In cities across America, local law enforcement units too often treat low-income neighborhoods

populated by African Americans and Latinos as if they are military combat zones instead of
communities where people strive to live, learn, work, play and pray in peace and harmony. Youth of
color, black boys and men especially, who should be growing up in supportive, affirming environments
are instead presumed to be criminals and relentlessly subjected to aggressive police tactics that result
in unnecessary fear, arrests, injuries, and deaths.
Michael Brown, an unarmed African American teen shot multiple times and killed by a Ferguson, MO
police officer, is only the latest in a long list of black men and boys who have died under eerily similar
circumstances. Investigations into the Ferguson shooting are ongoing, and many of the specific facts
remain unclear for now. However, the pattern is too obvious to be a coincidence and too frequent to be
a mistake. From policing to adjudication and incarceration, it is time for the country to counter the
effects of systemic racial bias, which impairs the perceptions, judgment, and behavior of too many of
our law enforcement personnel and obstructs the ability of our police departments and criminal justice
institutions to protect and serve all communities in a fair and just manner.
In addition, the militarization of police departments across the country is creating conditions that will
further erode the trust that should exist between residents and the police who serve them. The
proliferation of machine guns, silencers, armored vehicles and aircraft, and camouflage in local law
enforcement units does not bode well for police-community relations, the future of our cities, or our
country.
And surely neither systemic racial bias nor police department militarization serves the interests of the
countless police officers who bravely place their lives at risk every day.
In light of these dangerous trends, we, the undersigned, call on the Administration to pursue the
following actions:
Training: Racial bias is real. Whether implicit or explicit, it influences perceptions and behaviors and can
be deadly. Law enforcement personnel in every department in the country, under guidelines set by the
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), should be required to undergo racial bias training as a part of
ongoing professional development and training.
Accountability: Police departments should not be solely responsible for investigating themselves.
These departments are funded by the public and should be accountable to the public. Enforceable
accountability measures must be either established or reexamined for impartiality in circumstances
where police shoot unarmed victims. DOJ must set and implement national standards of investigation
that are democratic (involving independent review boards broadly representative of the community
served), transparent, and enforceable.
Diversity: Police department personnel should be representative of the communities they serve. Police
departments must adopt personnel practices that result in the hiring and retention of diverse law
enforcement professionals. Using diversity best practices established in other sectors, DOJ must set,
implement, and monitor diversity hiring and retention guidelines for local police departments.
Engagement: Too often law enforcement personnel hold stereotypes about black and brown youth and
vice versa. Lack of familiarity breeds lack of understanding and increased opportunities for conflict.
Police departments must break through stereotypes and bias by identifying regular opportunities for
constructive and quality engagement with youth living in the communities they serve. The
Administration can authorize support for youth engagement activity under existing youth grants issued
by DOJ.
Demilitarization: Deterring crime and protecting communities should not involve military weaponry.
Effective policing strategies and community relationships will not be advanced if police departments
continue to act as an occupying force in neighborhoods. The Administration must suspend programs
that transfer military equipment into the hands of local police departments and create guidelines that
regulate and monitor the use of military equipment that has already been distributed.
Examination and Change: It is possible to create police departments that respect, serve and protect all
people in the community regardless of age, race, ethnicity, national origin, physical and mental ability,
gender, faith, or class. The Administration must quickly establish a national commission to review
existing police policies and practices and identify the best policies and practices that can prevent more
Fergusons and vastly improve policing in communities across the nation.
Oversight: If somebody isnt tasked with ensuring the implementation of equitable policing in cities
across the country, then no one will do the job. The Administration must appoint a federal Czar, housed
in the U.S. Department of Justice, who is specifically tasked with promoting the professionalization of
local law enforcement, monitoring egregious law enforcement activities, and adjudicating suspicious
actions of local law enforcement agencies that receive federal funding.
DEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA:
The Honor abl e Bar ac k Obama
Pr es i dent
Uni t ed St at es of Amer i c a
1600 Penns y l v ani a Av enue
Was hi ngt on, DC 20500
Maya Roc keymoor e, Pr es i dent &
CEO
Cent er f or Gl obal Pol i c y Sol ut i ons

Angel a Gl over Bl ac kwel l , Founder
& CEO
Pol i c y Li nk
The Honor abl e El i j ah E.
