Press Releases

Community Leaders Demand Gov. Newsom Protect SB 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Luis Fernando Anguiano, [email protected], (619) 207-8037

Concerned About Reduced Police Transparency, Community Leaders Rally At Sacramento Capitol to Demand Gov Newsom And Budget Leaders Reject SB 2 (2021) Trailer Bill Language

SACRAMENTO, CA – Community leaders and advocates will host a Press Conference to demand Governor Newsom and representatives reject the proposed Trailer Bill Language canceling parts of Senate Bill 2 (Bradford, 2021). The TBL threatens to hollow out a key transparency component of SB 2, cloaking police decertification proceedings in secrecy by denying access to decertification records.  

Victims of police violence and community organization representatives will discuss police misconduct and the importance of SB 2 transparency to protect the community and rebuild public trust. Earlier today, a coalition of two dozen groups, composed of civil rights, media, open-government, and racial justice organizations, sent a letter to legislative leaders imploring them to reject the trailer bill. 

  • WHAT: “Protect SB 2” Press Conference
  • WHEN: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 10:30AM. 
  • WHO: Victims of police violence; Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker; ACCE Action; Lift Up Contra Costa; Safe Return Project; ACLU California Action
  • WHERE: West Side of the Sacramento California State Capitol, 1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
  • WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: https://youtu.be/_CmdfrmhDXs

This action follows a recent bombshell scandal where as many as 45 Antioch Police Officers were in a group chat where racist, homophobic, and misogynist communications and memes were shared. The case has sparked local protests in Antioch demanding accountability from the Antioch Police Department and City of Antioch. The 45 Antioch Police Officers may be decertified under SB 2, California’s new police decertification law. Antioch residents are hopeful that decertification proceedings will provide accountability and visibility. 

In a recent Medium post, Antioch Mayor Pro Tem Torres-Walker explained, “Governor Newsom’s administration appears to be trying to save money in a tight budget season by secretly removing POST’s obligation to administer public records requests. This anti-transparency effort is being conducted through trailer bill language, which means there are no committee hearings, no stakeholder negotiations, no opportunity for public debate, not even a report of alleged costs or savings.” 

Issues: