Utish, inry, br short. Where was the social contract for george floyd . Where was the social contract for Breonna Taylor . Where was the social contract for tamia for tamir r ice . Put simply, for black americans, the social contract is always been contaminated by racism and white super missy, the nations original sin White Supremacy, the nations original sin. A black american has more than doubled the chance of being killed by the police as a white american. Police encounters are a leading cause of death for young black men. The problems of Police Brutality we confront today reflects the persistence of embedded Structural Racism in our country. Violent White Supremacy is the real deep state that we must uproot and discard in america. Yes, my friends across the aisle have been in search for it for several years right now. Racism is the real deep state in america. Violent White Supremacy dominated our country for an entire century, and the Supreme Court did nothing other than constitutionalize it in the dred scott decision, which determined an African American has no right a white man is bound to respect. So we had a civil war and a reconstruction come our first opportunity to purge the violence of White Supremacy, and it lasted for 12 years before it was washed away by the ku klux klan and night riders and grandfather clauses, poll taxes, literally tests literacy tests. Of it took another century jim crow, american apartheid, before we got another Civil Rights Movement led by people like our colleague john lewis, and the blood sacrifice of dr. King and thousands of other people who suffered at the hands of the violence of racists, and we got the Voting Rights act of 19 625. We got the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We got Shelby County versus holder of shelti county v. Holder, and president s like donald trump other phrases like finding put very fine people marching among racists and fascists. We conduct a briefing today on juneteenth, our National Commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Andelebrate freedom emancipation. We should be working for a third and final reconstruction in america. Lets finish the unfinished work ,rom the Civil Rights Movement where i am proud to say, in a bipartisan spirit, it was radical republicans from ohio who led america, like john insane, who led america we must rebuild america from the ground up, not on the basis of White Supremacy, but on the basis of equality and justice for all. I want to thank all of our Witnesses Today for being part of this great struggle. Yieldack, messenger back, madam chair. Rep. Maloney thank you. [indiscernible] ok. Thew recognize representative who has been a leader on these issues. Ms. Presley. Rep. Pressley thank you for holding this important briefing. America is in the midst of a crisis within a crisis within a crisis. A Public Health pandemic has robbed us of more than 115,000 lives across our nation, disproportionately black lives. Unveiling and reiterating the start systemic inequities and says and disparities of our health care system, and has led to mass unemployment and even actions and levels of food insecurity, and the crisis of systemic racism in our policing system, a system rooted in this nations original sin of bondage and slavery. A system that for too long, has perpetuated the criminalization, the profiling and surveillance of black and brown bodies and has resulted in the lynching and murder of countless black people. Pandemic the covid19 took this nation by storm come of the only thing covid19 didnt disrupt was racism. So in this moment of truth telling in this moment of reckoning, it is critical that we center the humanity and dignity of all people and ensure those closest to the pain are informing the policymaking. Not all things that are faced can be changed, but nothing can it is faced. Til the fact of the matter is racism is not simply a point of view. It is not a point of view for the actions of a few bad apples. Marble structural as the pillars of this institution. The men made discriminatory policies that have destroyed black lives and black families in this country were very precise, from the original sin of bondage to redlining to the failed war on drugs. From this moment, we need our policy solutions to be just a specific and precise in legislating our healing and justice. The culmination of generations of hurt and trauma have led us to this moment. It is not enough to say black lives matter. Our policies and our budget must value black lives. We must heed the calls of that unity to push forward policies that will provide muchneeded accountability and structural change. Righteous rage and the pursuit of justice has driven thousands to the streets in every state across our country. Let me be clear, there can be no justice for oscar grant, for eric garner, michael brown. There can be no justice for jefferson,lor, t, natosha mckenna. There can be no justice for Rayshard Brooks, stephan clark, freddie gray, or terrence coleman. In a truly just world, they would all still be with us. There, however, must be a cut ability. This is personal must be accountability. This is personal. I am a congresswoman, but first and foremost, i am a black woman married to a black man raising a black child. Black people are yet to ask. Full freedoms and emancipation because that freedom really begins with a freedom from fear. I would like very much to pass along to our daughter, who will soon be 12, generational wisdom, wealth, joy instead of generational fear and trauma. She already knows the unbearable pain of fearing for her life or her fathers life, and for those she loves, whenever we are out of her sight. I know what it is to be surveyed, profiled, and