Title
Authorizing the City Council Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to review the City's response to protests in support of ending systemic racism in policing and of the Black Lives Matter movement, and to provide residents with a forum to share their experiences and make recommendations for safer and non-discriminatory policing.
Body
WHEREAS, In May and June of 2020, tens of thousands of Philadelphians of all races and backgrounds took to the streets to demonstrate in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement, to highlight systemic racism in policing, and to demand policing reforms as a result of a nationwide effort for justice in the wake of police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others in Philadelphia and across the nation; and
WHEREAS, During the course of such demonstrations, the City of Philadelphia has a duty to not only protect First Amendment rights but to also uphold public safety, preserve humanity and the public health, and ensure that responses are humane and equitable across neighborhoods and communities; and
WHEREAS, There is a pressing need to understand the range and extent of the City's authorization for use of non-lethal force, especially in light of evidence of significant physical harm and potential long-lasting trauma caused by these devices, nationally and internationally; and
WHEREAS, In at least one residential neighborhood, West Philadelphia, residents, including those who were not involved in demonstrations, were subjected to chemical agents and other non-lethal weapons deployed without public warning in ways that potentially compromised the health and welfare of children and families, especially those who are Black; and
WHEREAS, National media reported on the use of force to disperse protestors on I-676 on June 1, 2020, documenting the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and other non-lethal weapons by police against Philadelphians exercising their constitutional right to protest; and
WHEREA...
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