Published
3 years agoon
WASHINGTON — More than four dozen progressive groups have signed a letter to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign criticizing his police reform proposals and warning that if he doesn’t adopt more progressive policies he risks losing black voters — and the election — this fall.
While some progressive advocates are calling for fully dismantling the police, other advocacy groups, like the NAACP, have expressed support for community policing and broader police reforms.
The letter also calls on Biden to support a raft of policies laid out in an agenda issued by The Movement for Black Lives, including reparations for black Americans, something Biden has not opposed outright but says he’d like to study before making a final decision.
In response to the letter, Biden’s campaign pointed to remarks he delivered in Philadelphia earlier this month responding to Floyd’s killing and the call for police reforms. In the speech, Biden called on Congress to pass a law banning the use of chokeholds by police, to stop giving police forces military weapons, to create a model “use of force” standard and to improve oversight and accountability of police forces. He also noted that he’s committed to creating a national police oversight board within his first 100 days as president.
“A down payment on what is long overdue should come now. Immediately,” Biden said in the speech.
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