U.S. Conference of Mayors This Week Launched a Working Group on Police Reform and Racial Justice

Washington, D.C. – Earlier this week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) launched a new Working Group on Police Reform and Racial Justice to take on the urgent task of producing meaningful and actionable reforms to improve policing and help end systemic racism in America. Last night, the Working Group, led by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging federal action and seeking to collaborate as lawmakers begin to advance their own solutions. “The U.S. Conference of Mayors is committed to meaningful reforms to address police violence and patterns of racial discrimination in our own communities and beyond,” wrote the mayors in the Working Group.

The mayors also applauded the introduction of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 in the House and welcomed the concurrent efforts taking place in the Senate to deliver bipartisan reform. They go on to write:

“As mayors, we are on the front lines of this important conversation with our community and many mayors and police chiefs initiated police reform and accountability measures years ago and have a wealth of experience to add to this most important discussion. We stand ready to meet with you, the bill’s sponsors, or other Congressional leaders as part of the legislative process. We have an opportunity right now to make some needed and important reforms to policing and to work toward racial justice.  Let’s seize the moment together.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Additional information about the USCM Working Group on Police Reform and Racial Justice can be found here.