OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Pressley, Schatz, Johnson Lead Call for Biden Administration to End Transfer of Military Weapons to Local Police

Press Release

Date: July 21, 2022
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Criminal Justice

Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Congressman Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (GA-04) led 19 of their colleagues in a letter urging the Biden Administration to end the transfer of military weapons to local law enforcement through administrative action. The lawmakers' letter follows President Biden's May executive order on police reform, in which the administration committed to studying the impact of these weapons transfers before determining whether to prohibit them outright.

"Militarized law enforcement increases the prevalence of police violence without making our communities safer," the lawmakers wrote to the federal agencies. "In addition, the militarization of law enforcement creates a culture and a mindset contrary to the mission of the police--to protect and serve."

The lawmakers noted the disproportionate impact police militarization has on Black, brown, and other communities of color, and asked the agencies to provide an update on the implementation of President Biden's police reform executive order.

"When law enforcement has access to military equipment, they are more likely to use it, rather than other more appropriate and traditional law enforcement tools," the lawmakers continued. "Furthermore, the negative effects of police militarization disproportionately affects communities of color…Ending police militarization will help to make our communities safer."

The letter was signed by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), André Carson (IN-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Karen Bass (CA-37), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).


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