The scourge of violence against Black people in America has reached a tipping point, and it is critical that federal, state, local officials and all of us take comprehensive action to redesign policing and address longstanding structural racism. Union members live and work in every state and in every community, so when police abuse occurs, it happens in our backyards and to our families.
Unions represent tens of thousands of law enforcement officers who go to work every day and risk their lives to protect the public. As such, Labor has a special responsibility to play a leading role in making sure that real reform is achieved. While not perfect, the Congressional Justice in Policing Act includes concrete, commonsense actions like banning chokeholds, expanding the use of body cameras, ending racial profiling and demilitarizing police departments.
Adopted by the Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly on July 1, 2020, adapted from national AFL-CIO policy.
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