Cummi ngs
Member of Congr es s
U. S. Hous e of Repr es ent at i v es

Sus an Tayl or, Founder
Nat i onal CARES Ment or i ng
Mov ement
Edi t or Emer i t us , Es s enc e Magaz i ne
Khephr a Bur ns
Wr i t er

Hugh B. Pr i c e
For mer Pr es i dent & CEO
Nat i onal Ur ban League
The Honor abl e Mar c i a Fudge
Chai r, Congr es s i onal Bl ac k Cauc us
Member, U. S. Hous e of
Repr es ent at i v es
j ohn a. powel l
Di r ec t or, Haas I ns t i t ut e f or a Fai r
and I nc l us i v e Soc i et y
Uni v er s i t y of Cal i f or ni a, Ber k el ey
Kevi n Powel l , Pr es i dent
BK Nat i on
Shuani s e Was hi ngt on, Pr es i dent &
CEO
Congr es s i onal Bl ac k Cauc us
Foundat i on
John H. Jac ks on, Pr es i dent & CEO
Sc hot t Foundat i on f or Publ i c
Educ at i on
Ras had Robi ns on, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
Col or Of Change
Heat her Boot h, Cons ul t ant
Democ r ac y Par t ner s
Cr ai g Wat ki ns
Dal l as Count y Di s t r i c t At t or ney
Bakar i Ki t wana, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
Rap Ses s i ons : Communi t y
Di al ogues on Hi p Hop
Ben Cohen, Co- Founder
Ben and J er r y s I c e Cr eam
Wm. Jel ani Cobb, Di r ec t or
Af r i c ana St udi es I ns t i t ut e
Uni v er s i t y of Connec t i c ut
Ter r y L. Li er man, Foundi ng
Par t ner
Summi t Gl obal Vent ur es
Bi s hop Wal t er S. Thomas Sr.
Pas t or, New Ps al mi s t Bapt i s t
Chur c h
St ephen Maynar d Cal i endo
Pr of es s or, Nor t h Cent r al Col l ege
Co- Di r ec t or, The Pr oj ec t on Rac e i n
Pol i t i c al Communi c at i on
Ri c har d L. Tr umka, Pr es i dent
AFL- CI O
Der ek Fonz wor t h Bent l ey
Wat ki ns
Founder
Fonz wor t h Bent l ey Leader s hi p
I ns t i t ut e
Br uc e Gor don
Ret i r ed Gr oup Pr es i dent , Ver i z on
Communi c at i ons
For mer CEO, NAACP
Khal i l Gi br an Muhammad,
Hi s t or i an
Aut hor, Condemnat i on of Bl ac k nes s
Les t er Spenc e
As s oc i at e Pr of es s or of Pol i t i c al
Sc i enc e and Af r i c ana St udi es
J ohns Hopk i ns Uni v er s i t y
Howar d Dods on, Di r ec t or
Howar d Uni v er s i t y Li br ar i es
Wi l l i am Dar i t y, Jr.
Samuel DuBoi s Cook Pr of es s or of
Publ i c Pol i c y, Af r i c an and
Af r i c an Amer i c an St udi es and
Ec onomi c s , Duk e Uni v er s i t y
Manuel Pas t or, Pr of es s or
Uni v er s i t y of Sout her n Cal i f or ni a
Ki mber l ey C. El l i s , Ph. D.
Amer i c an and Af r i c ana St udi es
Sc hol ar
CEO, Dr. Goddes s Ar t s , Educ at i on,
and Management
Chr i s Mes s enger, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
Bos t on Mobi l i z at i on
Avi s Jones DeWeever, Pr es i dent
and CEO
I nc i t e Unl i mi t ed
Thomas M. Shapi r o, Di r ec t or
I ns t i t ut e on As s et s and Soc i al
Pol i c y Br andei s Uni v er s i t y
Mar c i a L. Dys on, CEO
Womens Gl obal I ni t i at i v e
Rabbi Laur a Gel l er, Seni or Rabbi
Templ e Emanuel of Bev er l y Hi l l s
Jul i anne Mal veaux, Founder
Ec onomi c Educ at i on
Henr y A. J. Ramos , Pr es i dent &
CEO
I ns i ght Cent er f or Communi t y and
Ec onomi c Dev el opment
Mel i nda F. Emer s on
Smal l Bi z Lady
Publ i s her,
Suc c eedAs Your OwnBos s . c om
Davi d Hal l , Pr es i dent
Uni v er s i t y of t he Vi r gi n I s l ands
Rober t a Wal l ac h
Ac t or / Ar t i s t
Lar r y I r vi ng, Co- Founder
Mobi l e Al l i anc e f or Gl obal Good
Roger Hi c key, Co- Di r ec t or
Campai gn f or Amer i c as Fut ur e
Lar r y Cohen, Founder & Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
Pr ev ent i on I ns t i t ut e
Heat her Mc Ghee, Pr es i dent
Demos
Howar d Pi nder hughes , As s oc i at e
Pr of es s or
Uni v er s i t y of Cal i f or ni a, San
Fr anc i s c o
Vi c Ros ent hal , Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
J ewi s h Communi t y Ac t i on
Ji m Wal l i s , Founder & Pr es i dent
Soj our ner s
Jamal Si mmons , Co- Founder
FLYCLI QUE. c om
Geor ge Fr as er, CEO
Fr as er Net , I nc .
