The officer who killed Eric Garner has been fired. That is not enough.
We have got to change how police departments operate, finally end police brutality and stop the killing of unarmed black and brown Americans.
Here are some of the ways I plan to do that as president: 1/
When we are in the White House we will mandate criminal liability for civil rights violations resulting from police misconduct, and limit “qualified immunity” for police officers.
We will establish a national use of force standard that emphasizes de-escalation. 2/
We will conduct a U.S. Attorney General’s investigation for ALL deaths involving the police and those in custody, establish civilian oversight of police departments, and create federal registries for police use of deadly force and misconduct. 3/
We will revitalize the use of Justice Department investigations, consent decrees, and federal lawsuits to address systemic constitutional violations by police departments. 4/
We will end harmful policing practices like racial profiling, stop and frisk, and oppressive “broken windows” policing – all of which actively undermine public safety and community trust in law enforcement. 5/
Police forces should not look and act like invading armies. We must demilitarize our police forces and establish federal standards for the use of body cameras. 6/
Eric Garner and too many others should be alive today.
Violence and brutality of any kind at the hands of the police is unacceptable and will not be tolerated when we are in the White House.
At a time when the billionaire class is becoming much richer, while 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and millions work for starvation wages, which candidates are prepared to fight for the working class of our country?
The Republicans claim they are that party. Really?
Does anyone seriously believe that a party which is getting huge contributions from Elon Musk, Stephen Schwarzman, Bill Ackman, and other multi-billionaires will take on corporate greed & improve life for the average American?
Here is the record of my Republican Senate colleagues:
Not one Republican supports raising the $7.25 federal minimum wage to a living wage.
Not one Republican supports the PRO Act, which will make it easier for workers to join unions.
Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. He should not be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress. I certainly will not attend.
Israel, of course, had the right to defend itself against the horrific Hamas terrorist attack of October 7th, but it did not, and does not, have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people.
Israel does not have the right to kill more than 34,000 civilians. It does not have the right to orphan 19,000 children. It does not have the right to to annihilate Gaza’s health care system, knocking 26 hospitals out of service and killing more than 400 health care workers.
Progressive candidates had a great election night. I want to thank everyone who got out there and helped make this happen. There will now be more strong progressives in the U.S. House than ever before. I’d like to quickly highlight a few of them.
Let me congratulate @SummerForPA on her resounding victory in Pennsylvania's 12th District. Summer ran a great campaign and withstood an onslaught of outside money from billionaires. She will be a great congresswoman for the working class.
Congratulations to @BeccaBalintVT on her historic win. I look forward to working together on behalf of Vermont's working families in Congress.
Over the last few years, the people of this country have sent some incredible candidates to Congress. They are working every day to build a nation that works for all of us. Today, I’m proud to announce my support for their reelection campaigns.
Congresswoman @AOC has been a fierce champion for the working people of NY-14. She is an inspiration for millions of young people who understand that if they are going to have a bright future, they must be engaged in political struggle. I’m proud to endorse her for reelection.
I'm proud to endorse Congressman @JamaalBowmanNY for reelection. We need more progressive champions in Congress who are committed to ensuring that large, profitable corporations that rip off working families are held accountable. I look forward to continuing our work together.
Putin is not only an autocrat who initiated an illegal & immoral war against Ukraine, he's the leader of an oligarchic kleptocracy that's stolen billions from the Russian people. In Russia, ordinary people struggle while Oligarchs make out like bandits – which they are. (1/14)
Incredibly, the 500 richest people in Russia with a net worth of at least $100 million now own more wealth than the bottom 99.8% of Russia’s population - 145 million people. This is the type of inequality that exists not just in Russia, but throughout the world. (2/14)
The top 0.01% in Russia has stashed over two-thirds of its wealth offshore, while the top 1% in Russia owns as much wealth offshore as the rest of the Russian population holds onshore. Globally, the rich & powerful have stashed at least $21 trillion in offshore tax havens. (3/14)
For whatever reason, there are pundits out there who say we should compromise even more and cut back on addressing the long-neglected problems facing working families as well as climate change.
REALLY?
Please tell me where we should cut.
Should we end the $300 direct payments to working class parents which have cut childhood poverty in our country by half?
Should we continue to ignore the dysfunctionality of our child care system which forces millions of working families to spend 20-30% of their limited incomes on childcare and keeps over a million women out of the workforce?