Dear Caucus Members,

As Black Chiefs of Staff in the Legislature, we have collectively come together to find potential solutions, ensuring the institutional racism, rooted in the fabric of this land’s 400-year history and policing, no longer is perpetuated here at home in Texas.

We are writing to you because we are exasperated with a system that is intentionally designed to work against people who look like us.

When we look at each other, we see Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed, George Floyd, Atatiana Jefferson, Muhlaysia Booker, Javier Ambler, and the many other Black lives who have lost their lives at the hands of police officers. We are them and must do everything in our power to make sure their names are never forgotten. As legislators, we ask you to use your legislative powers and office to enact meaningful change and reform.

As a collective, we have twelve policy proposals we want to see introduced in the 87th legislative session. It is imperative we seek reform now. Changes and justice can no longer be delayed. Below are the specific topics we have identified for legislators to act upon

• Ban no-knock warrants • Ban the use of strangleholds (carotid restraints), hog-tying and prone positions • Create a statewide police officer professionalism (misconduct) database • Create civilian oversight review boards with subpoena powers • Institute a duty to intervene • Invest in rigorous and sustained police training • Limit the use of force by law enforcement officials • Reallocate funds appropriated to the Texas Department of Public Safety and to provide more support services • Reinforce the right of civilians to record the police • Require independent investigations of police-involved criminal cases • Require the use of body cameras and dashboard cameras; penalty for deactivation • Restrict police officer indemnification and pensions

In addition to this list, we are asking all 150 members of the House and 31 Senators to take immediate action in removing all confederate monuments and commemorations from the Texas State Capitol grounds. For us and many others, this is a painful reminder of how we are still not yet seen as equals in a state we fight to make better every day. We do not need statues and memorials to remind us of a past full of hate, treason, and segregation. It’s been long overdue for these innate objects to be removed. Let’s find and use symbols that will build bridges to unite and not divide us.

We ask of these things because we recognize our roles, responsibilities, and duties as Chiefs of Staff but we are Black first. We understand, we have the ability to use our voices and minds to enact change now. We know we serve at the pleasure of the member but most importantly, our constituents in district and Texans across the state.

Texas must be made equitable for everyone. There should no longer be a delay in justice and reform, Texas must show it’s the leader it has longed spoken about and simply be as good as its promise.

In Solidarity,

LaJuana Burton Melissa Bradford Senator Royce West Representative Carl Sherman Senate District 23 House District 109

Odus Evbagharu Camille Foster Representative Senator Borris Miles House District 135 Senate District 13

Alex Hammond Max Lars Senator Carol Alvarado Representative John Bucy Senate District 6 House District 136

Christian Manuel Abel Mulugheta Representative Representative Rafael Anchía House District 22 House District 103

Khanay Turner Anneliese Vogel Representative Representative House District 110 House District 131