Stand-Up for the 4th Amendment & Against Race-Based Policing
OPPOSE SB 875 and SB 1010
Tell Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to strongly oppose SB 875 and SB 1010 that seek to weaken 4th Amendment protections against arbitrary and often race-based police stops and searches.
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TO (DEM Senate Judiciary Comm. members)
district21@senate.virginia.gov, district25@senate.virginia.gov, district35@senate.virginia.gov, district18@senate.virginia.gov, district34@senate.virginia.gov, district36@senate.virginia.gov, district09@senate.virginia.gov, district33@senate.virginia.gov, district16@senate.virginia.govBCC (Please BCC, so we can keep track of # emails sent. )
info@justiceforwardva.com, vagrassrootscoalition@gmail.comSubject
OPPOSE SB875 and SB1010, Stand-Up for the 4th Amendment and Against Race-Based PolicingDraft Text
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Dear Senator,
Black Virginians are nearly TWICE as likely to be pulled over by the police as white Virginians. This is because of a practice known as pretextual policing, which allows police to stop motorists for any reason — even explicit racial bias — as long as they come up with a good enough cover story.
This has long been known as a gross perversion of the 4th Amendment, and a significant loophole that in practice means Black people have fewer 4th Amendment rights than white people.
On March 1, 2021, legislation went into effect limiting pretextual policing. Data already shows racial disparities in traffic stops are decreasing. The historic bill was celebrated by justice reformers and constitutional conservatives alike and has become a model for similar legislation throughout the U.S.
Constitutional rights shouldn’t be a partisan matter, and unchecked police powers shouldn’t be championed by either party. Protect the progress we’ve made and oppose SB 875 and SB 1010. These are proposals that will harm Black people and communities of color unlike any other legislation before you this session.
Sincerely,
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