Since last Friday, thug-police have filled our pages with brutality and over-policing: A NYPD officer punched a teenager for smoking as he walked home. Another officer smashed a car's passenger window to taser a papa and traumatize four members of the family. Another officer killed a teenager in Missouri. Another NYPD officer robbed and then pepper sprayed his victim in front of standers-by.
And Darren Wilson, the killer of Michael Brown, remains free, not yet indicted for killing an unarmed, surrendering, innocent teenager.
Clearly we need action. Our actions, not a bag of words, will allow innocent people to survive interactions with police. Are you innocent? Will you survive your next interaction with a police officer?
As you may know, more than 300 members of the Daily Kos community have supported our new law, the Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act. Basically our law has two goals: (1) Get as much information as possible from police regarding their use of force, and (2) Give individuals the right to file suit against the police if their jurisdiction is being "over-policed." (Get and Give.) We want this law to pass, as we see a desperate need for it. You can now find the federal and state versions of the Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act here. Our sense is we we are done writing the law. We are amateurs. Our professional legislators will refine the details of the law.
In the last week, behind the scenes, members of our group, Support the Dream Defenders, and other members of Daily Kos have begun to place our proposed law in the hands of people and organizations who will make a difference.
So far, we sent a personalized email and copy of the law to each of the following civil rights organizations:
| ACLU National ACLU New York Civil Liberties Union ACLU Washington Legislative Office ACLU of Arizona ACLU of Missouri Anti-Defamation League Brennan Center for Justice CAIR of Arizona CAIR of Greater Los Angeles Area CAIR of Michigan CAIR of Missouri Center for Third World Organizing Congressional Black Caucus Council on American-Islamic Relations GL&SN Public Policy Office Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network National Headquarters JUNTA for Progressive Action, Inc. | LULAC Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights MALDEF NAACP Atlanta Branch Unit #5163 NAACP Bronx Branch Unit #2206 NAACP Brooklyn Branch Unit #2207 NAACP Chicago Southside Branch Unit #3005 NAACP Cincinnati Branch NAACP Cleveland Branch NAACP Detroit Branch NAACP Los Angeles NAACP Maricopa County Branch NAACP Miami-Dade Branch NAACP Mid-Manhattan Branch Unit #2219 NAACP N.Y.C. Housing Authority Branch Unit #2223 | NAACP National Headquarters NAACP New York #2221 NAACP North Queens Branch Unit #2215 NAACP San Antonio Branch NAACP San Diego Branch NAACP St. Louis City Branch Unit #4075 NAACP Washington Bureau NAACP Yonkers Branch Unit #2188 National Council of La Raza National Urban League Political Research Associates Race Forward New York Rainbow PUSH Coalition The National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Urban League of Greater Hartford |
Here are some of their responses:
| From: San Antonio Branch of the NAACP. To: (A member of Daily Kos.) Thank you for contacting the San Antonio Branch NAACP. Because this is a proposed legislative action, I am forwarding this information to our state office for review and appropriate action. When their response comes back to me, I will notify you accordingly. Sincerely, [To protect their privacy, names, titles, and addresses have been removed throughout.] |
| From: A California branch of the NAACP. To: (A member of Daily Kos.) Thank you for your email and contacting our branch. We have been focused over the last two years with working towards better relationships between the minority communities and law enforcement as well as the problem of racial profiling and how officers are recruited, trained and subsequent cultural competency training. We have been involved with the use of the body cameras and have a forum coming up next week with other like-minded civil rights organizations. However, as this is a national issue, we have to defer to our national NAACP to make the endorsement. In any event, I will forward your email to our California national board members for their input. Again, thank you for your hard work. Keep pushing to keep our communities safe by using the law to make sure our constitutional rights are respected and protected. [Redacted.] |
| From: The national NAACP, Washington, DC. [Woohoo! - Editor] To: (A member of Daily Kos.) Thank you for forwarding a copy of the draft of the Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act through your local ■■■■ Branch, which was forwarded to the ■■■■ State Conference President and National Board Member, Attorney ■■■■ to my office. My name is ■■■■ and I serve as the ■■■■ of the NAACP’s Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for ■■■■. In this role I advocate for and manage the NAACP federal legislative and national public policy agenda to the US Congress and the federal administration. I’d appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about the draft legislation at your earliest convenience. I can be reached by telephone at ■■■■ during normal business hours. Thanks again, [Redacted.] |
Take a bow, Daily Kos!! (Holy Moly!)
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(Savor this moment.)
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Action Steps for This Week:
| 1. | By email, snailmail, social media, and/or kosmail, send copies of our bill to your allies. |
| 2. | |
| 3. | Share your enthusiasm and cheer, leader. |
| 4. | Print copies of the federal version. |
| 5. | Print copies of the state version. |
| 6. | Edit a copy of our cover letter. Send your letter with a copy of the law to your federal and state representatives and senators. |
| 7. | Share your cover letter with us in the comments. |
| 8. | If you are a member of one of the above groups, communicate with other members about this law. |
| 9. | Something else you will share with us in the comments. |
| 10. | Most importantly, please tell us our blind spots. What are we missing? |