ACLU slams emergency crime bill

Our friends in ACLU of the National Capital Area, working with others including the NAACP, National Black Police Association, Campaign for Youth Justice, Public Defender Service, and ROOT, Inc., have been lobbying and rallying against emergency crime legislation, including a Gang Injunction bill, which is coming up today in the D.C. Council. In a June 10 action alert, ACLU/NCA stated:

On Tuesday, June 16th, the DC Council is expected to vote on “emergency” crime bills, including a proposal by Councilman Evans. DC Council should oppose the Evans bill because it will not increase public safety as the proposal:

• Casts a broad and wide net that will sweep many people – including people who have not been involved in a crime – into the criminal justice system;
• Proposes new gun crimes and provisions that are not targeted at reducing gun violence;
• Adds unnecessary new mandatory minimum sentences and makes it easier to detain people pending trial – proposals which will unnecessarily increase incarceration of District residents;
• May brand as gang members law-abiding District residents simply on the basis of guilt by association and PERMANENTLY restrict who they can talk to or associate with in their neighborhoods through "gang injunctions.”

News Channel 4 reports here. News Channel 8 reports here.

For more information, contact Kenny Barnes of ROOT at kennysr@rootinc.org; Johnny Barnes of ACLU/NCA at johnny.barnes@aclu-nca.org; Laura Hankins of the Public Defender Service at lhankins@pdsdc.org; or Liz Ryan of the Campaign for Youth Justice at lryan@cfyj.org.

Update: The Evans gang-injunction language, which was made into an amendment to the Mendelson crime bill, has been defeated on a 4-to-9 vote, with the yes votes belonging to Councilmembers Evans, Graham, Bowser and Catania. Gray and Cheh spoke strongly against the gang-injunction provision. Evans withdrew his own bill, and did not look happy.