ALLIANCE FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM
ADVOCATES FOR MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform issued the following statement in response to the decision in the Derek Chauvin trial:
Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform issued the following statement in response to the decision in the Derek Chauvin trial:
OUR ALLIANCE
Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform (ACJR) is a collective banner of artists, athletes, former policymakers, actors, thought leaders and other notables working towards the passage of meaningful police reform legislation.
OUR REQUEST
ACJR is organizing an upcoming virtual lobbying day, which will convene meetings between celebrity advocates, legislative experts, and Members of the U.S. Senate. Our goal is to push the U.S. Senate to pass meaningful police reform legislation in 2021.
ACJR is calling upon advocates -- supportive of meaningful police reform and willing to participate in small Zoom meetings with U.S. Senate offices -- to join our cause.
2-4 advocates are needed per meeting. Where possible, we'll match artists to U.S. Senators on the basis of geographical representation. All backgrounds, races, ages are welcome and encouraged to participate.
DIVERSITY IN PRESENTATION IS A STRENGTH!
LOBBY DAY ANNOUNCEMENT
ALLIANCE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HOLDS VIRTUAL LOBBY DAY WITH U.S. SENATORS
Celebrity advocates continued push for meaningful reform by urging U.S. Senate to pass George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON, DC (May 14, 2021) – This week, members of the Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform (ACJR) held a virtual lobby day with various U.S. Senators and their staff to advocate for the swift passage of meaningful police reform.
The series of 17 meetings featured a diverse group of 35 professional athletes, recording artists, NBA coaches and legislative experts – including Babyface, Maxwell, Dionne Warwick, Tyrell Adams, Doug Middleton, Gerald McCoy, Gregg Popovich, Logan Ryan, Michael Thomas, Robert Griffin III, Anson Carter, Rick Carlisle, David Fizdale, Doc Rivers and Stephen Silas – sharing their lived experiences and passion for social justice in hopes of spurring the U.S. Senate to enact the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed through the U.S. House of Representatives in March. With the safety and security of their communities at stake, particularly for people of color, each ACJR participant used the opportunity to reaffirm the need for heightened transparency, accountability and training among law enforcement while seeking answers as to what it will take for those standards to be established at the national level.
As the one-year mark of George Floyd’s death approaches in May and with ongoing police reform negotiations among U.S. Senators, the Alliance plans to continue its push until impactful legislation has passed. These efforts include a digital day of action on May 19 and more meetings with Senate offices.
Since launching in March, more than 120 celebrity advocates – ranging from musical stars to CEOs to members of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), NFL Players Association (NFLPA), Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) and National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) – have joined the Alliance as signatories to its “Call to Action” for meaningful public safety reform.
###
About the Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform (ACJR):
The Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform is a coalition of citizen-activists working at the federal, state and local levels for the enactment of meaningful police reform legislation in 2021. Featuring support from some of the nation’s best-known athletes, coaches, actors and recording artists, the Alliance seeks to demonstrate through the diversity of its supporters the breadth of support for meaningful public safety reforms that respect citizens and law enforcement. The Alliance’s top priority is winning Senate passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill has already passed the House. To learn more, visit alliancecjr.com.
Press Contacts:
Casey Murray (ACJR/Shape Advocacy) Casey.Murray@shapeadvocacy.com
David Fogel (NBCA) David.Fogel@nbacoaches.com
Brandon Parker (NFLPA) Brandon.Parker@nflpa.com
David Cooper (WNBPA/MVP PR) David@MVPPR.com
LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM GROUP LAUNCHES WITH BACKING OF
TOP COACHES, ATHLETES, ACTORS AND RECORDING ARTISTS
Call to Action as House passes Justice in Policing Act; trial of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin starts
WASHINGTON, DC (March 11, 2021) – Today, as the trial of ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin gets underway, a group including top recording artists, actors and basketball players and coaches launched the Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform (ACJR) to advocate for the enactment of the federal “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.”
Included among the group’s supporters are musical stars ranging from Dan + Shay to Nas and Sean “Puffy” Combs, as well as members of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) such as Chris Paul, Andre Iguodala, Nneka Ogwumike and Sue Bird, National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) including Gregg Popovich, Doc Rivers, Lloyd Pierce, Rick Carlisle and National Hockey League alumni J.T. Brown and Anson Carter (see full list below).
