Creating solutions that result in Black people feeling safe within their communities and our society starts with creative and imaginative conversations around the way we see the responsibility and necessity of police, prisons and force within America. Learn more about how leaders of Black communities are trying to change the way in which we visualize and discuss abolition below.
End the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program, which provides military surpluss equipment to police
Use the dropdown list below to find your senator's name and contact information. Use the script below to urge your congress person to take a stance against 1033. You can reach them by phone or contact form (by clicking their name). If you choose to send an email/ contact form, we suggest adding or changing a few lines to ensure it is not removed for spam.
Hello, I'm [NAME], a constituent calling from [CITY, ZIP]. I'm contacting you in support of ending the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program and associated transfers of all military equipment and vehicles to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The military surplus equipment transfer program, known as the 1033 Program, was formally established in the 1997 FY National Defense Authorization Act. Since its inception, more than $7.4 billion in surplus military equipment and goods, including armored vehicles, rifles, and aircraft, have been transferred to more than 8,000 law enforcement agencies. The program came to national attention in the aftermath of the killing of Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Since then, Congressional leaders have tried to reform or end this program that has caused an increase in militarized policing particularly in communities of color. Research studies indicate that the 1033 Program is not only unsafe but ineffective as it fails to reduce crime or improve police safety. In 2015, President Obama issued Executive Order 13688 that provided necessary oversight of the program. The Executive Order has since been rescinded, which only underscores that legislative action -- not executive orders -- is critical to address the concerns with this program. Please pass along my concerns to the [senator/representative]. I'd appreciate if your office could follow up with me with any news related to this issue. I can be reached at [CONTACT INFO]. Thanks so much for taking my [email/call].
