Thank you and next steps for racial profiling hearing...

[Pabitra Benjamin]

(Jannell and Tarsha-if this does not get to the list, can you forward it for me? Thank you)

 

Hello Houston comrades,

 

I don’t know if you all got our thank you email but if you did not I apologize because this email then must seem to be coming so late. Once again-Thank you all so much for all the work you did to make a fabulous hearing happen! We have finished all six hearings and will now our staff has started to work on the report that will be released in September. You all should be receiving the transcripts from your hearings so are welcome to do whatever you would like with them.

 

I would love to look at next steps for the work to stop racial profiling in Houston if you all are interested. I would also like to hear from all of you about what you thought went well, what we could have done better (especially as a national organization working with you all), what you all would like to do next, etc.  If you could like to do a call like this let me know when you would like to do it and who would like to join.

 

Also there are a lot of concrete next steps that can be taken with the Face the Truth campaign including congressional visits for ERPA and an action for the Week of Action in September. I hope that you all will consider both as potential next steps for your coalition. Below is an email we recently sent to those who have endorsed the campaign, if you have not, please consider doing so here.

 

I am also interested in seeing generally how we may be able to support your work to stop racial profiling locally.

 

Thank you,

Pabitra

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your endorsement of the Racial Profiling: Face the Truth campaign. As you know, Wednesday, the Arizona courts issued a preliminary injunction, stopping many of the most egregious sections of SB 1070 from being enacted while the various lawsuits progress. We still need to send a clear message to all states and localities that racial profiling, no matter what the rational, is still wrong.

 

Since the campaign launched in September 2009, we have made great strides towards stopping racial profiling. Advocates have worked for years to introduce legislation that holds law enforcement accountable and protects all of our communities. On July 15, the End Racial Profiling Act of 2010 (ERPA)was re-introduced.  ERPA brings us one step closer in solving this problem that continues to plague our communities.

 

In the last two months, Rights Working Group co-hosted 6 field hearings with you, our partners. We have heard heartbreaking testimony of racial profiling and its devastating effect on individuals, families and communities. We saw how racial profiling can lead to inequity in our criminal justice system. We saw how racial profiling breeds mistrust of law enforcement. These stories weave together to form a national tragedy that requires a national solution.

 

This August, we need your help. While they are back in the district offices, urge your congressional representatives to co-sponsor ERPA and end programs that lead to racial profiling. We have educational materials to prepare you for your visits, as well issue briefs that you can give your Congressional Representatives.  If you are interested participating please contact Pabitra Benjamin at pben...@rightsworkinggroup.org.  If you can’t go on Congressional visits, please email your Congressional member asking them to co-sponsor and pass ERPA. Click here to send a letter.

 

While we work to pass ERPA, the Obama administration can do more to stop racial profiling. Revising the 2003 DOJ guidelines is a comprehensive solution that could address racial profiling in all of its forms including immigration enforcement programs like 287(g) and Secure Communities.  We have a letter from organizations to Attorney General Eric Holder highlighting the guidelines’ limitations and suggesting revisions.  Many of you have already signed on for your organizations, and we thank you for your support.  If you haven’t, please consider signing on.  Join civil, immigrant and human rights groups from across the nation in calling to real reform. 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Rebecca Headen

Rights Working Group

 

 

 

Pabitra Benjamin

Field Director 
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