Jos eph Jones , Pr es i dent & CEO
Cent er f or Ur ban Fami l i es
Gar y Or f i el d
Pr of es s or of Educ at i on, Law, Ur ban
Pl anni ng
Co- Di r ec t or, Ci v i l Ri ght s Pr oj ec t
UCLA
Chr i s Rabb
Templ e Uni v er s i t y Fox Sc hool of
Bus i nes s
Soc i al I mpac t Fel l ow, I nnov at i on
and Ent r epr eneur s hi p I ns t i t ut e
Kat hl een Kennedy Towns end
For mer Lt . Gov er nor St at e of
Mar y l and
For mer Chai r Rober t Kennedy
Memor i al
The Honor abl e St even Hor s f or d
Member of Congr es s
U. S. Hous e of Repr es ent at i v es
Pat r i c i a Cr uz , Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
Har l em St age
Ant oni o Gonz al ez , Pr es i dent
Wi l l i am C. Vel as quez I ns t i t ut e
Rever end Lennox Year wood,
Pr es i dent & CEO
Hi p Hop Cauc us
Rober t Bor os age, Co- Di r ec t or
Campai gn f or Amer i c as Fut ur e
Br ad Lear mont h, Di r ec t or of
Pr ogr ammi ng
Har l em St age
The Honor abl e John Lewi s
Member of Congr es s
U. S. Hous e of Repr es ent at i v es
Car r i e Mae Weems
Ar t i s t
Thomas A. LaVei s t , Pr of es s or
J ohns Hopk i ns Uni v er s i t y
St eve Phi l l i ps , Chai r man
Power PAC+
Bar r y Sc hec k, Pr of es s or of Law
Car doz o Law Sc hool
Rabbi Bar bar a Penz ner
Templ e Hi l l el B nai Tor ah, Bos t on
Har r y E. Johns on, Pr es i dent / CEO
The Memor i al Foundat i on
Mar i a Ter es a Kumar, Pr es i dent
Vot o Lat i no
Rabbi Cami l l e Shi r a Angel
Congr egat i on Sha ar Zahav
Ri c har d E. Fr edr i c ks , Pr es i dent
Mar i t i me Sol ut i ons , I nc .
Wes Moor e, CEO
Br i dgeEDU
Makani Themba, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
The Pr ax i s Pr oj ec t
Rev. Dr. Rodney S. Sadl er, Jr.
As s oc i at e Pr of es s or of Bi bl e
Uni on Pr es by t er i an Semi nar y
Madel i ne Mc Cl enney- Sadl er
Pr es i dent , Ex odus Foundat i on. or g
Cat her i ne Mut her, Pr es i dent
Thr ee Gui neas Fund
Rus s el l Si mmons , CEO
Rus h Communi c at i ons
Mi c hael Skol ni k, Pr es i dent
Gl obal Gr i nd
Angel a Rye, Pr es i dent & CEO
I MPACT St r at egi es
Fr ed Robi ns on, Jr. , Pr es i dent
Ful l Spec t r um Ent er pr i s es
Car l een Lyden- Kl us s , Co- Founder
& Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
NAMEPA
Fr ed Az c ar at e, Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
USAc t i on
Cynt hi a Ni xon
Ac t r es s
St ac eyann Chi n
Wr i t er
Janet Dewar t Bel l
Communi c at i ons and Pol i c y
Cons ul t ant
The Honor abl e Gwen Moor e
Member of Congr es s
U. S. Hous e of Repr es ent at i v es
El s i e Sc ot t , Di r ec t or
Ronal d Wal t er s Cent er
Howar d Uni v er s i t y
Cl ay Mai t l and, Managi ng Par t ner
I nt er nat i onal Regi s t r i es
El l en St one Bel i c
St one Fami l y Foundat i on
Li s a Has egawa, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
Nat i onal Coal i t i on f or As i an Pac i f i c
Amer i c an Communi t y Dev el opment
Wi l l i am Jul i us Wi l s on, Pr of es s or
Har v ar d Uni v er s i t y
Gr egor y A. Cendana, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
As i an Pac i f i c Amer i c an Labor
Al l i anc e
