Number
180943
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. LEWIS
Title
Resolution urging the President of the United States, the U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to declare the deaths of black men at the hands of the police a homeland security crisis.
Analysis
This resolution urges the President of the United States to direct the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to declare the deaths of black men at the hands of the police a homeland security crisis. The resolution further urges the U.S. Department of Justice to dedicate resources to solve one of the nation’s problems of police shootings of unarmed men of color through direct action or partnership with local and state governments.
Body
Whereas, People of color comprise 38.5 percent of the U.S. population, but account for 51.5 percent of all years of life lost in police-related deaths from 2015 to 2016; and
Whereas, African-Americans died at a rate of 7.2 per million compared to 2.9 million for white Americans in police related deaths; and
Whereas, The safety and protection of the public while sustaining the civil rights of all Americans should be of great concern and duty of law enforcement officials; and
Whereas, The U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for ensuring that civil rights protections are enforced for African-Americans and other people of color who are often the subjects of police shootings; and
Whereas, The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security should call for federal, state, and local prosecutors to prosecute police misconduct; and
Whereas, Local prosecutors need to create local civil rights units dedicated to investigating and prosecuting police misconduct independently and fairly; and
Whereas, All police departments should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and reject misguided law enforcement practices currently in use; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Coun...
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