Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Supreme Court Must Uphold Birthright Citizenship, Says LatinoJustice
NEW YORK, May 16 -- LatinoJustice PRLDEF issued the following news release:
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The Supreme Court Must Uphold Birthright Citizenship, Says LatinoJustice
Government's oral arguments focus on narrow technical rule that aims to circumvent federal rulings on Executive Order
The national civil rights organization LatinoJustice PRLDEF responded to today's oral arguments before the US Supreme Court related to whether lower courts could halt the President's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
The executive order would deny US citizenship to an estimated 255,000 newborns born
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 16 -- LatinoJustice PRLDEF issued the following news release:
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The Supreme Court Must Uphold Birthright Citizenship, Says LatinoJustice
Government's oral arguments focus on narrow technical rule that aims to circumvent federal rulings on Executive Order
The national civil rights organization LatinoJustice PRLDEF responded to today's oral arguments before the US Supreme Court related to whether lower courts could halt the President's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.
The executive order would deny US citizenship to an estimated 255,000 newborns bornon US soil yearly to undocumented parents, and reject a 127-year-old precedent that settled the 14th Amendment's establishment of birthright citizenship as applying to all born in the US, regardless of the status of their parents.
Today's hearing is based on an emergency application filed by the government to block orders issued by federal district courts in three cases that halted the implementation of the executive order -- Trump v. CASA, Trump v. Washington and Trump v. New Jersey. The government argues that lower court rulings blocking the executive order nationwide amount to an unconstitutional universal injunction.
The administration's emergency appeal marks only the fourth time since 1971 that the U.S. Supreme Court has held oral arguments on an emergency request. A decision is expected by early summer.
In February, LatinoJustice PRLDEF filed a case, New York Immigration Coalition, and J.V., v. Donald Trump et al., in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York challenging the executive order.
The following statement can be attributed to Lourdes Rosado, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF:
"The government's emergency appeal to the Supreme Court to move forward with their unconstitutional attempt to remove the right to citizenship from hundreds of thousands of children born in the US who are entitled to it disingenuously aims to use a technical matter to circumvent the lower courts' correct decisions to uphold a long-settled fundamental right to citizenship.
"The government argues that courts should have no power to issue a nationwide block of an illegal government policy so that civil rights defenders like LatinoJustice would have to file separate lawsuits for every single person threatened. During argument Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized a 'catch me if you can' system that would allow the government to apply illegal rules unless the specific targeted person files a lawsuit.
"Birthright citizenship has been guaranteed by the 14th Amendment for more than 150 years and cannot be swept away by any president with the stroke of a pen. We hope that the Supreme Court Justices will assert this long-standing principle and precedent. LatinoJustice will continue to fight for the rights of all in our country."
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Original text and links presented by source here: https://www.latinojustice.org/en/press/supreme-court-must-uphold-birthright-citizenship-says-latinojustice
[Category: Law/Legal]
Supreme Court Must Fully Preserve Constitutional Protections of Birthright Citizenship and Not Allow Trump Administration to Pierce Its Sacred Protections
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 16 -- The Immigrant Legal Resource Center issued the following news release:
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Supreme Court Must Fully Preserve the Constitutional Protections of Birthright Citizenship and Not Allow the Trump Administration to Pierce its Sacred Protections
(Washington)--While evading the constitutional questions underlying the Trump administration's efforts to pierce the sacred veil of constitutionally-protected birthright citizenship, lawyers for the government argued before the US Supreme Court today that lower courts' decisions to completely block efforts to undercut birthright
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 16 -- The Immigrant Legal Resource Center issued the following news release:
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Supreme Court Must Fully Preserve the Constitutional Protections of Birthright Citizenship and Not Allow the Trump Administration to Pierce its Sacred Protections
(Washington)--While evading the constitutional questions underlying the Trump administration's efforts to pierce the sacred veil of constitutionally-protected birthright citizenship, lawyers for the government argued before the US Supreme Court today that lower courts' decisions to completely block efforts to undercut birthrightcitizenship should be limited. Essentially, on Day 1 of this administration, Trump attempted through executive order to undo birthright citizenship, which is enshrined and protected under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution and has been so since 1868.
When multiple lower courts blocked the attack on birthright citizenship from taking immediate effect Trump's lawyers went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court must not cave to the Trump administration's efforts to skirt the Constitution and end birthright citizenship, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) said.
Trump signed an unconstitutional executive order to end birthright citizenship, a move that multiple federal judges have blocked as it falls flagrantly outside our country's legal and constitutional norms. Trump's efforts to strip birthright citizenship from the Constitution is rooted in racial animus and would cause hundreds of thousands of children born in the United States to be denied the full benefits of U.S. citizenship.
Birthright citizenship is protected under the Constitution and Trump cannot simply change the Constitution, the ILRC said. Ending birthright citizenship would greatly impact the lives of millions of American families, throwing them into legal limbo and uncertainty.
This is yet another move by this administration to upend policies and laws with the singular goal of harming immigrant families. Our communities will continue to fight these efforts.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC works to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities. Follow us at www.ilrc.org.
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Original text and links presented by source here: https://www.ilrc.org/press-room/supreme-court-must-fully-preserve-constitutional-protections-birthright-citizenship-and
[Category: Law/Legal]
New Report: Complaints Against U.S. Airlines Soar to Another Record in 2024
WASHINGTON, May 16 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund issued the following news release:
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New report: Complaints against U.S. airlines soar to another record in 2024
Cancellations, delays edge up while mishandled baggage or wheelchair incidents decline
WASHINGTON - Complaints lodged against U.S. airlines hit another record in 2024, rising by nearly 9%, even though passenger volume rose by only 4% compared with 2023. That's according to The Plane Truth 2025 (https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/plane-truth-2025/), U.S PIRG Education Fund's newest analysis of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 16 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund issued the following news release:
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New report: Complaints against U.S. airlines soar to another record in 2024
Cancellations, delays edge up while mishandled baggage or wheelchair incidents decline
WASHINGTON - Complaints lodged against U.S. airlines hit another record in 2024, rising by nearly 9%, even though passenger volume rose by only 4% compared with 2023. That's according to The Plane Truth 2025 (https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/plane-truth-2025/), U.S PIRG Education Fund's newest analysis ofU.S. Department of Transportation data..
Last year marked the fourth year in the last five that complaints against U.S. carriers increased to new highs. Air travelers filed nearly 67,000 complaints with the Transportation Department about problems including canceled flights, lost baggage and stalled refunds.
"Travelers are ticked. It's clear they've found their voice and understand that speaking out matters," said Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for U.S. PIRG Education Fund and author of Plane Truth 2025. "The avalanche of tens of thousands complaints over the years helped cement dozens of new passenger protections passed by Congress in May 2024. But beleaguered travelers aren't satisfied. They still expect airlines to do better."
Some passenger complaints likely stemmed from flight cancellations and delays, which increased in 2024 after improving in 2023. In 2024, airlines delayed or cancelled nearly 1.7 million flights -- about 22%. What happens during the rest of 2025 is a question mark now that air traffic controller shortages are creating chaos at Newark Liberty International Airport (one of the nation's busiest) and various other airports at different times.
The Plane Truth 2025 also found:
* For the third year in a row, Frontier had the most complaints per 100,000 passengers among the 10 largest airlines, considerably worse than the carrier with the second-highest ratio, Spirit. On the other end, Southwest and Alaska had the fewest complaints.
* Airlines in 2024 experienced 437 domestic tarmac delays of more than three hours. That's the most in one year since the Tarmac Delay Rule took effect in 2010, and is up from last year's 289 delays.
* The number of travelers involuntarily bumped dropped slightly. Interestingly, more than 10 times the number involuntarily bumped volunteered to give up their seats on overbooked flights. Our report explains how voluntary bumping works and what travelers can expect as compensation.
