In the wake of yet another senseless killing of an unarmed black man by police, the ACLU continued our fight to address some of the issues that have created this unacceptable reality. Here in Rhode Island, we joined the community for discussion about urban policing, and called for a thorough public investigation into a police department’s practices given recent allegations of racism among officers.
Take a look at some of our work from the past week and see what you can do.
Sign the petition. The brutal deaths of Walter Scott, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice all point to the need for immediate action. Systemic change is necessary for police to start serving and protecting communities of color, instead of waging war on us. Tell the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Justice to stop funneling into the militarization of state and local police
We Call for Investigation into Stop Practices. We’ve urged the Pawtucket Police Department to conduct an in-depth examination of policies and procedures for traffic stops in light of recent allegations that some officers use racially inappropriate language. As our executive director Steven Brown said in a letter to city officials, “If some police officers are apt to offhandedly use derogatory language against racial minorities, one should be even more concerned about the actions they may be taking against them.”
A Community Discussion on Urban Policing. Susan Herman, the president of the national office of the ACLU, visited the URI Feinstein Providence Campus Wednesday to discuss policing and race at a community forum. We hope we can continue to be part of these important conversations to make Rhode Island a better place for all its residents.
The Right to Record. It’s not just journalists and photographers who are allowed to document police actions. YOU have the right to record police officers at work in public. Be sure to know your rights if you are ever stopped or arrested by police.
ICYMI: Chelsea Manning corresponded with Cosmopolitan for her first interview from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where she is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking documents. She discusses her experience and life as a transgender woman.
