This is Our Movement, Not Theirs
We see a lot of people posting about the statement/plan released by the LA, San Jose and San Francisco Police Associations (they are NOT unions).
The five point plan includes:
Nationwide standardization of a Use of Force Policy which centers preservation of life and deescalation
An opening up of police officer records so they cannot laterally move without accountability
Rooting out and firing racist cops
More attention to early warning signs for police officers who seem to be engaging in misconduct and getting them more training
A public database that would allow public to track UOF incidents
We see several people in the police accountability world celebrating this as a win.
We need to think more critically here.
We already have a UOF policy that does what they are suggesting and these very police associations fought it tooth and nail.
We already have a law that allows us to have access to the records of problematic police officers. The people fought and won that and these very police associations fought it every step of the way.
The problem isn't racist cops - it’s a racist system that cops are paid to uphold at the cost of dead Black and Brown bodies.
Perhaps this is just a move to pacify the people - get us to go home - and then where is the follow through? There is no entity that can hold police associations accountable and all of these "reforms" have to happen at the local level – they really have no say unless they are also willing to renegotiate their contracts.
The truth is – they are scared – and rather than have politicians listen to the will of the people - they are trying to get ahead of what they know is coming (an end to policing as we know it) and retain the influence of politicians listening to them.
We cannot reform our way out of this mess. We have to tear the whole thing down, reimagine public safety and rebuild a model that invests in people – not police and prisons. This plan is the gasp of a system that knows it may very well be taking its last breath.
NOW Is not the time to stop. Do not concede to platitudes. This is OUR agenda - NOT theirs. Our Movement. Not theirs. DON’T fall for the OKIE DOKE.