We ended up using The Voting Rights Act of 1965 as a model for a number of provisions in the bill. We also included practical suggestions from the many activists and lawyers who provided insights about their areas of expertise. Since then, we have shared The Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act to the legislative directors of both the NAACP and the ACLU.
The NAACP and the ACLU approved our law!
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 allows a single individual to confront the most important of the machineries of government, and it provides for civilian monitors of that process. The Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act does the same thing, allowing one person the power to become a one-man or one-woman Department of Justice. We believe this to be necessary because there are 18,000 police jurisdictions in the United States, and there is only one DOJ. Here are some of the problems that The Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act would help to resolve:
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We are going on twitter and facebook to promote The Michael Brown Over-Policed Rights Act and to make sure that the candidates and the #BlackLivesMatter movement get a chance to see it. Why? Because we think they'd like it too. In support of that proposition, let's look at what some of the major candidates are saying about Criminal Justice Reform and the scourge of over-policing.
SENATOR JIM WEBB
In a recent interview on the topic of criminal justice reform, Senator Webb stated that "the message we see across the board, that we are receiving, is that people want to see fresh leadership and different ideas, and they want to see a track record." In contrasting himself from the other Presidential aspirants, he noted that he has "been talking about this for 9 years."And he has.
Senator Webb also noted the following in the May 2015 CNN interview:
"[W]e tend to think in this country that we have solved the racial and ethnic differences, and we really haven't. We've created a veneer over the top on all racial and gender issues in the country."
This is most obvious in government's interaction with racial and ethnic minorities, an interaction that all too often involves over-policing.
SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON
Secretary Clinton received excellent reviews for her speech after the Baltimore protests. Slate writer Jamelle Bouie had this to say: "Two days after riots in Baltimore--at at time when most of the presidential field is either silent or contemptuous--Clinton has stepped out front with a forward-looking agenda on bringing people out of prison, a definitive rebuke to the 'law and order' politics used by her husband throughout his career."
As noted in the interview, she went on record asking for a universal requirement that law enforcement agents wear body cameras. She opposed the mass incarceration phenomenon, wanted an emphasis placed on "best practices" and not "weapons of war that have no place on our streets." Secretary Clinton argued for an upgrade in probation programs and our national plan for handling mental health issues.
"You don't have to look too far from this magnificent hall to find children still living in poverty or trapped in failing schools.... Mothers and fathers who fear for their sons' safety when they go off to school--or just to go buy a pack of Skittles."
SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS
The Senator from Vermont has raised his voice against over-policing. Using strong words at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Senator Sanders explained the need for Criminal Justice reforms:
"Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice. We know their names. Each of them died unarmed at the hands of police officers or in police custody. The chants are growing louder. People are angry. I am angry. And people have a right to be angry."
His suggestions included body cameras for police officers, community policing initiatives, ending mass incarceration and moving away from the militarization of police. Senator Sanders has noted that "[o]ur criminal justice system is out of control."
GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY
In a July 26 interview with the Des Moines Register, Governor O'Malley began unveiling more of his platform on Criminal Justice reform. "Scaling back on mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes and boosting programs to help prepare prisoners to return home will be major parts of a policy proposal O'Malley's campaign plans to roll out soon."
"O'Malley has a list of priorities that, as president, he'd push police departments nationwide to adopt, including civilian review boards with authority to investigate police brutality complaints."
#BLACKLIVESMATTER
According to Time magazine, the early winner in the Democratic Primary is none other than #BlackLivesMatter.
"Now, Black Lives Matter leaders are preparing an agenda of policy demands and requirements designed to push Clinton, Sanders and O’Malley to embrace broad reforms to address systemic racism head-on. Activists foresee a series of demonstrations to call attention to racial injustice in the United States."We understand your message, my friends, and we've got something that might help. Please see the text of our proposed law below.