Truth to power on criminal justice reform
This week at the Democratic National Convention, I had the privilege of joining a remarkable panel of criminal justice reform advocates to discuss how we can, and must, fix our broken system.
This should be a moment where we speak the truth and confront these issues head on to heal and move forward as a nation.
As a career prosecutor and California’s top law enforcement official, and as a black woman, my heart hurts every single time I hear of the death of another police officer, or the death of another son, brother, or sister following an interaction with the police.
The public and law enforcement need each other to keep our communities safe. But when trust is damaged, it becomes much harder to forge that relationship, which is why we must confront difficult truths about racial profiling and racial disparities in our criminal justice system.
I don’t know a police officer who has left his or her home at the beginning of a shift without a silent prayer to return safely. And I don’t know a black man, be he my relative, a colleague, or a friend, that has not been the subject of racial profiling or an unfair stop. And the simple truth is that too many black men and women have died at the hands of law enforcement. That’s the truth. So let’s start there.
In the coming weeks, I will be speaking more with you about how we can reform our criminal justice system and restore trust and accountability.
This is a critical national issue. The stakes could not be higher for all of us.
Let’s continue to speak the truth. Let’s expose myths and do what is necessary to unite as a country, find common ground, and tackle the reforms we need right now.
Thank you,
- Kamala
