12-08-14 Amended Council Agenda, Packet & Committee Meetings

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Civil Rights Coalition Urges National Reforms and Recommendations to Address Police ... Page 2 of 3 Attorney General Eric Holder's plan to investigate racial bias among law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, is a bold first step towards justice for thousands of victims of racial Profiling throughout the country. The NAACP Missouri State Conference has been a leader on this front, filing five complaints with the Department of Justice, with regards to cases in St. Louis County. We applaud Attorney General Holder for his leadership in investigating the police interactions that resulted in the death of Michael Brown and that of others across the country. Barbara R. Arnwine, President and Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. As the federal investigation of the Ferguson Police Department continues, revealing the actual practices by the police department, including patterns of racially disproportionate policing, and as the Department of Justice's study of racial bias in law enforcement gets underway, the Lawyers' Committee remains hopeful that the application of the rule of law will yield a just and fair result for Michael Brown and his family and former and pending police lawsuits and internal investigations nationwide. Also, the Ferguson tragedy heightens national awareness of the criticality of voting. It is your right and your duty to make your voice heard by exercising the fundamental right to vote to effect change in your community and in the nation. Clayola Brown, President, A. Philip Randolph Institute: The A. Philip Randolph Institute supports the recommended strategy of reform to ensure that the problem of police abuse is addressed at the highest level. We applaud the swift action of President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. and the Department of Justice for taking a strong stance against violence and for speaking in favor of restructuring the current landscape to encourage diversity within law enforcement so that the true healing of our communities can move forward. Wade Henderson, President and CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: The Department of Justice should be commended for responding swiftly to the tragedy in Ferguson and for taking steps to address racial bias in policing, which undermines effective law enforcement and leads to the victimization of entire communities. The need for sensible reforms is urgent and we urge the administration and Congress to respond accordingly. Pamela Meanes, President, The National Bar Association: The National Bar Association applauds the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division's civil pattern or practice investigation into allegations of unlawful policing by the City of Ferguson. Such an investigation was needed and long overdue. African American communities, such as Ferguson, have routinely been subjected to Investigatory Stops without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Stops resulting in unconstitutional detentions and searches. Accordingly, The National Bar Association encourages the DOJ to launch similar investigations in the 25 cities that it has sent Open Records Request. More important, the Association demands Congress to enactment of federal legislation: t) making it mandatory for police officers to wear body monitors and any violation of this requirement would result in automatic suspension and /or termination; 2) developing and implementing an Early Warning System be to identify officers who are prone to emotional instability or behavior problems; 3) reviewing the use of Deadly Force policies; and 4) mandatory reporting of incidents by race. Laura W. Murphy, Director, Washington Legislative Office, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): We are encouraged by the Attorney General's plan to investigate racial bias in law enforcement in select U.S. cities and hope to see such actions replicated nationally. The Department of Justice http: / /www.naacp.org/ news /entry /civil- rights - coalition- urges - national - reforms- and - recom... 12/1/2014