Oppose Punitive Police Measures, Choose Public Safety over Criminalization

Today I take pen in hand to write and express my strong opposition to the continued militarization and inclusion of police in immigration enforcement with zero accountability, and police themselves are now acting with decreased adherence to civil rights and due process. This summer more ‘tough on crime’ legislation and more money has been allocated by Congress with the sole aim of policies that embrace punitive practices that disproportionately criminalize and incarcerate Black, Brown, and immigrant communities. It’s police terrorism, not police protection for communities. As a citizen, I’m increasingly wary of all police. What would I get through any interaction with them? Why would I help them? Instead of increasing unchecked resources for law enforcement, we urge you to build true community safety by investing in evidence-based prevention strategies and the resources that allow all communities to thrive. For too long, we have relied on criminalization, incarceration, and aggressive policing in a misguided attempt to create public safety. However, this approach has failed our nation, particularly communities of color. If anything it’s manufactured new crises with the latest round of cruel immigration enforcement policies. Increased incarceration and police spending have had little to no impact on reducing crime rates since 2000. On the contrary, racist policies and practices rooted in the unjust association of Blackness with criminality have led to the targeted over-policing and mass incarceration of Black and Brown individuals. True public safety is achieved through equitable access to quality education, healthcare, affordable housing, and economic opportunities - not through further investments in a carceral system that perpetuates structural racism and dehumanization. We must pivot away from "tough on crime" policies and instead invest in non-carceral, community-led initiatives proven to reduce violence and enhance wellbeing, such as violence interruption programs, neighborhood mediation, and alternative crisis response models. We urge you to speak out on bills and programs that center justice and humanity over criminalization. Rather than shielding officers from accountability or expanding failed tough-on-crime approaches, we call on you to advance legislation that addresses the root causes of abuse of power in police forces. Public safety cannot be achieved through arrest, deportation, or imprisonment alone - it requires holistic, equitable investment in the systems and resources that allow all people to truly thrive. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter of public safety.