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Mass. lawmakers introduce bill to reform policing, public safety

BOSTON — “With this legislation, we can put in place structures that force institutions to recon with discrimination, brutality, and violence, to respond with vigor rather than silence,” said Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston).

Lawmakers in the Massachusetts State Senate say the “Reform, Shift and Build Act” represents the first steps in rethinking what public safety should look like in the Commonwealth.

“An act to reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable fair and just commonwealth that values black lives an communities of color,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland)

The bill prioritizes police de-escalation, prevention, and care and works on reforms to ban aggressive police tactics.

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“It is so important that this piece of legislation has been introduced with the components and it includes but also with the name so we can begin to shift the narrative about how policing happens in this country and how policing happens in this commonwealth,” said Rahsaan Hall, Director of the Racial Justice Program for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts

The major theme of the bill includes:

“Reduce the risk of the use of abuse force, reduce of a tragic incident in MA, shift resources from force to helping and we want to fight racism,” said Senate President Pro Tempore William Brownsberger (D-Belmont).

Leaders in the black community like Rashan Hall of the ACLU of Massachusetts say this is a positive start to addressing the day to day indignities many in communities of color face.

“They were talking about a sprint and marathon, for the sprint portion, getting out of the blocks this is a good way to get outta the blocks…now we got to hit that curve real hard and push it on the backstretch,” said Rahsaan Hall, Director of the Racial Justice Program for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.

The clock is ticking, there are just twenty-five days left in this session on Beacon Hill.

“I think it’s a very good thing to be thinking about the timeline today like if we can get it out today and get it passed by Thursday and house can come up with their solutions, I know we are working very hard on it,” said State Representative Russell Holmes (D) 6th Suffolk District.