Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR) Committee Chair Sen. Will Smith (D20) has announced three days of virtual hearings on September 22, 23 and 24 from 1-5 pm to address 15 police reform bills that Sens. Jill Carter (D41), Charles Sydnor (D44) and Chairman Smith have introduced. WDC President Conway will speak for two minutes between 4:30-5 pm on Tuesday, September 22, regarding JPR 1—Use of Force Standards, sponsored by Sen. Carter.
Update from WDC’s Task Force on Racial Equity in Public Safety (REPS).
On August 12, REPS Task Force Chair, Lisa Henderson, and member, Beth Tomasello, met via Zoom with Councilmember-At-Large Will Jawando and his Chief of Staff, Cecily Thorne. Councilmember Jawando reviewed the provisions of County Council Bill 27-20E (which he sponsored) to discuss how the provisions addressed the #8CANTWAIT use-of-force policing reforms which the REPS Task Force has endorsed as first steps in reinventing County policing. Councilmember Jawando also discussed future legislation needed to address transparency, training, and accountability in County policing, including the need for comprehensive data collection on racial disparities in policing. The County only collects information on traffic stops; however, that data clearly show a great disparity in the number of stops directed at Black men and men of color.
At the recommendation of the REPS Task Force, WDC signed on to two letters sponsored by statewide advocacy groups. The first letter
Read moreWDC Creates Racial Equity and Public Safety Task Force (REPS)
Photo by Janavi Dhyani. Image was taken at Black Lives Matter Plaza during DC Freedom Fighters March on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
WDC President Diana Conway recently appointed a Task Force on Racial Equity in Public Safety (REPS) to lead WDC’s work in supporting greater racial justice in law enforcement. As a first measure of reform, WDC is supporting the immediate implementation of the policing reforms known as #8CANTWAIT (#8CW) as a first step in an overall re-imagining and re-structuring of law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County. Lisa Henderson, Co-Chair of the Partnerships and Outreach Committee, is heading the REPS Task Force. Dr. Angela Davis of American University, a recent WDC speaker, has agreed to serve as an informal adviser to REPS.
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