Tuesday, June 16, 2020

ACTION: RACISM IS NOT A BUG IN THE SYSTEM, IT’S A FEATURE PASS JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT AND HEROES ACT

RACISM IS NOT A BUG IN THE SYSTEM, IT’S A FEATURE 
PASS JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT AND HEROES ACT

 

ACTION ONE: JOIN US ON ZOOM FOR #INDIVISIBLE TUESDAY

Join Indivisible organizers, Rep. Blumenauer and Sen. Wyden’s staffs on Zoom at 11:30 AM. Register in advance for this meeting: 

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR SENATORS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. 
I am calling to support passage of the Justice in Policing Act and the HEROES Act. We need both bills to repair the damage done to our society. I support an end to violent, lawless policing and a radical restructuring of police forces.  We need the expanded unemployment insurance and health care in the HEROES Act to protect workers from economic ruin and illness, especially Black Americans whose livelihoods and health are most often affected.

ACTION THREE: CALL YOUR HOUSE REP

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
Blumenauer: Thank you for co-sponsoring the End Qualified Immunity Act, which was rolled into the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which I support. All of the provisions of the bill are important policing reforms that only Congress can carry out. But congressional action on ending qualified immunity is especially urgent since the Supreme Court has refused to take up the issue.
I also ask the House refuse to back down on including expanded unemployment insurance and health care in whatever compromise bill emerges from dealing with the Senate in response to the HEROES Act.
All Other Representatives: I am calling to support passage of the Justice in Policing Act. All of the provisions of the bill are important policing reforms that only Congress can carry out. But congressional action on ending qualified immunity is especially urgent since the Supreme Court has refused to take up the issue.
I also ask the House refuse to back down on including expanded unemployment insurance and health care in whatever compromise bill emerges from dealing with the Senate in response to the HEROES Act.

BACKGROUND:

Centuries of anti-black racism and white supremacy in America are crystalizing for all to see in the crises of police brutality and COVID-19. To use an analogy, it’s clear that racism is not a bug in the system, it’s a feature. Congress must play its part in re-programing America by passing the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 and the HEROES Act.
The Justice in Policing Act will, among other things:
  • Ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants.
  • End qualified immunity and transfer of military grade equipment.
  • Define lynching as a federal hate crime.
Many say that policing must be defunded and built over again. We agree: the violent, lawless, immoral, predatory, hate-filled style of law enforcement must go. This bill brings the tools of the federal government to work for change.
Congress also must provide sustained help to workers facing economic ruin and illness from COVID-19. Again, Black people are over-represented in this double-whammy group.
  • Black COVID-19 patients are dying at rates three times higher than whites; six times higher in Wisconsin and seven times higher in Kansas.
  • Unemployment increased to nearly 17% for blacks, but it dropped to 12% for whites.
Expanded unemployment benefits end July 31. Republicans seem comfortable with cutting workers loose. But Democrats must fight for the extended unemployment and health protections in the HEROES Act.

SOURCES: