John,
120. For the last 120 days, people across the country have been taking action and demanding more for their political leader. From the millions of people signing petitions to the hundreds of thousands of people risking their lives by hitting the pavement and declaring that Black Lives Matter.
We are in an unprecedented moment. And for the first time in a long time, many are beginning to see the role prosecutors play in holding police officers accountable. That is why pressuring local prosecutors to enact policies and practices that are in the best interest of communities is critical. And it’s not just about holding police officers accountable.
Prosecutors are single-handedly one of the most powerful players in the criminal justice system. Every day, they make decisions that impact the lives of Black and brown people -- from whether to request a bail that is impossible to pay to whether to charge a child as an adult or at all.2 Collectively, no decisions fuel mass incarceration and the disproportionate criminalization of Black and brown communities more than the decisions of prosecutors.
More prosecutors need to be responsive to community calls for change --- and not just in moments in crisis. We need true prosecutorial accountability all year long. But we need your help to do it, John. Will you consider becoming a monthly sustainer and help grow our movement to pressure district attorneys to transform the criminal justice system?
Yes, i will become a monthly sustainer!
This journey for prosecutorial accountability began with the demand for police accountability. After witnessing case after case of police officers walking away, our team at Color Of Change quickly began to understand the important and powerful role of prosecutors in the criminal justice system. Now because of the movement to transform the district attorney office, we are beginning to see reform-minded prosecutors all over the country take bold action.3
It’s time to take this important intervention to the next level. Here is our plan to grow the movement for prosecutorial accountability nationwide:
- Launch timely petitions calling out local prosecutors who fail to act in cases of police misconduct and violence 4
- Create online digital content breaking down the role of prosecutors such as social media videos 5
- Provide tools and information to communities across the country on how to take on their local prosecutor 6
- Secure ads on tv, streaming services, radio and digital billboards to raise public awareness 7
- Run digital ads to help spread the word about our growing movement to build political power that is responsive to our communities
We need to do everything within our power to stop the attacks on Black and brown people. And it’s going to take all kinds of creative tactics to build the public pressure needed to effect change. This moment is our chance to change the political landscape for district attorneys on a much bigger scale. Can I count on you to support?
Yes, i will chip-in $5 each month
Yes, i will chip-in $10 each month
Yes, i will chip-in $20 each month
Yes, i will chip-in $50 each month
Become a monthly sustainer with Color Of Change today.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Leonard, Madison, Ernie, McKayla and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
- "Prosecutorial reform" ACLU.
- 21 Principles for the 21st century prosecutor. Fair and Just Prosecution.
- Demand justice for Elijah McClain. Color Of Change.
- Winning Justice: Taking on Prosecutors Narrated by Common. Color Of Change, 11 January 2019.
- Winning Justice: Organize Your City. Color Of Change.
- Watch ViacomCBS's powerful 8-minute, 46-second blackout video tribute to George Floyd here.
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.
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