* Among the top 10 airlines and their partner airlines, about 2.7 million checked bags, wheelchairs or scooters were mishandled, generally meaning they were lost or damaged.
The report also looks at what travelers can expect in 2025 as we enter the busy summer travel season. Global passenger volume had been expected to increase by 6.7% this year compared with 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association. Passengers on U.S. airlines have increased year over year since 2009, except in COVID-ravaged 2020, hitting new records the last two years.
But with economic uncertainty and a decline in international tourists, some of the largest airlines, including Delta, Southwest and United, say they plan to cut the number of flights in the months ahead because demand could falter. If they do reduce flights and demand remains strong, however, look for extra-crowded cabins and airports, more missed connections and another record year for complaints.
"It's more important than ever that travelers plan ahead, take steps to protect themselves and know their rights if something goes wrong," U.S. PIRG Education Fund President Faye Park said. "As we've seen, airlines don't always do the right thing automatically. We all need to continue to push the airlines, regulators and lawmakers to do more to protect us."
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Original text here: https://pirg.org/media-center/new-report-complaints-against-u-s-airlines-soar-to-another-record-in-2024/
[Category: Political]
Louisiana Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Community Groups: Local Government's Approval of Koch Methanol Expansion Unlawful
NEW YORK, May 16 -- The Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following news release on May 15, 2025:
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Louisiana Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Community Groups: Local Government's Approval of Koch Methanol Expansion Unlawful
St. James Parish Council broke own rules to okay expansion into protected wetlands, court finds in Louisiana environmental justice case
Gretna, LA - Yesterday, a five-judge panel of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled 3-2 that St. James Parish violated its own rules when it approved a planned expansion of Koch Methanol in the majority-Black
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 16 -- The Center for Constitutional Rights issued the following news release on May 15, 2025:
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Louisiana Appellate Court Rules in Favor of Community Groups: Local Government's Approval of Koch Methanol Expansion Unlawful
St. James Parish Council broke own rules to okay expansion into protected wetlands, court finds in Louisiana environmental justice case
Gretna, LA - Yesterday, a five-judge panel of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal ruled 3-2 that St. James Parish violated its own rules when it approved a planned expansion of Koch Methanol in the majority-Black5th District. The expansion was challenged by parish resident Beverly Alexander, Mount Triumph Baptist Church, and the grassroots organizations Inclusive Louisiana and RISE St. James.
Located in the heart of the area known as Cancer Alley, the 5th District is home to a particularly heavy concentration of petrochemical plants due to the decades-old pattern of steering hazardous industry into majority-Black areas. In a separate case, Mount Triumph, Inclusive, and RISE have brought a federal lawsuit against the parish seeking a moratorium on new petrochemical facilities in the 4th and 5th Districts on grounds that its discriminatory land use practices violate the constitutional rights of residents. The parish granted the Koch request to allow expansion of the methanol plant shortly after the filing of the federal lawsuit.
"We are thankful and grateful that the judges saw that the St James Parish government makes up laws that are contradictory," said Gail LeBoeuf, co-founder of Inclusive Louisiana. "We the people prevail, proving some laws and decisions are meant to be contested."
"We are ever grateful that the judges ruled that the Parish government did not follow their own laws," said Barbara Washington, Inclusive co-founder. "This is a big win for us all. We can't give up in our fight for justice! We continue to persevere! With God all things are possible!"
The original owner of the methanol facility was Yuhuang Chemical Industries (YCI). In 2015, the St. James Parish Planning Commission approved its application to place it directly on top of the local high school, where RISE founder Sharon Lavigne was teaching at the time. The approval violated the parish's land use plan because the property was in an area designated for residential growth and because it was within two miles of - in fact, on top of - a school.
"I would like to thank God first and thank the judges for listening to us," said Pastor Harry Joseph of Mount Triumph Baptist Church. "The Parish needs to give the people what they deserve - clear air and water."
