Legislation – Page 2 – NAACP New Bedford

Ask Governor Baker to sign the police reform bill (S.2963) without delay

The Massachusetts legislature just sent long-awaited police reform legislation to Gov. Baker. It limits police use of force, creates a POST (police oversight) system to hold officers accountable for misconduct, makes having school resource officers a decision for school superintendents, and finally regulates racially-biased and dangerous face surveillance technology. Can you please [email/call] Gov. Baker right now to urge him to sign the bill? These basic protections are long overdue and come not a moment too soon. We also welcome the bill's provisions to regulate face surveillance. Without safeguards in place, this racially-biased technology can track and target people remotely...

Join the effort to support Safe Communities

On Tuesday, October 20th and Wednesday the 22nd the Episcopal City Ministry will be hosting a phone bank to support the Safe Communities Act. You can find a list of the bill's supporters here. You can help by participating in and promoting ECM phone banking on October 20th and October 22nd. Also consider endorsing the Safe Communities Act. For details, go to the Massachusetts Legislature's website for the text of H.3573 (Balser & Miranda) and S.1401 (Eldridge). The Safe Communities Act restores community trust in public institutions by avoiding entanglement in immigration matters and protecting due process for all: No...

I don’t have qualified immunity; Why should police?

By Jeanette Callahan, MD IN JULY, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed their version of a police reform bill that has languished in a conference committee ever since, reportedly because of a deadlock over the issue of qualified immunity. Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that shields police officers from civil liability even when they violate someone’s constitutional rights—unless the violation was already “clearly established.” In other words, unless another officer has already been held liable for a nearly identical violation in the past, a victim of police misconduct who sues will likely have their case thrown out in civil...

NAACP MV Zoom Panel on proposed Police Accountability Legislation

The Martha’s Vineyard Branch of the NAACP invites you to attend a Zoom Panel on proposed Massachusetts legislation, “An Act to Reform Police Standards and Shift Resources to Build a More Equitable, Fair and Just Commonwealth That Values Black Lives and Communities of Color,” to be held on Monday, August 17, 2020, from 6:30PM to 8:00 PM. The panelists are as follows: Beverly Williams, Co-Chair of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization LaSella Hall, Ph.D., NAACP New England Area Conference Youth and College Advisor President of the New Bedford Branch of the NAACP Rev. Dr. Ray Hammond, Pastor Bethel AME...

Massachusetts House Police Accountability Bill Fails Black Lives and the Commonwealth

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: LaSella L. Hall, Ph.D.: (404) 422-2543 Date: July 13, 2020 -- 8:30 a.m. president@naacpnewbedford.org Massachusetts House Police Accountability Bill Fails Black Lives and the Commonwealth NEW BEDFORD -- "The Massachusetts House of Representatives took a reasonably thoughtful Senate reform bill and removed the crucial aspects for police accountability," said Dr. LaSella L. Hall, President of the NAACP New Bedford Branch. He continued, "H.4860, the House version of the bill passed by the Senate, is a disappointment that can only be salvaged with numerous amendments and, in its present version, clearly does not value highly the Black lives and communities of color...

Urgent call to support MA Indigenous Civil Rights bills

NAACP New Bedford Family, I'm writing to you to seek your support for three important Indigenous civil rights bills that are before the Massachusetts State Legislature and need to be voted on before the end of July. The three bills seek to ban Native American sports mascots, redesign the racist Massachusetts state flag and seal, and protect Native American heritage (more details below my signature). I know that you and your organization will understand the urgent need to address racial justice issues and symbols of white supremacy now. Here are two steps we are asking you to take: Please go...

Senate passes “Reform, Shift + Build Act”

On July 14th the Massachusetts Senate passed by a vote of 30 to 7 (with 3 abstentions) S.2820, the "Reform, Shift + Build Act" (S.2820) to "reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of color." You can read the text of S.2820 here. Senators in the Hall of Shame for not voting for S.2820 include: Nick Collins (D, First Suffolk); Diana DiZoglio (D, First Essex); Ryan Fattman (R, Worcester & Norfolk); Anne Gobi (D, Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire & Middlesex); Michael Moore (D, Second Worcester); Patrick O'Connor...

Six reasons to scrap Qualified Immunity

From a note by Juan Cofield, NAACP New England Area Conference, to area Branch Presidents The [Massachusetts] House leadership is most concerned about is the Qualified Immunity issue. This issue is the one that the police interests are most opposed to. Accordingly, I have attached a fact sheet, prepared by NEAC's Legal Redress Chair, Stephanie Soriano, to explain Qualified Immunity (QI). The Senate adopted bill, which NEAC is now strongly supporting, along with several bills proposed by the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus is the message we want to send. NEAC's adopted Policing Reform Package seeks the outright elimination of...

Support the Reform, Shift + Build Act

In response to resounding calls for racial justice, the Senate’s S.2800 An Act to Reform Police Standards and Shift Resources to Build a More Equitable, Fair and Just Commonwealth that Values Black Lives and Communities of Color—the *Reform, Shift + Build Act*—proposes a number of reforms. The bill is a product of the Senate’s Racial Justice Working Group on which I’ve been proud to serve at the request of the Senate President. You can also download a summary of the bill here. The bill seeks to: Encourage the use of de-escalation techniques by police officers Foreground work to better resource...

Legislation

Extend the Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures

The Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium ends August 18. But unemployment due to COVID-19 will unfortunately continue into the Fall and Winter for many hundreds of thousands of families. The NAACP New Bedford Branch is supporting Massachusetts House and Senate Legislation "An Act to Guarantee Housing Stability during the COVID-19 Emergency & Recovery" (HD.5166 / SD.2992). These bills protect tenants, assist homeowners, and stabilize landlords. Organizations — add your support here: https://homesforallmass.netlify.app/#org-sign-on-form Individuals - add your support here: https://www.housingguarantee.org/ An Act to Guarantee Housing Stability during the COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery meets the challenge of this moment, ensuring housing stability by:...