Concrete steps for accountability and change
Contact all members of Congress:
- By phone: (202) 224-3121
- By email: democracy.io
- By US mail: Representatives / Senators
- By fax: Representatives / Senators
- By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- GET POLICE OUT OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT
The murder of Tyre Nichols is another tragedy in a long line of injustices and avoidable deaths at the hands of American police, and another outrage suffered by an innocent Black man. We need to be pushing for major policy and social changes if this is ever going to stop. Activists on the ground in Memphis are demanding police be removed from traffic enforcement entirely, ending a practice notoriously stained by racial disparities in enforcement. Let’s contact our local mayors, city councils, and police departments to urge them to take this crucial step.
- PURSUE POLICE REFORM ON CAPITOL HILL
Even moderate police reform has been stalled in Washington. The Senate failed to act after the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would make it easier to investigate and prosecute criminal cops, limit qualified immunity and ban federal no-knock warrants and chokeholds. The Nichols family’s attorney, Senate Judiciary Committee chair Richard Durbin and the Congressional Black Caucus have all called for a new push on this legislation. Let’s contact our members of Congress and the White House and add our voices to this demand.
- SUPPORT TYRE’S FAMILY AND ACTIVISTS IN MEMPHIS
The work that needs to be done to achieve racial justice and change policing will continue long after the media’s attention wanes, and so will the pain for Tyre Nichols’ loved ones. Let’s connect with and follow community groups like Decarcerate Memphis to stay engaged in their struggle, and donate to the family’s memorial fund to help carry them through this nightmare.
- WORK FOR BIG CHANGE
While we should keep pushing for reforms to police practices, years of such efforts have not produced the results we’re looking for. It’s time to increase our efforts towards big change: investing in our communities and strengthening mental health and social services to prevent crime, instead of relying on policing. Let’s contact our state and local officials and push them on real progressive policies, and find and get involved with organizations in our communities who are engaged in this work.
- EMPOWER BLACK VOTERS
The systemic racism in American institutions will not be easy to dislodge. But one key avenue to get started is forcing elected officials to respond to the concerns of people of color by increasing the risk they’ll lose their jobs if they don’t. Black Voters Matter has taken a leadership role in this area. Let’s sign up for one of their volunteer intro sessions, either tomorrow or next Tuesday.
- REMEMBER WHO TYRE NICHOLS WAS
Tyre Nichols’ life was stolen from him at 29 years old. He was a loving father, a talented photographer and an extremely impressive skateboarder. Let’s share these images of who he was and what he did with his time on Earth and make sure the world remembers him for more than his murder.
