Action Alert: Call Your Senators – Oppose “FAKE” Racial Justice Bill

The U.S. Senate will soon vote on a Republican bill, the Justice Act S.3985, which essentially maintains the status quo in policing. This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), does not include any of the critical recommendations for accountability and restraint that would advance racial justice. These recommendations were endorsed by 450 civil rights organizations, including NOW, and submitted to Congress several weeks ago.

We need fundamental changes in how policing is conducted at all levels; S.3985 does not even begin to do that. Major problems such as Qualified Immunity that have allowed police to brutalize and kill individuals is not addressed at all. The bill does not ban chokeholds, does not prohibit No-Knock warrants, does not establish a National Use of Force Standard and does not provide for a robust and accessible police registry, among many other failures.

CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW: URGE THEM TO VOTE AGAINST THE MOTION TO PROCEED. AND FAILING THAT, TO VOTE AGAINST S. 3985. The vote could come up as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. The Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Senators’ office numbers, https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm