Feminist Majority Stands Against Racial Injustice and Police Brutality

The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, and David McAtee have once again exposed the ugly truth about systemic racism and anti-Blackness in America. Justice is long past due for the countless Black Americans who have lost their lives to police brutality and white supremacist violence, and we stand in solidarity with those calling for an end to these injustices. We have joined our partners and allies in The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to demand Congress to take the following actions to end police brutality immediately:

Require a federal standard that necessitates police force be used only as a last resort; bans use of force against those who only verbally confront officers or who only pose a danger to themselves; and requires all officers to accurately report all uses of force.
End the use of neck holds, chokeholds, and similar excessive force by the police.
Prohibit racial profiling and require cross-demographic data collection on police-community encounters and law enforcement activities.
Eliminate federal programs that provide military equipment to law enforcement.
Prohibit the use of no-knock warrants, especially for drug searches.
Change legal requirements so prosecutors can successfully hold law enforcement accountable for the deprivation of civil rights and civil liberties.
Develop a national public database of all U.S. police agencies, including: names of officers who have had their licenses revoked due to misconduct involving violence, perjury, falsifying a police report, or planting and destroying evidence; and terminations and complaints against these officers.
End the qualified immunity doctrine which prevents police from being held legally accountable when they break the law.

On April 20, 2021, Derek Chauvin was convicted on all three counts for the murder of George Floyd. Feminist Majority Foundation unequivocally supports the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, which we see as an important step in ending police brutality. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding law enforcement accountability and policing practices. The Act would ban chokeholds, limit qualified immunity, lower the criminal intent standard to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct, and authorizes the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas in investigations of police departments for a practice of discrimination. The Act would also establish a national registry to compile data on police misconduct records. It has passed in the U.S. House, with all but two Democrats voting in favor and all but one Republicans voting against. It is currently being blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

Many of our supporters, affiliated student organizations, and members have already taken action by donating their money and/or time; protesting in their communities; educating their friends, families, and peers; participating in mutual aid efforts; amplifying Black voices on social media; and writing to elected officials and police department officials to push for legislative and policy change. Below are resources to help you continue (or start) taking action and stay in the fight against racial injustice. We have included racial justice and civil rights organizations who are doing this work everyday, as well as actions you can take right now and ways to further educate yourself on racial justice and allyship.

Donate:

African American Policy Forum (home of #SayHerName)

Black Lives Matter

Black Visions Collective

Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100)

Campaign Zero

Color of Change

Fair Fight

Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Movement for Black Lives

NAACP

NAACP Legal and Education Defense Fund