TAKE ACTION: Stop Kemp from Signing SB 402 and HB 838
While Governor Kemp was praised for signing a hate crimes bill after more than 15 years without one, the Republican Georgia Legislature is attempting to quietly pass heinous state bills SB 402 & HB 838 against everything that the community has fought for. These bills are already moving through the capital and are waiting on Kemp's desk to be signed. If he does not veto them before August 5th, they will become law.
You can fight back to protect our people with GLAHR, SONG, and our coalition partners by taking action:
Call Governor Kemp and demand he vetoes HB 838 & SB 402 at 404-656-1776 using this script, Click Here.
Leave him a message at the constituent services site demanding he vetoesHB 838 & SB 402, Click Here.
Veto HB 838: "Anti-Black Lives Matter Bill"
HB 838 will make it near impossible to hold cops accountable for the crimes they commit. Further, during a time of historical protests calling to defund the police, Georgia instead seeks to punish people protesting police violence. HB 838 goes so far as to make any perceived threat or intimidation against a police officer a hate crime. Any word or action deemed to have targeted cops or other first responders would be punishable by increased fines and jail time. In its opposition to the bill, the Southern Center for Human Rights notes, "There was no need to increase punishments for people who commit crimes against first responders because Georgia law already provided adequate protections as well as enhanced penalties when first responders are the victims of crime."
HB 838 would make cops less accountable and give them unnecessary protections. Police contracts already endow them with excessive rights when they are under investigation, including:
Not being questioned until all other witnesses have been interrogated;
Receiving a copy of every question and statement made by other witnesses before being interrogated themselves; and,
Getting paid for the length of the investigation.
We cannot trust a legal system that puts cops above the law.
Veto SB 402: "Bad Bail Bill"
While across the nation Republicans and Democrats alike are calling for criminal justice reform, the Georgia Legislature has instead rolled back past reforms and passed SB 402. If signed into law, this bill would:
Eliminate signature bond and force folks to have to pay cash bail for every single arrest.
It will force folks who are not able to afford bail to stay locked in cages, not matter the charge.
Encourages judges to prosecute to the highest extent of the law and does not allow folks out of cages even for medical reasons.
It will increase the jail population for the entire state during a pandemic.
