Readout of White House Meeting with Leaders of Civil Rights Groups on Police Reform

Yesterday, senior officials from the White House and the Department of Justice met with leaders from civil rights organizations to discuss police reform.  This meeting was part of a broader effort by the Biden-Harris Administration to consult with members of the civil rights and law enforcement communities, members of Congress, and victims’ families to define a path forward on meaningful police reform, including through executive actions.

Officials from the Biden-Harris Administration taking part in the meeting included Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice, Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. The administration officials stressed the President’s belief that this moment demands action that includes accountability for law enforcement officers who violate their oaths.

The civil rights leaders, representing a broad array of constituencies, stressed the urgent need for action, including through broader investments in communities.    They also highlighted the need for increased and more detailed data collection on interactions between law enforcement and the public, and stressed the continued need for Congressional action to ensure comprehensive, lasting changes that cannot be made by executive action alone.  

The meeting participants included:

• Dr. Melina Abdullah, Original Organizer of Black Lives Matter
• Bishop William Barber, National Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign
• Curt Decker, Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
• Jorge Renaud, National Criminal Justice Director, Latino Justice
• Eric Rodriguez, Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy of UnidosUS
• Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
• Ray Velarde, Board Member, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
• John Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)

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