Today we release a new analysis revealing how police unions and associations prevent California lawmakers from addressing police violence. A thread. (1/x) checkthepolice.org/california
More people are killed by police in California than any other state. And yet, since 2011 a network of police associations has poured $5.5 million into the campaigns of California’s state legislators - especially Democratic officpas who don’t support police reform. 
The scale of influence police associations have in California cannot be understated. They funnel *200 times* as much money into candidates’ campaigns as the NRA and have helped to fund the campaigns of 118 of the 120 current members of the California legislature + the Governor.
This money is tied to lawmakers’ positions on police reform. Lawmakers within each party who *do not* support police reform get more money in almost every case.
The data suggests police unions and associations are funding Democrats who do not support police reform in order to prevent the Democratic supermajority legislature from being able to unite behind meaningful reform. That strategy appears to be working.
Once they’ve helped elect almost every CA state legislator, police associations spend ridiculous amounts of time and money lobbying them to convince them not to address police violence. Spending 9x more than the NRA. Police reform orgs simply don’t have the resources to compete.
So when we talk about issues like gun violence, in California it’s actually the police associations that are investing the most to stop the state from passing laws that would reduce shootings (by reducing police shootings). The Police Lobby is California’s Gun Lobby.
Right now there are 4 bills in the CA legislature that have yet to be passed. They would substantially reduce police violence and improve accountability. The Police Lobby has come out hard against them. If you’re in CA, demand your state reps do their jobs and pass these bills.
And in case you’re wondering. Here’s how much each member of the California state legislature has received from police associations since 2011. And this isn’t even counting correctional officer and District Attorney’s association funding.
You can download a PDF of the full report here: checkthepolice.org/s/California-P…
