Dear John, it is time to address systemic racism in enforcement of our laws and the unchecked authority of the police. The business community must take a leadership role in advocating for and helping implement the changes in law necessary to protect the lives of members of every community. One critical protection of police who abuse their power that must be eliminated is the legal defense of qualified immunity. Created by the Supreme Court in 1967, the defense often exempts police officers and others from liability, even for shocking abuses of power, including the repeated unjustified use of lethal force. The American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and our allies are asking you to join an effort launched by the Players Coalition of more than 1,400 current and retired athletes, coaches, general managers and staff members from the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball to eliminate this defense. As their letter states, “When police officers kill an unarmed man, when they beat a woman, or when they shoot a child, the people of this country must have a way to hold them accountable in a court of law.” Representatives Justin Amash and Ayanna Pressley have introduced HR 7085, with 57 co-sponsors, to restore police accountability by removing the qualified immunity defense. Law enforcement officials must also understand that if they abuse their power, they will face justice. Law enforcement officials must also understand that if they abuse their power, they will face justice. ASBC is also asking your support for a more comprehensive policing reform, HR 7120, the Justice in Policing Act, with 225 House co-sponsors, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In addition to eliminating the defense of qualified immunity, HR 7120 aims to ban the use of choke holds and no-knock warrants, require policy to wear and active body cameras, create a national registry of law enforcement misconduct and improve transparency with better data collection and dissemination, improve police training, decrease the amount of military equipment and vehicles made available to local police, and prohibit racial profiling. ASBC believes ending qualified immunity and adopting the comprehensive reforms of HR 7120 are critical steps toward beginning to dismantle the systemic racism that has existed in law enforcement belying the fundamental concepts of equal protection under law in our Constitution. We ask you to show your support for HR 7085 and HR 7120. It is literally a matter of life and death. Earlier this month, following the murder of George Floyd, ASBC convened an online conversation about the role business must play in confronting racism with more than 150 leaders. On June 24 at 2 p.m. we will reconvene as a Race & Equity working group to continue that conversation. Please join us in that conversation to develop and advocate for policies and other actions to drive us toward a more just and equitable economy and society. | 
