Action #1: Representatives – “YES” on “H.R.1347– Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Act and H.R. 1336 – National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act”
Fellow police officers and medical experts were appalled by Derek Chauvin’s brutality in the murder of George Floyd. But if a bystander hadn’t recorded those horrific ±9 minutes, there probably wouldn’t have been a courtroom trial, so let’s not waste this “opportunity” that Floyd and others paid for with their lives.
Minimal script for Representatives: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to cosponsor and support the passage of H.R.1347 – the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Act and H.R.1336– the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act. I’m following the Chauvin trial and I’m both outraged and heartsick. Please ask Rep. [___] to do whatever [he/she] can to make sure that Mr. Floyd is the last American to suffer this way.
Contacts
- Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
- or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email.(CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
- Who is my representative?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com
Bill descriptions:
- H.R.1347 the Eric Garner Excessive Use of Force Act would ban the use of choke holds or other moves that apply pressure to the throat or windpipe, restrict blood oxygen flow to the brain, or carotid restraints that interfere with breathing—exactly the kind of excessive force that led to the deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd.
- H.R.1336– the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act, would create a national database of deadly force incidents by requiring the Attorney General to issue rules regarding the collection and compilation of this data, including: race or ethnicity, gender, age, perceived or actual religious affiliations of both persons targeted by deadly force and their arresting officers. Written explanations would be required for such incidents, the guidelines under which any officer was operating, and a description of all non-lethal efforts made to subdue an individual prior the use of deadly force. States or localities that fail to comply with the rules for reporting use of deadly force data will have the Justice Department grants they receive reduced.
- H.R.1347: Rep-check here. Brownley and Carbajal are NOT cosponsors yet.
- Currently with the House Judiciary Committee and has 79 cosponsors, all of them Democrats.
- H.R.1336: Rep check here. Brownley and Carbajal are NOT cosponsors yet.
- Currently with the House Judiciary Committee and has ZERO cosponsors.
Action #2: Senators “YES” on the “H.R.1280 – George Floyd Justice in Policing Act – Now in the Senate.
Minimal script for senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to cosponsor and support the passage of H.R.1280 – the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, S.244: – Eric Garner Excessive Force Prevention Act and S.353: – End Police Use of Chokeholds Act. I’m following the Chauvin trial and I’m both outraged and heartsick. Please ask Sen. [___] to do whatever [he/she] can to make sure that Mr. Floyd is the last American to suffer this way, including removing the filibuster for this life-saving legislation.
Contacts
- Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
- and Senator Padilla: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
- Who is my senator?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com
More information:
H.R.1280, which passed in the House on 3/3/21 with 199 votes and zero GOP support, includes restrictions similar to those H.R.1347 restricting chokeholds and H.R.1336 by creating a National Police Misconduct Registry. However, it has a much wider scope. The bill also:
- lowers the criminal intent standard—from willful to knowing or reckless—to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution,
- limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer, and
- grants administrative subpoena power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pattern-or-practice investigations.
- establishes a framework to prevent and remedy racial profiling by law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels.
- restricts the use of no-knock warrants.
- directs DOJ to create uniform accreditation standards for law enforcement agencies and requires law enforcement officers to complete training on racial profiling, implicit bias, and the duty to intervene when another officer uses excessive force.
There are also two limited scope anti-chokehold bills in the Senate similar to H.R.1347:
- S.244: – Eric Garner Excessive Force Prevention Act
- Senator-check here. Feinstein and Padilla are NOT cosponsors yet – Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- S.353: – End Police Use of Chokeholds Act of 2021 Senate-check here. Feinstein and Padilla are NOT cosponsors yet
Action #3: …or shooting them. Things to do to help after the Daunte Wright’s death.
(From Anti-Racism Daily)
- Donate to the verified GoFundMe for the family of Daunte Wright. You can support his son and girlfriend with diapers and other in-kind supplies on this list.
- Donate either in-kind or financial support to the Brooklyn Center community, which expects major businesses to be boarded up in advance of protests in the coming days.
- Follow the work of Black Visions as they reimagine safety in MN.
- Review the community-based alternatives to calling the police in your city to help offset the impact of over-policing.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 