1/ My heart is full after hearing this good news, which I’d like to share with all of you. The @PublicHealth Governing Council voted to pass a policy statement titled, "Addressing Law Enforcement Violence as a Public Health Issue”. @endpolviolence
2/ A collective of public health educators & professionals - associated with @publichealthjc - researched, authored, and, most importantly, organized to make this this historic moment a reality. #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
3/ After three years of organizing, the statement passed today, November 13 2018, with substantial support from the APHA’s Governing Council - 87% yes votes, to 13% no votes. #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
4/ Well-respected activist organizations - such as @C_Resistance , @YouthJusticeLA , El Centro Cultural de la Raza, among others - provided invaluable support.
5/ This a momentous accomplishment, because APHA is the world’s largest association and gathering of public health professionals in the world, with over 25,000 members. #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
6/ Statements passed at the APHA inform the association’s official position on laws and policies at all levels of government. Moreover, this statement supports and advances the efforts of multiple groups. In particular, this statement:
7/ supports *organizers* who pursue democratic and community-based efforts to improve public safety and public health through non-punitive, abolitionist strategies; #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
8/ warrants *policy-makers* to use the various public health, non-punitive strategies outlined in the statement; and, #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
9/ encourages *researchers* to further investigate policing’s impact on public health, particularity amongst communities directly impacted by policing (homeless people, youth of color, sex workers, people with mental illness, etc.). #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
10/ I heavily encourage all of you to study the statement, which is rigorous in its analysis and research. I also invite you all to consider using the statement in your pedagogy and research. Specifically, the document:
13/ outlines evidenced-based strategies to address the public heath impacts of policing, including: the decriminalization of survival strategies of marginalized communities, divesting from law enforcement, and investing public funds into life-affirming strategies...
15/ In order to stay in touch with this organizing effort, and support future projects, you can: visit the website, where you can read the statement, at endingpoliceviolence.com; and,
16/ follow the authors & organizers on Twitter with the following handles: @endpolviolence (authors of the D8 statement), and @publichealthjc (Public Health Justice Collective). Thanks, and in the words of Stan Lee (RIP), excelsior!! #endpoliceviolence #healthequitynow
Stan Lee may have died, but the superheroes with @endpolviolence and @publichealthjc keep fighting on. 🤓🤩😎
