Berkeley, California Adopts Sweeping Police Reforms
“Berkeley is not immune from our nation’s reckoning with systemic racism.” -Mayor Jesse Arreguín Amy Osborne
Following months of national protests against racial injustice and the unjustified killings of Black people, the city of Berkeley, California is answering the call to pursue reform within its police department .
The Berkeley city council on Tuesday voted to end certain policing policies that leave people of color vulnerable. For starters, they will eliminate police traffic stops for low-level offenses, like having an expired license, or not wearing a safety belt. The council also decided police will be required to have written consent before searching vehicles, unless officers are in a situation where consent is not legally required.