Members of the APEA were fortunate to meet with Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Mindy Domb on Friday, July 10,to talk about police training and use of force, and other actions to protect Black and Brown lives. One action step that came out of the meeting was to encourage members to communicate their support for legislative action. A handful of APEA members who were at the meeting stayed on after to pull together this material below to help us with taking this action. (Thank you, Irene LaRoche, Tiffany Thibodeau, Joe Costello, Danielle Seltzer, Amanda Lewis, and Kathy Carey!)
Georgia Malcolm, APEA Unit B Chair
Meka Magee, APEA Ethnic Minority Chair
One action you can take right now is to email your legislators to encourage support for a bill that is currently in the MA Senate Bill S.2800 and bills being brought to the MA House. We have included a possible letter template here along with contact information.
Letters of support for the House to take action: House Chair of Ways & Means: Aaron.Michlewitz@mahouse.gov and Speaker of the House: Robert.DeLeo@mahouse.gov
July 10, 2020
Dear Speaker of the House DeLeo,
My name is [first name, last name] and I live in [town or city]. I am writing to express support for the House to take immediate action on police accountability and reform in Massachusetts.
I would like you to immediately move the proposed legislation for police reform from the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus to the floor.
In addition, I would like to address Governor Baker’s proposal that police training be incentivized. As a constituent, I demand that anti-racism and de-escalation training be universal and mandatory, and that it is not incentivized, as it should be part of the general job expectations of our police force.
Sincerely,
[name]
[address and phone # if you want a response]
July 10, 2020
Dear Representative Michlewitz,
My name is [first name, last name] and I live in [town or city]. I am writing to express support for the House to take immediate action on police accountability and reform in Massachusetts.
I would like you to immediately move the proposed legislation for police reform from the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus to the floor.
In addition, I would like to address Governor Baker’s proposal that police training be incentivized. As a constituent, I demand that anti-racism and de-escalation training be universal and mandatory, and that it is not incentivized, as it should be part of the general job expectations of our police force.
Sincerely,
[name]
[address and phone # if you want a response]
Please email: To Senate President Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov
and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael.Rodrigues@masenate.gov
https://senatorjocomerford.
This is “An act to reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair, and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of color.”
Bill S.2800, the Reform, Shift and Build Act
July 10, 2020
Dear Senator Spilka,
My name is [first name, last name] and I live in [town or city]. I would like to express strong support for Bill S.2800, the Reform, Shift and Build Act. I know that you are pushing against opposition to the legislation and I want to tell you that I am with you. Please hold strong. I understand that there is a concern for lack of public hearing. The protests in numerous communities throughout Massachusetts to advocate for Black lives and to push for police reforms indicate that the legislation must be enacted immediately and that the public is with you. You must pass Bill S. 2800, the Reform, Shift and Build Act now.
Sincerely,
[name]
[address and phone # if you want a response]
July 10, 2020
Dear Senator Rodrigues,
My name is [first name, last name] and I live in [town or city]. I would like to express strong support for Bill S.2800, the Reform, Shift and Build Act. I know that you are pushing against opposition to the legislation and I want to tell you that I am with you. Please hold strong. I understand that there is a concern for lack of public hearing. The protests in numerous communities throughout Massachusetts to advocate for Black lives and to push for police reforms indicate that the legislation must be enacted immediately and that the public is with you. You must pass Bill S. 2800, the Reform, Shift and Build Act now.
Sincerely,
[name]
[address and phone # if you want a response]