This Juneteenth we continue to strive for the day Black people across the world are truly free. We respect and honor the millions of Black lives who perished, struggled and paved the way for Black people today. We keep our eye on the prize for the safety, education, hope and liberation of Black people! We work every day to make a better life and demand all of the liberties that are Black people’s rights – civil and human.

This week in the United States two important Supreme Court Cases were won for the liberty and freedom of many. The SCOTUS decisions confirmed the rights of LGBTQ individuals in their employment and upheld Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) as law protecting immigrants’ rights. These cases are part of the liberation of Black lives for Black people are part of the LGBTQ and immigrant communities: Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia and Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California Department of Homeland Security v. University of California Systems.

Also this week Congress addressed policing in the United States in response to the thousands of people around this country who are out in the streets daily making their voices heard and demanding that there be a complete overhaul of the racist and white supremacist law enforcement system of this land. #BlackLivesMatter #BlackDisabledLivesMatter

In the House of Representatives House Judiciary Committee the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (JPA) H.R. 7120 had a full mark up and the bill now moves to the next steps. The Center for Disability Rights (CDR) joined a letter done by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (The Leadership Conference), a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect civil and human rights in the United States and signed on by 79 organizations. The letter urges House of Representatives leadership to strengthen The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 (JPA). From the letter: The JPA takes important steps forward in achieving meaningful police accountability, however, we believe we can, and must, rise to this moment and put forth the strongest bill possible by improving upon key areas within the bill. 

The United States Senate introduced a bill on policing, which was authored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) the only Black Republican Senator. This bill is endorsed by Major County Sheriffs, Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies, The National Sheriffs Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. But there are little to no endorsements from civil and human rights organizations who are demanding serious legislation that will answer the demands of the streets for ending the racist systems embedded in law enforcement.

CDR is dedicated to working with all in this fight to dismantle the systems of oppression and racism in law enforcement. We will remain in the conversations and push Congress to strengthen the legislation on Justice in Policing.

For more information on our work please contact: Dara Baldwin, Director of National Policy – dara.baldwin@ncdr.us

Text of the bill (H.R. 7120):
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7120?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22justice+in+policing+act%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Fact Sheet on Justice in Policing Act of 2020: https://judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/fact_sheet_justice_in_policing_act_of_2020.pdf

Senate Republican’s Justice Act

Leadership Conference Press release on the Senate Justice Act: “The Senate Republican Policing Bill Fails to Deliver Transformative Change” – June 17, 2020:
https://civilrights.org/2020/06/17/senate-republican-policing-bill-fails-to-deliver-transformative-change/

Leadership Conference Press release: “The Senate Must Reimagine Public Safety Enact Meaningful Reform” – June 16, 2020:
https://civilrights.org/2020/06/16/senate-must-reimagine-public-safety-enact-meaningful-reform/