After buying the school and demolishing the building to make room for the methanol plant, YCI sold it to Koch Methanol, a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate owned by Charles Koch, famed billionaire backer of right-wing causes. The proposed expansion includes a pipeline that would run through protected wetlands, which are not designated for industrial use.
"St. James Parish's land use decisions have overburdened majority-Black districts for decades, landing the Fifth District in the 95th to 100th percentile nationwide for cancer risk from exposure to toxic air," said Astha Sharma Pokharel, staff attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented the plaintiffs along with the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic. "The message from the court is clear: the Parish cannot violate its own rules to approve requests by companies who want to build even more industrial projects here. Especially here, when this company has a track record of violating limits on harmful emissions."
Expansion of the methanol plant would increase the threat it poses to the health of residents, who already face a high risk of cancer and other illnesses from all the petrochemical plants in the 5th District. The Parish failed to consider the significant increase in harmful pollutants that the expansion would involve, though its own rules require it to do so. According to the Center for Disease Control, repeated exposure to methanol vapor "may cause birth defects of the central nervous system" and "inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis), recurrent headaches, giddiness, insomnia, stomach disturbances, and visual failure."
For more, see the Center for Constitutional Rights case page.
For further information, visit the groups' websites:
* Inclusive Louisiana
* RISE St. James
* Tulane Environmental Law Clinic
* The Center for Constitutional Rights
The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, the Center for Constitutional Rights has taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach. Learn more at ccrjustice.org.
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Original text and links presented by source here: https://ccrjustice.org/home/press-center/press-releases/louisiana-appellate-court-rules-favor-community-groups-local
[Category: Law/Legal]
Island of Anholt Becomes Fourth International Dark Sky Park in Denmark
TUCSON, Arizona, May 16 -- DarkSky International issued the following news release:
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Island of Anholt Becomes Fourth International Dark Sky Park in Denmark
Anholt, Denmark
The Danish island of Anholt, located in the Kattegat Strait between Denmark and Sweden, has been officially designated as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. This designation recognizes Anholt's exceptional commitment to preserving the island's naturally dark skies through education, community collaboration, and responsible lighting practices.
The certification follows years of grassroots advocacy
... Show Full Article
TUCSON, Arizona, May 16 -- DarkSky International issued the following news release:
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Island of Anholt Becomes Fourth International Dark Sky Park in Denmark
Anholt, Denmark
The Danish island of Anholt, located in the Kattegat Strait between Denmark and Sweden, has been officially designated as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. This designation recognizes Anholt's exceptional commitment to preserving the island's naturally dark skies through education, community collaboration, and responsible lighting practices.
The certification follows years of grassroots advocacyto raise awareness about the impacts of light pollution and the importance of natural nighttime darkness. Anholt now joins three other certified Dark Sky Places in Denmark and stands as a showcase for how small communities can lead the way in environmental protection.
"We're so pleased, and proud, to have worked to get Denmark yet another place where people can re-orient themselves as inhabitants in this infinite universe and re-acquaint themselves with the darkness," said Anne Dixgaard, Chairwoman of Dark Sky Anholt. "Anholt is ready to re-enchant visitors. May Anholt become a showcase for beautiful, dark-friendly lighting, and an inspiration for others fighting light pollution."
Spanning just 22.37 square kilometers, Anholt is known for its remote location, rare flora, and striking natural landscapes. Easily recognizable from the air thanks to its distinctive "dove" shape, the island is made up of a western ridge rising to 48 meters above sea level, where the village, harbor, and summer cottages are located. The eastern 85% of the island is a protected nature preserve known as "The Desert," a striking expanse of dunes, moraine mounds, and juniper-covered hills.
This preserved area is home to a rich array of plant, insect, bird, and bat species. Anholt is also a vital stopover point for migratory birds and sea mammals, with up to 1,000 seals--primarily harbor seals--residing near the eastern tip.
The island's history is equally rich, with archaeological finds from the Early Stone Age through the Viking Age, revealing millennia of human use as a hunting ground and waystation. More than 300 shipwrecks have been documented around the island, and Anholt's first rescue facility was established in 1878. Today, the harbor remains an active, modern rescue station and a favorite destination for sailors who are drawn by the island's tranquility and breathtaking starry skies.
