I want to express my strong support and admiration for the Campaign Zero initiative.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have the pleasure of knowing three of the talented young leaders who crafted the plan: Brittany Packnett (my former congressional staffer); DeRay Mckesson; and Johnetta Elzie.
Many of the core principles that make up the Campaign Zero initiative closely mirror the police and criminal justice reform legislation that I have already introduced in Congress, the recommendations of President Obama’s Taskforce on 21st Century Policing, and St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green’s timely proposal to allocate unused ward capital funds to purchase body cameras and data storage equipment for all St. Louis police officers, at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Body cameras for all police officers, better sensitivity training, a renewed emphasis on de-escalation to prevent violent confrontations, and appointing an independent prosecutor in all cases when police employ deadly force are essential elements included in both my post-Ferguson legislative agenda and Campaign Zero.
The bottom line is this: Most police officers do a difficult and dangerous job with courage, bravery, devotion to duty and professionalism. That’s true in St. Louis city and county and across the nation.
But what is also true is that there are still far too many young African Americans and Latinos who interact with local police – and wind up dead. And more often than not, the community does not believe the explanation given by the local police department and the local prosecutor.
So the “trust deficit” grows, violence increases and the quality of life declines. The core ideas contained in Campaign Zero can help our community and our nation begin to close this deadly divide.
Campaign Zero can save lives while helping local police keep neighborhoods safer. It can also begin the process of addressing the staggering divisions and very real disparities that still perpetuate a system which provides equal justice for some, but not for all.
Campaign Zero: http://www.joincampaignzero.org/.
U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis) represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.
