NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, the Senate passed SB 2572/HB 1931 which prohibits local governments from implementing ordinances that could increase accountability and transparency within police departments.
In the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death we joined with our partners at Decarcerate Memphis, Official Black Lives Matter Chapter, the Justice Safety Alliance and many others to support local Memphis ordinances that would end certain pretextual stops, increase police data transparency, begin to strengthen community oversight of police actions, end the use of unmarked vehicles for traffic stops, establish review processes for police training, and create an independent review process for use of force incidents.
This bill would repeal those ordinances, undermining the steps towards police accountability that honor the memory of Tyre Nichols and foster public safety.
Bryan Davidson, the ACLU of Tennessee policy director had this reaction:
“Tyre Nichols's unjust death highlights the need to hold police officers accountable for misconduct and brutality. Legislators rolling back much-needed police reforms – through ordinances that were adopted in a unanimous bipartisan manner by locally elected officials – is not only antidemocratic and deeply tied to white supremacy, but also makes our communities less safe.
This bill will only exacerbate the disparate, ineffective, and often violent policing experienced by communities of color, perpetuating a cycle of constant surveillance, targeting, and harassment of Black and Brown individuals.
It is crucial that we address police accountability and reimagine the role of law enforcement to be far more limited, while directing resources towards community-based solutions for public safety that operate independently of the criminal legal system.
As we stand in solidarity with our community partners in Memphis, we are committed to advocating for a transformative approach to policing and criminal justice that prioritizes equity, justice, and accountability.”
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