One of the most significant assets of Anholt's application was the total absence of lighting in the protected Desert area, paired with extensive efforts to reduce light pollution elsewhere. The Municipality of Norddjurs replaced all public lighting with Dark Sky-compliant fixtures, and local residents and property owners have actively participated in the effort by registering their outdoor lighting and eliminating unnecessary fixtures altogether.
"Dark Sky Anholt sends heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the project and joined our walks and outings under open skies," said Dixgaard. "We're proud to contribute to more night-sky darkness becoming protected--for the benefit of Anholt's rich biodiversity, and the divinely dark sleep of both residents and guests."
Dan Oakley, a representative from DarkSky International, guided the application to completion. "The commitment shown by the local community was inspiring," said Oakley. "Their engagement with private companies and public institutions to reduce light pollution demonstrates what's possible when people work together to protect the night."
Following certification, Dark Sky Anholt and the Municipality of Norddjurs will continue working with islanders and visitors to achieve three key goals: to protect biodiversity by maintaining low light levels and preserving the natural rhythms of the island's flora and fauna--particularly in the harbor and built areas; to promote public awareness by hosting dark sky events, installing educational signage, and encouraging responsible lighting practices; and to strengthen astrotourism by drawing visitors to Anholt during the darker months, helping support the island's year-round population of 123 residents.
About the International Dark Sky Places Program:
Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program is a non-regulatory and voluntary program encouraging communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. International Dark Sky Park Anholt now joins more than 240 certified Places that have demonstrated strong community support for protecting the night sky. Learn more: https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places
About DarkSky International:
The mission of DarkSky is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org.
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Original text here: https://darksky.org/news/island-of-anholt-becomes-fourth-international-dark-sky-park-in-denmark/
[Category: Science]
Genetic Factors May Influence Liver Fat Even in Healthy Weight People
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 16 -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute issued the following news release:
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Genetic Factors May Influence Liver Fat Even in Healthy Weight People
Study improves our understanding of steatotic liver disease in an understudied population
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, have identified several genetic variants related to the accumulation of liver fat in normal-weight individuals, a population often overlooked in studies of metabolic liver disease.
Their findings, published today
... Show Full Article
PHOENIX, Arizona, May 16 -- The Translational Genomics Research Institute issued the following news release:
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Genetic Factors May Influence Liver Fat Even in Healthy Weight People
Study improves our understanding of steatotic liver disease in an understudied population
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, have identified several genetic variants related to the accumulation of liver fat in normal-weight individuals, a population often overlooked in studies of metabolic liver disease.
Their findings, published todayin JHEP Reports, provide a glimpse into possible genetic determinants of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or MASLD.
MASLD and its severe progressive form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), are typically associated with obesity, but the new study emphasizes that the underlying biology of the disease is much more complex than its relationship with body mass index (BMI).
"Our findings reveal genetic factors for MASLD that exist regardless of weight," said Johanna K. DiStefano, Ph.D., a professor in TGen's Early Detection and Prevention Division, head of its Metabolic Disease Research Unit, and senior author of the paper. "This challenges the common belief that thin individuals are inherently healthier."
"By understanding these factors, we might better predict the trajectory of the disease in each individual, regardless of BMI. This is especially important for people with a normal weight, as they might not be identified as being at risk otherwise," she added.
Formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, MASLD affects about 30% of the global population, a number that is expected to nearly double by 2040. People with MASH have a greater risk of deadly and disabling conditions such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
The researchers analyzed data from 10,918 normal weight people (with a BMI less than 25) in the UK Biobank in a genome-wide association study, looking for variants related to excess fat in liver cells. DiStefano and her colleagues performed further fine genome mapping and gene expression studies to help them focus on the specific variants that could potentially cause liver fat accumulation.
