https://www.wortfm.org/activists-renew-call-for-lawmakers-to-support-the-hands-up-act/
Activists Renew Call For Lawmakers To Support The Hands Up Act
APRIL 22, 2024 BY FAYE PARKS AND WORT NEWS DEPARTMENT
“It is unacceptable for police officers to shoot people [who are] unarmed, it’s unacceptable for police officers to plant drugs on people, and it’s also unacceptable when police officers see these actions that they don’t hold other officers accountable,” says Travis Washington, a social justice activist based in Illinois.
Washington is also the author of the Hands Up Act, which he says would hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct on the job.
He created a Change.org petition in 2018 which currently has almost 3 million signatures – including some notable names.
“Michael Brown’s mother signed the petition, Antwon Rose’s mother signed the petition, Breonna Taylor’s mother has signed the petition, Jacob Blake’s father signed the petition, Marcellis Stinnette’s sister also supports the petition,” says Washington.
Over the last six years, Washington has reached out to more than 100 lawmakers across the country asking for their support. And according to Washington, while some have shown interest, none have pursued it seriously. So, he decided to write the legislation himself.
“So, the Hands Up Act is a law where if a police officer shoots someone unarmed, they get a mandatory 15-year prison sentence,” says Washington.
Not only would the proposal regulate police officers who shoot unarmed citizens, but – thanks to a new update – it also heavily penalizes those who falsify evidence.
“Police officers who plant drugs on people would serve a mandatory 10-year sentence. Or police officers who see police officers who plant drugs, guns on people and don’t report it would serve a mandatory 12-year prison sentence,” says Washington – adding that the last provision would be especially impactful. “There’s a thing in higher education called ‘mandatory reporter.’ I’m forcing officers to be mandatory reporters on dirty police officers.”
The Hands Up Act has local support dating back to 2020 – when Washington came to Madison on invitation from Impact Demand. According to youth organization’s leader, Ayomi Obuseh, they reached out to Washington after seeing his TED Talk on the proposed legislation.
“I think it’s important for legislators to make sure that they’re listening to their community – and we’ve seen how many signatures this petition has, we’ve seen the hard work Travis has done to advocate for this legislation,” says Obuseh. And so it’s something that we need to enact as soon as possible.”