Action Alert #2: H.R. 907 - Investing in Community Healing Act of 2021
Police violence wreaks havoc on survivors and their communities. In 2019, 999 people were shot and killed by the police. According to data out of the Howard University School of Law, one out of every 1,000 young Black men will be killed by the police. Police brutality alone has caused an additional 50 million days of poor mental health among Black Americans. We stand against police violence. It’s up to us to support our communities.
Not My Generation (NMG), a nonprofit committed to localized, intersectional gun violence prevention advocacy for young adults, targets the roots of gun violence. As an organization committed to antiracism and the liberation of all peoples, we believe in and adhere to abolitionist principles, advocating deeply for a world free from police, prisons, and state-sanctioned violence. We work to support and uplift the voices in our communities, particularly those most vulnerable to the horrors of police brutality today. One way we can do this lifesaving work is by changing the legislation that has created and codified a system of racial injustice.
Police violence is a pervasive presence that destroys the communities that we love. We have to fight to change these laws and institutions for a better future. But we need your help.
As mentioned in our last email, we are embarking on a new project to share legislation and proactive ways you can take action every Wednesday. We know that when we all take action together, we can and will make meaningful change in the fight to end gun violence.
This week, we’re supporting the following legislation: H.R. 907 - Investing in Community Healing Act. H.R. 907 requires, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups, research on adverse health impacts associated with violent interactions with law enforcement and additional activities to promote access to mental and behavioral health care.
With your help, we can get H.R. 907 passed. Take action on this bill right now by finding your representative and calling their DC number.
Provide your own message or use the following script: "My name is [NAME] and I'm a [AGE] year old constituent living at [YOUR ADDRESS]. I'm calling today to ask the Representative to cosponsor H.R. 907, Investing in Community Healing Act of 2021. As someone who is deeply invested in racial equity and just forms of public safety, I am asking that my Representative supports this bill aimed at researching the adverse health impacts associated with violent interactions with law enforcement. We know that policing in the United States is a relic of slave patrols from the time of chattel slavery and believe that the effects of racist policing on Black and Brown Americans has never been properly studied, understood, or addressed. This is our opportunity to gather vital data on this critical issue and, in turn, to better serve and meet the needs of Black & Brown Americans who have long been brutalized, victimized, and targeted by law enforcement. Thank you for your time and please cosponsor H.R. 907."