CODEPINK’s PEACE POSITION #8 END THE MILITARIZATION OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND U.S. BORDERS

By Janet Weil, CODEPINK Staffer

“End the policy of transferring military-grade weaponry and surveillance equipment from the military to local police departments. End the militarization of our national borders.”

Since 2001, the United States the United States has been in a state of constant war and militarization not only of foreign policy, but of U.S.-Mexico border control and domestic police departments. More and more we are seeing military weapons, vehicles and gear - and even worse, the military mindset - being used to repress and surveil communities, especially communities of color. An important mechanism to militarize U.S. police departments and related agencies is the 1033 program, which CODEPINK opposes and has taken action against.

Please read this Newsweek article on how the police are morphing into the army. CODEPINK also opposes the Urban Shield semi-war-games exercises which are held in the SF Bay Area; for more info, please see this page.

Gun violence in the US has claimed more lives than the total of all US wars. Media hype continues to fuel product demand, further empowering weapons manufacturers and the NRA to advocate for the perpetuation of this cycle from which they so greatly benefit.

For photos of CODEPINK’s work on ending police militarization: http://bit.ly/1XPfxze