threatened. And still we rise. Generations from now, our grandchildren will look and ask a simple question. When you had the opportunity to legislate with conviction, to summon the political courage to ensure that not another man is lynched in broad daylight, that not another woman is murdered in her own home, did you . So i think our i think our witnesses for joining us today, for lifting their voices, for holding us accountable, and for fighting to ensure that their eaths were not in vain. Thank you, and i yield. Rep. Maloney thank you that meaningful statement. Is there any republican who would like to be recognized for a statement . Another republican member who would like to speak for remove to our presenters . I will now introduce our briefers. First we have a policy strategist for the aclu of kentucky. Of oscarhave the uncle grant and the cofounder of families united for justice. Crenshaw,ve kimberly the cofounder and executive director of the africanamerican policy forum. Next, we have mark lewis, an activist with we the people oklahoma. Next, pastor michael mcbride, director for the campaign. Have the not least, we host of a show. With that, you are now recognized. Greetings. I am a policy strategist the aclu of kentucky, and also a member of lives matter in louisville. I want to thank you for inviting me to speak on this important issue of race, policing, policy, and justice. I come before you to ensure we lift up Breonna Taylors name, and as we continue to fight for justice for her end of the who have lost their lives to Police Brutality, we see protests across the country because enough is enough. During this time of coronavirus, america and the world are essentially put on pause, which forced people to stop and Pay Attention. For years, black people have been screaming and america has largely ignored us. I think the coronavirus, coupled with the horrific death of george floyd, forced america to reflect. For eight minutes and 46 seconds, the world watched as a black and begged for his life and called out to his deceased mother as he lay dying. This is not something that people can easily erase from their minds. No distraction could take those in of its those images in the video away. This time for america to respond. Killing of george floyd, ahmaud arbery, and Breonna Taylor happen, people and their voices from around the world. However, we understand people and their Attention Spans are very fickle. The cameras will turn. Immediate attention will fit the Media Attention will fade, and those people and communities rocked by Police Brutality will remain and be left to pick up the pieces. It is essential for people who live in these communities to know that they can impact legislation on a local level to stop senseless deaths from happening. In louisville, we took the first onnasith passing bre law, which bans the use of no knock warrants and requires all police chief where body cameras, to turn them on five minutes before serving a warrant and five minutes after the warrant is served. Law passed, a huge tv was what was bright outside city hall so that folks could watch. They understood their voices mattered and were able to impact legislation on the local level. They learned it was the judges they elect and the representatives they chose locally that would effect the laws that govern our daytoday living. Now people are engaging differently in different arenas. People are organizing around a more just budget and others are closely monitoring the collective Bargaining Agreement between the fraternal order of police in our local government. When organizing with people who have existed in a survival mentality for years through systematic racism, it is difficult to get them interested in local politics. The truth is it is difficult to get anyone interested in local politics. Many people are simply trying to make it from daytoday. As we organize, we are also educating people on how it is not just things that are done at a federal level, but also at a local and state level that will impact their lives. Many just do not fully understand how the political system works. Many people will go out to vote a president madam chair, i think we have lost our guest. Ok, we will go back to her. Mr. Johnson, youre are now recognized. Mr. Johnson. You, madam thank chair. Committee the house on oversight and reform, i bring you greetings on behalf of of our executive team, community numbers in the National Families united for justice network. I am also known as uncle bobby. Im the cofounder of families founder ofjustice, california families united for justice network, and the oscar grant foundation. I have been advocating for Police Accountability and transparency for 11 years, since the murder of my nephew, oscar grant, on january 1, 2009. Honor to provide testimony for such a topic is policing. On this important juneteenth day, many in the nation join in condoning the policing tactics, actions and inactions that led to the death of george floyd. We are extremely hurt, and we grieve with the nation at the horrific killing of rhianna taylor, ahmaud arbery, and Rayshard Brooks. These names represent a stay few in a much larger list of tragedies impacting communities of color. Prayer to these families. There is no horror more terrible than watching your loved ones be murdered. T is forever etched [indiscernible] the power of the police to use that response ability must be guided by the goals of safeguarding human life and protecting human rights. Current log results in officers killing civilians far more than necessary. These are many families and communities devastated, and the public less safe. These tragedies to proportionately Impact Communities of color. The death of george