LEXINGTON, Kentucky — Calling it “a step toward transforming policing in America,” the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., is urging support of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020.
“This legislation comes in response to the global outrage over the heinous murder of George Floyd by a police officer kneeling on his neck for 8 minutes,” the Action Alert reads. “The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks and many others, at the hands of law enforcement, is evidence of the visceral reality of police violence against black and brown communities for generations.
“Police brutality and the disregard for black and brown bodies must end!”
Among the provisions of the act, introduced June 8, are:
- Ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants
- Require local police departments to send data on the use of force to the federal government
- Give out grants to state attorneys’ offices to allow for an independent investigation process to police brutality cases
- Make lynching a federal crime.
The Action Alert points out that the 222nd General Assembly (2016) named racism as the continuing legacy of white supremacy and said Presbyterians must be engaged in anti-racism.
“As such, the PC(USA) believes that God calls Christians to relentlessly fight against the anti-black racism that denigrates God’s vision for the Beloved Community,” the alert says. “Fighting against racism in our current context requires that we prevent the future murders of black people at the hands of police by supporting the Justice in Policing Act.”
Voters can contact legislators directly from PC(USA) Action Alerts via Voter Voice.
by Rich Copley, Presbyterian News Service
