It is painfully obvious from the past few days that #RVA needs police reform. NOW. #protests2020 #GeorgeFloydProtests #BeyondPolicing #Thread
1/11
Protests seem to transform police into what looks like an occupying army. The point of #BlackLivesMatter (and decades of civil rights) is that it's not transformation, but revelation: For too many communities, police are not source of protection and order but agents of fear
2/11
Sure, there are nice folks in uniform! But good intentions don’t amount to much when embedded in institutions designed to surveil and control. Worse in recent years as police more openly militarized
3/11
aclu.org/issues/crimina…
#RVA police often show restraint during protest overall, though reports from last few nights differ. Still same disparities in policing here as elsewhere (obvious if you listen to #RVA black voices)
4/11
richmond.com/news/local/cri…
It was two years ago that Marcus-David Peters, an unarmed black man, was shot and killed by a Richmond police officer, and his family still feels unheard #MarcusAlert
5/11
We really need full-scale shift in how we approach our most vulnerable citizens, including moving resources from policing to community development. But that's HUGE political battle
6/11
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Biggest thing we can do now? A civilian review board, independent from police department, that includes citizen representation - review internal investigations, make recommendations, even conduct own investigations
7/11
scholars.org/brief/how-civi…
In practice, these boards are a mixed bag: limited to police-friendly lawyers, underfunded, or stonewalled by police; but if done well, still best chance for accountability and improved community relations
8/11
governing.com/topics/public-…
If city is serious about response to anger/pain underlying protests, they would offer meaningful reform. This should be litmus test for #RVAMayor election @GriffinForMayor @LevarStoney @kimgray4rva
9/11
For more on civilian review and police reform follow the people doing the work - @ChelseaWiseRVA @RichmondForAll @richmondvaTAP for starters
10/11
More here: rvapol.com/blog/2020/5/31…
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