We’re still keeping a full calendar of remote events. Check https://indivisibleyolo.org/calendar/ for the most up-to-date information on actions and events you can join!
Hello Indivisibles,
Thank you all who were able to make public comments at City Councils across Yolo county. We asked our Council members to defund police departments and move some of that money away from the current one-size-fits all armed response for every situation. And we know our council members have to take notice- for example, after more than an hour and a half of public comment, Davis City Council members said that they had never had this level of public engagement in a budget meeting before. It’s going to take more work with the city councils to make sure that this isn’t a one-time comment they can dismiss- but we do know that they’re seeing the outpouring from the public, and if we can sustain it we can implement real change.
As we continue to work on addressing systemic racism in policing, we have an opportunity on a statewide level to get oversight of Sheriff’s departments. AB 1185 is expected to come up for a vote on the state Senate floor any day. It would allow counties to establish an independent Sheriff oversight board, with subpoena powers to actually do investigations.
The bill stems in part from a particularly egregious example of Sheriff’s offices avoiding oversight with Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones:
“former Sacramento Inspector General Rick Braziel released a critical report about the death of Mikel McIntyre, an unarmed black man fatally shot on Highway 50 in May 2017. Braziel concluded that the 28 rounds Jones’s sheriff deputies fired were ‘excessive, unnecessary and put the community at risk.’
After the report was published, Jones blocked Braziel’s ability to continue further investigations by locking him out of the department’s building and blocking all access to records and personnel.”
We have the chance to push Sen. Dodd to vote YES on AB 1185, giving counties across California real oversight power so that the Sheriff’s office can’t simply lock inspectors out and refuse any transparency or accountability.
Below you’ll find example call scripts, phone numbers, and email links for our state representatives.
Want some company making your calls to representatives? Join our Virtual Action Coffee Zoom meeting Monday mornings at 10 am: https://zoom.us/j/721847201. We’ll talk through Indivisible Yolo’s action of the week, call or email our representatives, talk politics, and stay connected to each other and the work in this challenging time.
And as always, you can find up-to-date events on our calendar at https://indivisibleyolo.org/calendar/.
Take care, and take action!
-The Indivisible Yolo Team
Spotlight event: Mark Your Calendars, Order your Books:A Community Read.
We invite you to read Unrigged by David Daley, then join us for a moderated online discussion about grassroots political action. Join Indivisible Yolo and Sister District CA-3, at 7pm on Wednesday, July 15th via Zoom.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Register here:Â bit.ly/unrigged
Action: State Sen. Dodd: YES on Sheriff oversight; Get the police out of your pocketbook
State Sen. Dodd:Â Â (916) 651-4003Â (Sacramento office)Â Â (email)
Sample script for State Sen. Bill Dodd:
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY/ZIP CODE]. It’s never been more clear that we need to be able to demand accountability and oversight of law enforcement. I’m asking Senator Dodd to support AB 1185, which allows counties to establish a sheriff oversight board.
I’m also concerned that Senator Dodd is still taking donations from police unions and PACs. I can’t trust that he will act in the public’s interest if he continues to accept the money police are using to buy influence. I’m asking Senator Dodd to PUBLICLY commit to stop taking campaign contributions from police unions and PACs, and to donate the money that has already been received to bail funds and mutual aid organizations.
Action: Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry: Get the police out of your pocketbook
- Assm. Aguiar-Curry:Â (530) 757-1034Â (Davis)Â
- (916) 319-2004Â (Sacramento)Â email
Sample script:
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY/ZIP CODE]. We need swift and comprehensive state legislation reforms to address police violence. I’m concerned that Assemblymember Aguair-Curry is still taking donations from police unions and PACs. I can’t trust that she will act in the public’s interests if she continues to accept the money police are using to buy influence. I’m asking Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry to PUBLICLY commit to stop taking campaign contributions from police unions and PACs, and to donate the money that has already been received to bail funds and mutual aid organizations.
