Yesterday, the MA Legislature passed the long-awaited Racial Justice Policing Reform Bill and it is good. Certainly not perfect, but good. There are strong police accountability measures, significant bans and limits to use of force, mandates for data collection, transparency, and future study on racism and policing. If passed, MA will take a significant step forward in dismantling the systemic racism that has been embedded in our policing and criminal justice systems for centuries.
Unfortunately, the bill is in danger. Police unions are lobbying strenuously for Governor Baker to veto the bill or at least sections dealing with meaningful police accountability and limitations on use of violent force that are at the heart of the bill. The margin it passed in the House yesterday is short of the votes needed to override a veto by the Governor.
Call to Action
It is up to all of US to make sure this bill gets passed! If you care about this issue, please contact Governor Baker and urge him to sign the bill as is, and encourage your friends to do the same!
**Contact the Governor: Phone: (617) 725-4005 / Email: charlie.baker@state.ma.us
**Sample Message: Please sign the Racial Justice Policing bill, Senate 2963. It's a fair compromise between the House and Senate versions and includes some provisions of the bill you proposed. Please sign it to keep the faith for racial justice.
Your voice and matters. It is only because of the voice of the people that we have gotten this far. We cannot let up now. We must continue to walk in our community’s public purpose and speak out for truth and justice. Please contact the governor today and every day until he signs it!
ECCO leaders marching for racial justice in policing