Welcome to the weekly update from the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity! Here, we give you a wrap-up of the latest developments and notable news as we continue our state-focused fight to abolish the unjust rule.
This week, a UN panel investigates American law enforcement; the NAACP Legal Defense Fund endorses ending qualified immunity in New York; Tennessee legislators vote to abolish police oversight; and more!
FEATURED STORY
The Guardian: UN Human Rights Experts Begin US Tour Focusing on Racial Justice and Policing
“‘We look forward to gaining first-hand insight about the lived experiences of people of African descent in the United States, and to offer recommendations to the government at all levels, to support efforts in combating systemic racism and excessive use of force, and ensure accountability and justice,’ Juan Méndez, a panel member said in a statement.”
Read more here.
NEW YORK
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) has come out in support of SB 182, the bill that would scrap qualified immunity in New York State: “We strongly endorse this legislation, which sets an example for other states in ending this dangerous doctrine, and we urge the State Senate and Assembly to pass it.”
Read more here.
In 2014, the NYPD fabricated evidence that landed Jawaun Fraser in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. After spending two years behind bars, Fraser sued the cops for liability. Turns out, a number of the officers who orchestrated his arrest had a history of previous misconduct.
Read more here.
MARYLAND
The families of Tyrone West and Freddie Gray—who died in police custody in 2013 and 2015, respectively— held a joint memorial service for their loved ones in Baltimore last week to promote healing and demand justice. “We’re not anti-police. We’re anti-police brutality. That’s a big difference. We want the bad officers to be gone if they are held accountable,“ said West’s sister.
Read more here.
ADDITIONAL NEWS
Mother Jones: The Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor Just Got a New Policing Job
“‘This is a prime example of how police officers are protected’ and ‘able to get away with such vicious crimes with no accountability,’ Taylor’s aunt Bianca Austin told Mother Jones on Sunday. While she and her family continue to mourn for Taylor, she said, the officers ‘get to move on living their lives.’”
Read more here.
NOLA: Louisiana Shields Police with ‘Unheard Of’ Protections, Lets Abusive Officers Keep Their Jobs
“In about 1 of 7 cases from the state’s 20 largest departments, police had their disciplinary actions overturned through a special protection they would not have been offered in any other state, according to records….The law enforcement community often refers to the rule by a two-word designation: absolute nullity.”
Read more here.
WPLN: Nashville and Memphis Created Police Oversight Boards Seeking Accountability. Now Tennessee’s Republican Supermajority Is Abolishing Them.
“Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, told the bill’s sponsor that the measure overrides the city’s autonomy. ‘What you’re saying is that you know better than the people [who] have been victims of police violence, who led the campaign in Nashville to institute this community oversight board—mothers of young men who were murdered by police in this city,’ Jones said.”
Read more here.
Blackstar News: Pressley’s Bill to End Qualified Immunity Endorsed by Boston Herald
“Good cops, the kind who run into a school under fire to rescue children, wouldn’t have to fear doing their jobs. It’s the other ones, those who abuse their authority, who should worry. The majority of officers who do their communities proud by keeping them safe can only benefit by ending immunity for those who defile the badge.”
Read more here.
Washington Monthly: Tyre Nichols, George Floyd, Police Abuse, and the Need to Redefine “Qualified Immunity”
“Most law enforcement officers are honorable professionals doing a hard and often dangerous job on our behalf. At times they are called on to make split-second, life-and-death decisions. They deserve respect and support. That is not incompatible with insisting on needed reforms. [Ending qualified immunity]…can bring about a steady, systemic, and healthy change in our society.”
Read more here.
San Jose Spotlight: San Jose Advocates Demand Stronger Police Oversight
“More than two dozen people gathered outside San Jose City Hall this week to demand the independent police auditor (IPA) have full independent investigatory powers over the San Jose Police Department….Complaints against officers have increased in recent years, according to an annual report from the IPA. Nearly a third of San Jose police officers received complaints in 2021, up from nearly a quarter of officers in 2020.”
Read more here.
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