Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it would vacate several consent decrees in key jurisdictions, including Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Louisville, Kentucky. This is not a neutral policy shift; it’s a direct backlash to the nationwide demands for police accountability and racial justice. Coming on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and shortly before the birthday of Breonna Taylor, who was murdered in Louisville, Kentucky, the timing sends an unmistakable signal: protecting Black lives is not a priority for this administration.
As W.E.B. DuBois made clear in his 1935 masterpiece, Black Reconstruction, it has always been Black communities who have pushed this nation closer to its democratic ideals, and we will never be a full democracy until the power of the State is used to protect the descendants of enslaved people.
As the federal government continues to retreat from its responsibility, we must step up. At the Center for Policing Equity, we are stepping in. We are working alongside community advocates, public officials, and law enforcement leaders who are committed to building systems rooted in equity and accountability. Together, we are leaning into the hard, necessary work of building a more just and effective public safety system.
Now is the time to defend progress and demand more. Join us in building a future where every community is truly safe.
For more on this pivotal moment, read TIME’s special issue marking five years since George Floyd’s death. CPE is honored to contribute to this national reflection and call to action.
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The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that uses data science to empower vulnerable communities—particularly Black communities—to partner with leaders on redesigning public safety systems that facilitate bold, innovative, and lasting change.