The legislation, named for Officer Chauvin’s victim, passed the U.S. House last week but awaits consideration in the Senate. It is wide-ranging police reform legislation that would, among other things: end racial profiling; hold police accountable; change the culture of law enforcement; and build trust between law enforcement and communities by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives.
As the anniversary of George Floyd’s death approaches in May, the Alliance announced plans for a virtual “lobbying day” of the U.S. Senate this Spring via the following “Call to Action”:
“The House of Representatives recently passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and we thank them for moving it early this year. As all eyes turn to the Senate... we must use our platform to ensure meaningful reform remains a priority. We’ve been patient up to a point. But our country needs substantive action by our national leaders NOW. Lives depend on it.” [Full text attached]
The ACJR is seeking additional signatories to the “Call to Action.” Those interested in joining the effort should contact info@alliancecjr.com.
###
About the Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform (ACJR):
The Alliance for Criminal Justice Reform is a coalition of citizen-activists working at the federal, state and local levels for the enactment of meaningful police reform legislation in 2021. Featuring support from some of the nation’s best-known athletes, coaches, actors and recording artists, the Alliance seeks to demonstrate through the diversity of its supporters the breadth of support for meaningful public safety reforms that respect citizens and law enforcement. The Alliance’s top priority is winning Senate passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill has already passed the House. To learn more, visit alliancecjr.com.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Casey Murray (ACJR/Shape Advocacy) Casey.Murray@shapeadvocacy.com
Elle Hagedorn (NBPA) Elle.Hagedorn@nbpa.com
David Cooper (WNBPA/MVP PR) David@MVPPR.com
GET ENGAGED WITH MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
The centerpiece of nationwide, constructive police reform is George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (H.R. 1280). This piece of legislation, crafted by the Congressional Black Caucus and endorsed by a broad coalition of civil rights organizations addresses:
Racial and religious profiling by law enforcement;
The use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants;
Transparency of police records; and
Investigations of police misconduct and use of force.
Full text of the legislation is available HERE.
JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT ENDORSEMENTS
Nearly 200 co-sponsors from the U.S. House of Representatives, along with key government officials and agencies, have called for the passage of this comprehensive approach to changing the culture of law enforcement and building trust in our communities.
Click to drop down for endorsements.
President Joe Biden: “I am pleased that the House will vote next week on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. I encourage the House to pass it. Following Senate consideration, I hope to be able to sign into law a landmark police reform bill.”
Vice President Kamala Harris: “The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act represents an important step towards ensuring more accountability and transparency in policing. I join @POTUS in encouraging Congress to pass this legislation and get it to the President’s desk.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Last summer, George Floyd spoke his final words – ‘I can’t breathe’ – and changed the course of history in our nation. Today, by re-introducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the House is again joining the American people to turn this moment of agony into one of action, as we honor George Floyd’s life and the lives of all killed by police brutality. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will address systemic racism, curb police brutality and save lives. This legislation includes bold reforms, which ban chokeholds, stop no-knock warrants, end the court-created qualified immunity doctrine, combat racial profiling, and establish strong new standards and protections to prevent and combat police misconduct. Sadly, despite mass protests across America and a renewed focus on the crisis of racial injustice, the epidemic of police brutality continues – with more police killings occurring last year than in the year before, and with communities of color and vulnerable groups disproportionately bearing the brunt of this cruelty. We must act decisively and urgently to end the injustice. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration and the millions of Americans marching and demanding action, we will not stop working until this legislation becomes law.”
White House: “To make our communities safer, we must begin by rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they are entrusted to serve and protect. We cannot rebuild that trust if we do not hold police officers accountable for abuses of power and tackle systemic misconduct – and systemic racism – in police departments. President Biden has a long record of championing meaningful policing reform and previously called for the Congress to enact provisions like those in H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The Administration encourages the House to pass this legislation, and looks forward to working with the Congress to enact a landmark policing reform law.”
Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty: “We cannot bring back George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Andre Hill, Casey Goodson, Jr. or the countless men and women who have died or been injured senselessly by law enforcement, but we can prevent similar tragedies in the future. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will do precisely that by guaranteeing transparency and accountability from the very people sworn to protect and serve all Americans—and at the same time ensure justice for every one of us. That is why I am proud to cosponsor this much-needed, long overdue bill and have made its passage a top priority for the Congressional Black Caucus.”
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
A fact sheet on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 is available HERE.
A comparison of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act v. Senate Republican bill v. President Trump's executive order is available HERE.
A section-by-section summary of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 is available HERE.