OP EDITORIAL
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Unity among Latino and African American communities grows as the nation demands change by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) istory tells us they never met,
H
Yet, the George Floyd story has
which prohibits the Defense Department
but Cesar Chavez and Dr.
served as the tipping point and catalyst
from transferring military weapons to state
Martin Luther King Jr. were
of change and for what can only be de-
and local law enforcement agencies; the
certainly allied in their shared goals and
scribed as a movement. A movement
Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act,
efforts to ensure equality and inclusion.
in the spirit of Dr. King and Chavez, peaceful protests that demanded these
body and dashboard cameras, banning
ensure compliance with approved practic-
one – a struggle for freedom, for dignity
injustices be corrected, stringent in ac-
chokeholds, ending the use of no-knock
es and transparency within the communi-
and for humanity. You and your fellow
tion that requires unity and patience as
warrants in drug cases and enacting steps
ty; and, the Police CAMERA Act, which
workers have demonstrated your com-
well as resolve.
to end racial profiling; step up pressure
would require all law enforcement officers
mitment to righting grievous wrongs
In the vein of Cesar and Martin,
on the Justice Department to address
to wear body cameras and prohibit the sei-
forced upon exploited people. We are
Latino and African American leaders
systemic racial discrimination by law
zure of cell phones or other recording de-
together with you in spirit and in de-
are united across the county to denounce
enforcement; and, officially make lynch-
vices used to document police interactions.
termination that our dreams for a better
hate and profiling that we see happening
ing a federal hate crime, as the House did
tomorrow will be realized.” – Dr. Martin
even in my congressional district – in
in passing H.R. 35 earlier this year.
Luther King Jr. in a telegram to labor
Harlem, Bronx and Washington Heights.
Many of my legislative priorities
understand fully what’s at stake and vow
leader and civil rights activist, Cesar
We are stronger together and must con-
were also included in the Justice in Po-
to continue my fight for African Amer-
Chavez, in 1966.
tinue to stand in solidarity to unite our
licing Act, which are policies highlight-
ican and Latino families around the
communities against hate and division.
ed in my Harlem Manifesto:
nation to ensure all persons are treated
Harlem Community Newspapers | June 25. 2020
What we witnessed nearly two
6
which creates accreditation standards to
“Our separate struggles are really
As someone who has long fought for communities of color in my district, I
weeks ago with the killing of George
As a member of the Congressional
Denial of Rights Prevention and Ac-
Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer
Hispanic Caucus (CHC), I am proud to
countability Act, which I introduced last
Now is the time for systemic and
never should have happened and Mr.
stand with my Congressional Black Cau-
week to change the 18 U.S.C. Sec. 242
transformational change of America’s
Floyd should still be alive. His death was
cus (CBC) colleagues to demand justice
mens rea requirement from willfulness to
policing system, to transition away
not the first time we saw video of police
and call for an end to the police brutal-
recklessness; the Eric Garner Excessive
from a policing-first model. The best
brutality, and there are countless stories
ity and targeting of African Americans
Use of Force Prevention Act, which pro-
anti-crime policies are anti-poverty
of unarmed African Americans who
around the nation.
equally under the law.
hibits and makes punishable the use of a
policies, and we must invest in our
have been profiled, brutalized, or tragi-
The Justice in Policing Act aims to
chokehold or any maneuvers restricting
communities to foster hope, change
cally losing their life as a result of po-
remove barriers to prosecuting police
blood flow or oxygen to the brain; the End-
and opportunity. If we fail to act and
lice violence. And, there are the names
misconduct and recovering damages
ing Qualified Immunity Act, which explic-
implement real change today, history
of victims that we have come to know
from officers who have violated civil-
itly states that the judicial theory of quali-
will judge us by our inaction and fail-
from their stories that have captured
ians’ rights, including by ending qual-
fied immunity is not a defense to liability;
ure to ensure life, liberty and justice
the attention of the nation: Eric Garner,
ified immunity by law enforcement;
the Police Exercising Absolute Care with
for all.
Ezell Ford, Tanisha Anderson, Tamir
demilitarize the police by limiting the
Everyone (PEACE) Act to change the use
Rice, Natasha McKenna, Philando Cas-
transfer of military weaponry to state
of force standard for officers to require that
tile, Botham Jean, Breonna Taylor, and
and local police departments; combat
force must be necessary, as a last resort; the
unfortunately many others.
police brutality, including by requiring
Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act,
Espaillat represents New York’s 13th District. Story originally published in The Hill
Vol. 25, No 26 June 25, 2020
subscription information page 18
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