Stonewalled: Still Demanding Respect!
AI's Campaign to End Police Brutality Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender People in the U.S.
Goals of Our Campaign
In addressing the issue of police brutality, we need a campaign strategy that deals with not only individual cases of police abuse but also the systemic problems underpinning the human rights violations that we have documented. There are two primary goals in our campaign:
- To ensure that all allegations and reports of police abuse and misconduct
are thoroughly and impartially investigated and those responsible brought
to justice.
- To achieve concrete and positive reforms in policing policies and practices.
Take Action!
There are a number of ways that you can take action. It all depends on your or
your group's time and capacity. The following recommended campaigning activities
are organized according to the level of time commitment it would take to accomplish
them. We hope that this guide will help you plan your activities accordingly:
- Level 1
- Write letters.
- Ask friends, colleagues and family members to write letters.
- Forward actions with a link to the OUTfront website to your list-serves.
- Level 2
- Educate yourself
- Learn more about the issue: Download and read the report and other support materials.
- Learn more about what's happening in your local community:
What are the law enforcement issues affecting your community?
Who are key stakeholders: officials, activists, organizations?
- Educate others
- Promote the AI report and actions at appropriate local community events.
- Spread the word: Tell your friends, colleagues, and local LGBT, social justice, youth, anti-violence programs, and other organizations about the report and our campaign.
- Publicize
- Write an article for your school newspaper.
- Write to national and local press about AI's report.
- Level 3
- Table at your local June Pride event. (Contact outfront@aiusa.org or (212) 807-8400 for tabling materials.)
- Organize a march contingent at your local June Pride event.
- Level 4
- Organize panel discussions. (For a list of potential speakers, please see our speakers list.)
- Reach out and build allies. Identify potential individual and organizational allies interested in the issue and in organizing a public forum or other campaigning activities.
- Level 5
- Meet with local officials (Mayor, City Council members) to lobby for key recommendations in the report. We recommend that you do this collaboratively with those members in your community who are already involved in this issue.
- Attend local community board meetings and raise the issues and recommendations in the report.
- Attend special community meetings organized by police precincts and bring attention to AI's findings and recommendations.
