WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, more than 40 local and national organizations, including civil rights, democracy, criminal justice reform, youth justice, and philanthropic organizations, many with staff and offices in D.C., called on D.C. leaders to reject the Safer Stronger D.C. Amendment Act (“SSDC”). In a letter to D.C. leaders, the organizations decried that the harmful legislation would hurt families and communities by worsening mass incarceration and exacerbating D.C.’s stark racial disparities without advancing public safety.

Opposition to the legislation came from a broad range of voices, including national advocacy organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), FAMM, Alliance for Safety and Justice, Justice Policy Institute, FWD.us, the Vera Institute of Justice, and local organizations, including DC Action, Georgetown Juvenile Justice Initiative, ACLU-DC, and DC Justice Lab, among numerous others.

The organizations urged D.C. leaders to “prioritize policies that will improve public safety, reduce incarceration, and strengthen communities.”

The letter with the list of signatories can be found here.