A THREAD. On spy planes, AG Barr’s police commn, and court packing. How agendas we oppose are moving forward during this pandemic.
While we’ve all been managing telework, caring for families, pushing for protection & relief in the stimulus, it’s impt to remember that agendas we oppose are moving forward. This is why the work of civil rights are “essential services,” & we never stop.
For example, at an 8:30a.m. virtual meeting this morning the #Baltimore City Bd of Estimate approved the controversial police spy plane opposed by @NAACP_LDF the @ACLU_MD & many others. Our @mdixonLDF joined the virtual meeting and voiced our opposition.
Here’s another. Remember earlier this year when AG Barr made some alarming comments about respect for police & then announced a new Trump Presidential Commn on Law Enforcement. Presumably a do-over of President Obama’s 21st Century Policing Commn? justice.gov/opa/pr/attorne…
The Commn is made up almost entirely of law enforcement.We began tracking the website for info.Turns out they held hearings in Feb & March w/little to no meaningful public notice & changed the deadline to submit public statements frm May 31 to...yesterday March 31st. Screenshots. 
Yesterday we sent a letter to AG Barr objecting to the composition of the Commission, the lack of public notice & engagement, and the abrupt, truncated changed deadline for public statements during this COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commn is charged with looking into and making recommendations regarding “respect for law enforcement” and what it calls “under-enforcement if criminal law in certain jurisdictions,” taking up the AG Barr’s alarming disparagement of the work of progressive prosecutors.
And millions in grants to state and local law enforcement will follow from the recommendations of this Commission.
And finally, the Trump McConnell effort to fast track the confirmation of anti-civil rights judges to the federal courts continues unabated.
Remember that some are undeterred in moving their agenda & this moment is an oppty. Civil rts attys & activists are multi-tasking - addressing COVID-19 inequities & relief for our communities & pushing back against actions that will re-shape our rights in a post-pandemic world.
