The ACLU of RI is proud to testify today in support of the Community Safety Act at the Providence City Council's Ordinance Committee public hearing.  The comprehensive ordinance was spearheaded by the STEP Up Coalition to ban racial profiling and other discriminatory practices by Providence law enforcement, and "change the way that police interact with members of our community…"

Key points of the CSA include expanded requirements for the use of police dashboard and body cameras, explicit protections for immigrants and young people, and regular review and public disclosure of violations of the ordinance. The passage of this ordinance will mark an important step forward in community-police relations, by helping counter some of the problems associated with biased-based policing and the feeling among too many members of the community – particularly black and Latino residents – that they are considered second-class citizens.

We urge the Committee to move this important initiative forward.

Click here for the full-text of the ACLU of RI’s testimony on the ordinance.