From: Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz <sonia.chang-diaz@masenate.gov>
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2020 3:29 PM
Subject: What comes next for law enforcement reform
As you’ve likely heard by now, Governor Baker has returned the law enforcement reform bill to the Legislature with amendments.
So here’s what comes next: The Senate, then the House, will take up the bill again in light of the Governor’s amendments. It’s possible that opponents of reform will use this opportunity to run out the clock on the bill, with still more amendments and procedural delay tactics. It’s imperative that we get the bill back to Baker’s desk by Dec. 26th—in order to avoid the possibility of a “pocket veto” by the Governor.
Through all of this, my goal remains the same: to not just get a bill done, but to get signed into law the meaningful reforms we fought so hard for these past months. Reforms that center the injustices carried by Black communities and communities of color, that hold law enforcement accountable to the communities they serve, and that reduce force and misconduct in our public safety systems in favor of building a culture of de-escalation and care.
But the clock is ticking, and your elected officials need to hear from you. To get involved and help us deliver the strongest bill back to the Governor as quickly as possible, here’s what you can do:
- Check out calls to action from community leaders and social justice organizations like MA Communities Action Network, and the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.
- Stay closely tuned for more updates and action items next week. In addition to email, you can find my most up-to-the-minute updates on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for your tireless efforts on this front! We are so close. The Governor’s refusal to sign the bill is a set-back, but with your persistence we can still score a win for justice this year!
Saludos,
Sonia Chang-Díaz
State Senator
Second Suffolk District
P.S. To keep in touch about these important issues and others, sign up for my email list at http://senatorchangdiaz.com/get-state-house-updates.
