Why We Need to Pass AB 392:
Police officers are shooting, suffocating, and tasering our fellow Californians with little to no consequences. This violence disproportionately impacts Black, Latino, and poor communities.
Our Jewish tradition compels us speak out and act against injustice — and our current laws around police use of force are a profound injustice.
The California Act to Save Lives (AB 392) would require law enforcement officers to use de-escalation tactics whenever possible and avoid using deadly force unless it is the only way to prevent death or serious bodily injury.
Here’s why this law is so crucial:
- Under California's current law, police can use deadly force regardless of whether it was necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury and regardless of whether there were available alternatives.
- California police kill people at a rate 37% higher than the national average per capita.
- In 2017, California police killed 172 people, more than two-thirds of whom were people of color
As Jews, we must act in solidarity with Black, Latinx, and indigenous communities, who are killed at the highest rates by law enforcement.
Californians deserve safety and accountability. We will continue to make it clear that California Jews support an end to police use of deadly force.
Will you add your name to the petition and spread the word?