There are frequent discussions in the comments about how badly policing changes are needed. Not to mention the discussions of what the efforts to make those changes should be called!
Find out what Barack Obama has set in motion to help make policing changes more than something we just talk about.
In June 2020, President Obama and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance challenged mayors and city leaders to amplify their communities’ calls for policing reform and accountability. More than 300 local jurisdictions have taken the Reimagining Policing Pledge to review and reform use-of-force policies and combat systemic racism within law enforcement. This report documents the pledge’s inspiration, shares highlights of the participating cities’ progress, and offers next steps for building on the momentum of the pledge.
If you’re interested, read the report and attend the town hall tomorrow.
Open thread.
Edmund Dantes
Can’t believe we lost income limits argument to the moderate Dems but we had to actively talk them out of limiting the unemployment benefit too.
way to play the politics stupid Dem moderates.
rikyrah
@Edmund Dantes:
they are ridiculous
Benw
I cannot say enough about what an amazing job so many young, POC activists did organizing and leading the protests in 2020
WaterGirl
@Edmund Dantes: @rikyrah:
I literally feel kind of sick to my stomach watching Manchin and Sinema and their ill-informed positions on the filibuster, and watching them water down this bill.
WaterGirl
@Benw: It really was impressive!
With all the discussions here about defunding the police, I thought there would be interest in this town hall. I hope it’s not the case that people would rather complain about the slogan choice than learn more about what’s happening to solve a very complicated problem.
Benw
@WaterGirl:
Wow are you new to the internet!
:)
WaterGirl
@Benw: You made me laugh.
Lyrebird
@Benw: YES!!!
Every time the seditionists in Congress say any words about BLM, Antifa, etc, I think there should be a mandated 5 minute video with highlights from around the country.
Including that dude who helped the National Guard unit shape up their formation.
How dare they equate the two.
And go BHO!
different-church-lady
Wait, I was told it was UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE for any police reform slogan other than “DEFUND!” to be even conceived! How has Obama accomplished this miracle of language?!?
Old School
Here’s the pledge mentioned in the post:
different-church-lady
@Old School: None of those things make it overt that police are the enemy and must be done away with entirely. Once again, Obama sells us out.
Old School
Here’s what they’d like government leaders to commit to:
Old School
@different-church-lady:
Don’t worry. Fox will still present it that way.
taumaturgo
“Centrist Senate Democrats had initially pushed for even more aggressive restrictions on the stimulus payments. Senior Democratic officials had at one point considered dropping the full benefit for those making more than $50,000 per year, a change they ultimately abandoned after a backlash led by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).” WP today.
Centrist neoliberals looking out for the wallets of the Chamber of Commerce and big donors, not the party or the working man and women. Why are they called Democrats?
mrmoshpotato
@different-church-lady:
Hey now! Show some
lovehate for the stupidity of “ABOLISH THE POLICE!” too!Kirk Spencer
@taumaturgo: because they’re not insurrectionists
Benw
@Lyrebird: that one’s a classic! I laughed so hard
I heart BHO. (Don’t tell Michelle)
gwangung
@taumaturgo:
So. Who are these Senators? Why did this creep up on progressives, seemingly unaware (shouldn’t this be something progressive activists should be aware of?) Why isn’t there pressure, in state, on moderate Senators?
UncleEbeneezer
Thanks for posting this. I will try to check it out though it actually overlaps my local police reform meeting by a bit.
Leto
@WaterGirl: I get tired of watching the new and creative ways Manchin continues to fuck Dems. Glad he has a partner with Sinema.
Hoppie
It’s really great to see meaningful discussion about these issues.
The town I grew up in (Yellow Springs, OH) had an African-American police chief. It was where all the black Air Force officers stationed at Wright-Patt lived. The town used to advertise for police applicants in the want ads of the Saturday Review of Literature. You CAN do it differently.
I entered a completely strange world when I went to University in Baltimore. Ho boy!
Brachiator
@Edmund Dantes:
Can’t believe we lost income limits argument to the moderate Dems
This is not a moderate Dems issue. I have not seen so-called progressives Dems consistently speak coherently on this.
Brachiator
@Hoppie:
Absolutely agree with you on this.
Omnes Omnibus
Reimagine Policing. That’s kind of a catchy slogan.
Mary G
Good. I donate to the Obama Foundation, and they do a lot with young people without making a lot of noise about it. And O/T:
Brachiator
@different-church-lady:
I remember some of those conversations. It was never about keeping any particular message.
It was about listening to the people whose lives are shattered by improper police procedures.
I am so glad to see Obama hosting this. I hope that people listen.
Soprano2
@different-church-lady: LOL, you made me laugh. I had the exact same reaction.
tokyokie
I’ve gotten my vaccinations already because after I was laid off from the newspaper business a few years ago, I went back to school and became a nurse. Sorta doubt that’s a viable option at this juncture.
raven
So people here think they were going to get everything they wanted? right
zhena gogolia
@different-church-lady:
hahaha
piratedan
hearing that Congress will not be in session tomorrow due to credible threats against the body on the 4th
raven
Baud
@raven:
No reason for the House to be there. They did their work.
Brachiator
@piratedan:
This is insane.
It is also domestic terrorism.
jeffreyw
Serious people talking loudly out in the open about this very serious threat means that Dems will have to treat it very seriously, indeed. And republicans will tremble in fear that there may be a just god
Skepticat
@mrmoshpotato:
I’m so pleased to see an intelligent, rational, positive approach to this positioning. As a copywriter, I gave some thought to offering a suggestion, but this is spot on.
mrmoshpotato
@Skepticat: I don’t know if you’re mocking me or not. Bravo! :)
WaterGirl
@Mary G: I love that.
schrodingers_cat
Defunding the Police slogan hurt the Dems among conservative leaning non-white voters, according to recent analysis of election data.
WaterGirl
Maybe it’s just me, but I would love to stop talking about the DEFUND the Police slogan, and start talking about what real people are actually doing to hold police accountable and make it so that police can’t kill black people with impunity.
If we actually think Black Lives Matter, I would love to talk more about black lives mattering and less about whether people chose the right slogan or not.
rikyrah
@raven:
they better be ready to shoot someone this time.
WaterGirl
@rikyrah: I shudder to think what would have happened if they had not shot the woman who was coming in through the window. I think that if they had not done that, a lot more blood would have been shed on Jan 6.
Uncle Omar
I don’t know how many of you have read this, http://www.washingtonian.com/2021/02/19/trump-hotel-employees-tell-all-what-it-was-really-like-serving-right-wing-elite/ but the part about TFG tells me that he’s reached Howard Hughes At The Desert Inn Level Two.
Starfish
@WaterGirl: It was all about people wanting to wear the comfortable racism that fits well.
IbnBob
I’ve got some cardiac stuff going on today, but I’ve got some suggestions. Long term brainstorming; I already know they’re impossible in the immediacy.
I suggest looking to a military model; I DO NOT mean more guns. The military has learned a great deal about putting specialists together for a common task, so I suggest:
Some sort Police Specialty Certificate (kinda like an MOS), earned thriugh training. Patrol, dealing with domestic disputes, dealing with emotional/mental issues, and many others. All trained by certified police academies, using federal/national standards for certification programs. Local non-cop specialists can also be trained.
And dispatchers/supervisors can out together teams suited either for routine or event/emergency assignments.
Can even still have SWAT teams; but SWAT certificate (gun safety and gun use certs first). NOT permanently assigned. Just refresher training in non-permanent teams a couple times a year. Don’t let them think they’re The Elite. And stop letting local cops be their own arbiters.