According to DiStefano, the next step will be to characterize the function of these genes, learning more about how they might affect metabolic stress or fatty acid breakdown to lead to liver fat accumulation.
The causal variants uncovered in the study were predominantly in genes on chromosomes 19 and 22, the researchers found. Some of the variants have been identified previously in genetic studies of MASLD in people with obesity.
"This means that genetic risk occurs independently of weight, which is an interesting discovery," said Ignazio Piras, Ph.D., a research associate professor in TGen's Early Detection and Prevention Division and the paper's first author. "But we also identified new genes or new variants that could point to genetic risk factors that are specific for individuals without obesity-related factors involved."
Future studies should look for these variants and others in a more diverse population, he noted, since the UK Biobank participants are predominantly of European ancestry. But there are few existing databanks that include both detailed genetic data and liver fat measurements for a large number of non-European individuals with a normal BMI.
It's important to learn more about how steatotic liver disease occurs in normal weight people, DiStefano said, because recent studies increasingly show connections between liver disease and the risks of developing other metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, and vice-versa.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases funded this research.
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Original text here: https://www.tgen.org/news/genetic-factors-may-influence-liver-fat-even-in-healthy-weight-people/
[Category: Medical]
Brady Celebrates Supreme Court Decision in Barnes V. Felix to Hold Accountable Police Who Unjustly Use Deadly Force
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on May 15, 2025:
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Brady Celebrates Supreme Court Decision in Barnes v. Felix to Hold Accountable Police Who Unjustly Use Deadly Force
This decision is a step toward ending police violence and restoring trust between law enforcement and communities.
Today, in a unanimous decision in Barnes v. Felix, the Supreme Court rejected the harmful, so-called "moment-of-threat" doctrine that had the potential to, and did, shield police officers from accountability for unreasonably using firearms as deadly
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release on May 15, 2025:
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Brady Celebrates Supreme Court Decision in Barnes v. Felix to Hold Accountable Police Who Unjustly Use Deadly Force
This decision is a step toward ending police violence and restoring trust between law enforcement and communities.
Today, in a unanimous decision in Barnes v. Felix, the Supreme Court rejected the harmful, so-called "moment-of-threat" doctrine that had the potential to, and did, shield police officers from accountability for unreasonably using firearms as deadlyforce against civilians. Brady had filed an amicus brief in the case, and the Court's ruling has major implications for racial justice and gun violence prevention.
Ashtian Barnes, a 24-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by a police officer in a "routine" traffic stop prompted by unpaid toll violations, for which he was not responsible. When Barnes' mother, Janice Hughes Barnes, brought an excessive force claim against the officer who shot and killed her son, the Fifth Circuit dismissed her claim through the "moment-of-threat" doctrine. However, the Supreme Court rightly rejected this dangerous precedent, ruling that instead, an officer's use of deadly force should be evaluated under the "totality of the circumstances" when determining whether that deadly force was reasonable. This brings a modicum of justice to the Barnes family, because requiring courts to consider the entire interaction between the officer and the victim instead of just the very moment before force is used will result in more officers being held properly accountable when they unreasonably use deadly force.
Brady President Kris Brown said:
"We know that police violence is often gun violence and it devastates communities across our country. In 2024, over 1,300 people were shot and killed by police, more than any other year in the past decade. And this is not a problem that affects all Americans equally -- Black men are 2.5 times more likely to be shot and killed by the police compared to their white counterparts.
When communities cannot trust law enforcement to use force reasonably and face accountability when they do not, public safety suffers dramatically. The 'moment of the threat' doctrine gave officers a free pass for creating the very danger they later claim justified their use of deadly force, eroding trust and endangering communities.
The generational impact of police violence is incomprehensible. There is no easy solution, but reckoning with the systems of racial oppression and changing the way officers are held responsible is a start. This Supreme Court decision is definitely a step toward a safer America."
Brady has one powerful mission -- to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It's in our hands.
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Original text here: https://www.bradyunited.org/press/barnes-felix-police-shooting
[Category: Political]