Myr on Dean Quon, Es q. ,
Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
NAPAFASA
Ros i e Abr i am, Pr es i dent & CEO
The Cent er f or APA Women
Ben de Guz man, Co- Di r ec t or f or
Pr ogr ams
Nat i onal Queer As i an Pac i f i c
I s l ander Al l i anc e
Fabi an DeRoz ar i o, Pr es i dent
Nat i onal As s oc i at i on of As i an
Amer i c an Pr of es s i onal s
Sher r i Dunn Ber r y, Di r ec t or of
Pr ogr ams
Communi t y Par t ner s
James Lewi s , I s s ue Advoc ac y
Di r ec t or
Young Democ r at s of Amer i c a
Dae J. Yoon, Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
Nat i onal Kor ean Amer i c an Ser v i c e
& Educ at i on Cons or t i um
Henr y Chal f ant , Pr es i dent
Publ i c Ar t s Fi l m
J. Phi l i p Thomps on, As s oc i at e
Pr of es s or
Mas s ac hus et t s I ns t i t ut e of
Tec hnol ogy
Kat hl een Chal f ant
Ac t or
Ti mot hy Si l ar d, Pr es i dent
Ros enber g Foundat i on
Jamal - Har r i s on Br yant
Seni or Pas t or & Founder
Empower ment Templ e
Dar l ene Tayl or, Chai r
Zor a Neal e Hur s t on/ Ri c har d Wr i ght
Foundat i on
Dol or es Ac evedo- Gar c i a,
Pr of es s or
Br andei s Uni v er s i t y
Ann Cook
Educ at or
Hadar Sus s ki nd, Di r ec t or
Bend t he Ar c J ewi s h Ac t i on
St os h Cot l er, CEO
Bend t he Ar c : A J ewi s h Par t ner s hi p
f or J us t i c e
Bao Vang, Pr es i dent & CEO
Hmong Nat i onal Dev el opment
Mar y E. Mc Cl ymont , Pr es i dent
Publ i c Wel f ar e Foundat i on
Wade Hender s on, Pr es i dent &
CEO
The Leader s hi p Conf er enc e on
Ci v i l and Human Ri ght s
Deepak Bhar gava, Exec ut i ve
Di r ec t or
Cent er f or Communi t y Change
C. A. Dan Gas by, Owner / Par t ner
B. Smi t h Ent er pr i s es
Dayna L. Cunni ngham, Es q. ,
Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
MI T Communi t y I nnov at or s Lab
Lor i Vi l l ar os a, Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
Phi l ant hr opi c I ni t i at i v e f or Rac i al
Equi t y
Gi bor Bas r i , Vi c e Chanc el l or f or
Equi t y and I nc l us i on
Uni v er s i t y of Cal i f or ni a, Ber k el ey
Mar y Kay Henr y, Pr es i dent
SEI U
Na i l ah Suad Nas i r
Pr of es s or of Af r i c an Amer i c an
St udi es and Educ at i on
Uni v er s i t y of Cal i f or ni a, Ber k el ey
Mi c hael Omi , Pr of es s or
Uni v er s i t y of Cal i f or ni a, Ber k el ey
M. St ar i t a Boyc e Ans ar i , Chi ef
Change Of f i c er
MSBphi l ant hr opy Adv i s or s , LLC
Cedr i c Br own, Managi ng Par t ner
Kapor Cent er f or Soc i al I mpac t
Fr eada Kapor Kl ei n, Founder &
Par t ner
Lev el Pl ay i ng Fi el d I ns t i t ut e &
Kapor Capi t al
Benj ami n Todd Jeal ous , Vent ur e
Par t ner
Kapor Capi t al
Mi t c hel l Kapor, Par t ner
Kapor Capi t al
Maya L. Har r i s
Seni or Fel l ow, Cent er f or Amer i c an
Pr ogr es s
Vi s i t i ng Sc hol ar, Har v ar d Law
Sc hool
Van Jones , Pr es i dent
#Yes WeCan & Rebui l d t he Dr eam
Li s a Thur au, Exec ut i ve Di r ec t or
St r at egi es f or Yout h
Rabbi St ephani e Ber ns t ei n
Bet hes da, MD
The Honor abl e Bar bar a Lee
Member of Congr es s
U. S. Hous e of Repr es ent at i v es

8.25.2014