For Immediate Release:
5/25/2022
Contact: Jack Rosen 202-567-3538 [email protected]
WASHINGTON DC – The National Disability Rights Network applauds the Biden Administration’s Executive Order on policing which comes two years after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The Executive Order is an important move toward helping ensure safer communities while also holding law enforcement, the people entrusted with our safety, accountable for their actions. In the absence of Congressional action to address police accountability and police brutality against people with disabilities, people of color, immigrants, refugees, members of the LGBT community, and members of every religious group, this action by the Administration is more important than ever.
“We applaud the President and his Administration for taking this important first step toward grappling with our nation’s legacy of police violence while also trying to keep our communities safer,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “Police brutality and accountability is a disability rights issue. A countless number of people with disabilities have lost their lives at the hands of the police. The time to address this is long overdue and this Executive Order demonstrates a clear commitment from the highest levels of government toward creating a nation that is safe for all,” continued Decker.
While the Executive Order is much needed, it unfortunately will only move us so far toward achieving a lasting solution to police brutality. The Senate’s continued failure to take up meaningful police reform legislation is a hindrance to the progress needed which can only be achieved through legislation. We again call on the Senate to take up the police reform legislation passed by the House. In the interim, NDRN will continue to work with the many civil rights groups who share our values of community and inclusion for all and with the Administration to help implement this historic Executive Order.
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
