, put an end to police violence and brutality, and ensure truly equal protection under the law for everyone.  In solidarity, Rev. Terrance M. McKinley Director of Racial Justice and Mobilizing