Policy Overview: Policies to Ensure Safety & Respect for Black People

Communities that adopt these policies recognize Black People’s unalienable “Right to Breathe”. When communities refuse to adopt these policies, clear public warnings are issued to the Black community and community at large that the specific community does not recognize Black people’s right to breathe.  It is a matter of life and death that these policies be adopted or Black people be warned against living, working, shopping, and traveling to communities that cannot guarantee a safety and respect. We must hold municipalities and their police departments, school districts, employers, and retailers accountable for implementing and enforcing policies that ensure Black people are safe and respected.

Negotiating Change

The Right to Breathe committee works to coordinate Black voices while negotiating and coaching participating organizations. The RTB committee is currently in dialog with:

  • Black Community Forums

  • Affinity Based Organizations

  • Municipal government

  • Law enforcement

  • School districts

  • Employers

  • Retailers and other public accommodations

  • Community education and communication


Nine Domains

The Right to Breathe acknowledges that the desired outcome reflects basic human rights, hence framing this work as Phase 1, and that further work needs to be done intra-personally, inter-personally, structurally and institutionally. Phase 1 collaborative action is organized into the following nine domains:

Immediate policy changes.

This includes eliminating all choke holds and all tactics that restrict airways.  Institute de-escalation measures for protests - use of tear gas and batons only as last resort. Review all arrests and uses of force since May 25th related to protests. Redress for protesters who have been teargassed or had force used against them. Donate funds that were used for riot control. 

Civilian oversight and accountability.

Fully funded independent and self governing body, with ability make rulings to the Chief, IA and Council. Comprised of Black people and can include City residents, business owners or employees in a municipality. The groups authority to review any and all incidents, liaise with Police Tribunal, propose policy changes and recommend firing officers, Publicly issue information about the Police Dept.

Defund school resource officers.

No armed police in schools. Reallocate funds to school counselors and mental health support.

Establish de-escalation for police interactions.

De-escalation tactics upon contact with all subjects, supported by mandatory de-escalation training of all officers, evaluation and ongoing training rooted in compassionate uses of force. Incorporate restraint tactics used by nurses and mental health providers. For responses to violent threats, use non-lethal and less lethal uses of weapons and tools - including unarmed responders.

Demilitarize the police department.

With the support of the Civilian Oversight evaluation and accountability. Rejecting AI & Machine Learning surveillance in community and eliminating military-style equipment and tactics (including “No-Knock” warrants).  Reserving assault weapons for SWAT-specific missions, approved by the Police Chief who will have informed the CEO of the municipality (mayor or city manager). Money from police department seizures of property goes to community policing and/or school counselors.

Mental health training for officers.

Establish policies to require mental health- and trauma-informed policing by all officers. Clear targets set to decrease uses of force when contacting people with mental illnesses. Clear consequences established if target is not achieved.

Program to hire and retain Black police officers.

Commit to increasing the percentage of Black officers on the police force to reflect the Black population of the municipality.

Reprioritize Non-violent quality of life violations.

If called to the scene by a civilian, contact the caller first to educate them of steps to take instead of calling the police. If no violation of law – then no law enforcement 

Educate and inform the community of their role in policing.

Shift the stance of protection and service from the caller to the person who has had the police called upon them. Treat this as a threat of violence, unless, upon arrival, the officer sees a clear violation of law or threat to safety. This includes no more “move along” services, legitimatizing threats, and education for caller on unnecessary policing.

Click here for progress reports on participating municipalities.