ACLU Comment on House Passage of Divisive Policing Bill

WASHINGTON — The House passed tonight the Protect and Serve Act, a bill that would further divide community and police relations.

Kanya Bennet, American Civil Liberties Union legislative counsel, said:

“It’s disturbing that the House used Police Week to pass this divisive bill that does not improve officer safety. Instead of focusing on fostering community-police relations, members of Congress chose to perpetuate the ‘war on police’ narrative. Contrary to what the Trump administration says, there is no ‘war on police’ — not in our towns, cities, or at the border.

“The Senate should reject this and abandon its version of the bill, which goes even further by essentially and unnecessarily making it a hate crime to target law enforcement. Everyone wants law enforcement and communities to be safe, but the Protect and Serve Act will only increase the divide even further.”