floyd has caused an outcry around the world. It is important that the officers involved be prosecuted. Transparencyy and is the key to civil trust in policing agencies and communities. The families united for justice is a small part of a group and more complex working to Reform Police culture. Groups of armed white men [indiscernible] sharehare what you with you what wed like to address. We strongly recommend a national use of force policy to be included in state and local policy for policing standards, mandatory deescalation requirements for all officers, and policies that require the use of deescalation tactics as a priority, prohibition of all physical restraints and maneuvers all restraint maneuvers on or above the neck what choke holds. , policederal law officers [indiscernible] qualified immunity shields them from such, unless they vi olate clearly established laws. A database of use of force data and attention data of all demographics. A National Database of officers with misconduct. [indiscernible] that continuees to allow policing strategies to be free of oversight and accountability in an environment that fosters racial tension. Mandatory requirement that all officers render immediate medical aid to any person experiencing a health crisis, whether in custody or not. Mandatory requirements to intervene where physical force is being applied, to stop when force isr being used. [indiscernible] patterns and practices of this commission. Forlosing, i thank you allowing our words to be heard. Today at this crucial time in familiesry, impacted as for legislation that provides the guidelines for a new system of policing. To hold officers accountable, has beenuff out what in policing since the beginning. [indiscernible] discriminate or a practice that remains a Hunting Ground for people of color around the nation. It is critical that we First Technology we first acknowledge the present need for a legislative approach and begin , enlisting those who value the scented tea of life and protection of human rights the sanctity of life and protection of human rights. Again, i think you i thank you. Rep. Maloney we have ms. Herron back, so youre now recognized. Keturah thank you. I was toward the end of my testimony. There is always talk about when our federal government should step in and when we should leave things to state and local jurisdictions. It is always the time to do what is right, and i believe now is the time for the federal government to take action and prohibit Police Policy and practices that brutalize communities. Today, this body should make it your duty and priority two no knock warrants, and sure Police Officers do not get special protection when they engage in misconduct or use Excessive Force, police who swear an oath to protect and serve should be held to a higher standard. We should draft policies to ensure that police have a duty to intervene when they witness their colleagues brutalizing someone. 1033 programd the which militarize is our police and stop attacking Peaceful Protesters with tear gas and other tactics using war zones. We must reimagine Public Safety. Policing andt in incarceration and invest in systems that provide equal access to housing, education, health care, safety and opportunity. Thank you for allowing me to speak today, and i also encourage you to read my full testimony, which should be provided for you. Thank you for your time. You. Maloney thank mr. Crenshaw, you are now recognized. Ranking number jordan, members of the committee, i am kimberly crenshaw, professor of law at ucla and faculty director for International Cultural studies. I am pleased to be here on this juneteenth. Webinar on the stories of African Americans killed by police. For two hours, we bore witness to the stories that revealed the individual and institutional problem transcending the frame of a few bad apples. They told us about how the war on drugs, racial profiling, paramilitary policing, permissive lethal force, explicit and implicit biases, police sourced solutions to Mental Health and other problems all lead to disproportionate black deaths. They talked about how the impunity with which to me police insulatedct remains by qualified immunity and special protections that help them escape accountability. We talked about how the last words uttered by diane black people must guide that by dying ying black people must guide our approach to policing. Promisedbreathe, you not to kill me, or simply and heartbreakingly, mama. You match the names to the stories you know. Eric garner, george floyd. But the names we talked about this week were not names of those you might think. They were black women. Fry, Sandra Shelley bland. Black women and girls as young as seven and as old as 93 have been killed by police. They have been shot, choked, body slammed, and tasered to death for driving while black, having mental disabilities while black, being homeless while andk, sleeping while black, asserting their rights while black. One was killed when a swat team fired 50 rounds into her car, knowing that she and her fourmonthold son had done absolutely nothing wrong. Natasha mckenna, a five foot woman, strapped nude to a chair by officers and hazmat gear, tasered her while handcuffed. She uttered the words that should haunt us all, you promised not to kill me. Tragic stories are amplified by images of black men and girls being abused by black women and girls being abused by Law Enforcement, hogtied and dragged, a disabled and elderly black woman paraded nude in police precincts. Police violence against black women is very real. It is visceral. It is dehumanizing. Yet, in this discourse, it is relatively invisible. Ow the structural and intersectional dimension of Police