By AFRO Staff  

In support of the Justice in Policing Act, led and introduced by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) organized and co-hosted a National Black Leadership Virtual Briefing on the Justice in Policing Act, in partnership with several national Black civil rights and women’s rights organizations on June 8. The briefing included a special presentation on the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 by several Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) members including CBC Chair, Rep. Karen Bass, Sen. Cory Booker, Member, U. S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Kamala Harris, Member, U. S. Senate Judiciary Committee. 

The CBC shared the Justice in Policing Act is “a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, end racial profiling, change the culture of law enforcement, empower our communities, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives.”

Melanie Campbell, president and CEO, NCBCP and Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) shares, “The NCBCP and BWR believes the Justice in Policing Act is a major first step in addressing the historic systemic racism in law enforcement that has been perpetrated against Black people since policing was formed in the 19th century, in the form of ‘slave patrols’ in the South. We believe the recent unjust killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, at the hands of police officers, has sparked a long overdue national outcry. A call for elected officials to take swift and decisive action by passing comprehensive federal policing reforms. We must seize this moment to enact transformative policies that focus on eradicating systemic racism, implicit bias and excessive force by law enforcement that has impacted the livelihood of Black Americans for centuries. We are calling on all Members of Congress to support the Justice in Policing Act to begin a nationwide process of changing the culture of policing that truly ‘serves and protects’ all people equally and fairly.”

For more information, visit www.ncbcp.org.