Capitol Gathering: Rep. Bowen Releases New Police Reform Bills

MADISON, WI—Outside the Capitol, Black Lives Matter flags waved and activists gathered in support of State Rep. David Bowen and his new set of police reform bills.

On Thursday afternoon, 10th Assembly District Rep. Bowen, whose district is located in northern Milwaukee County, released 12 new bills which compose the Enough is Enough: Justice Reform Package. Bowen, joined by roughly 40 supporters including Madison State Rep. Francesca Hong and community activists, gathered on the steps of the Capitol to discuss the package and its importance.

The bills include accountability and training measures such as, requiring police to carry contact cards, complete annual use-of-force training and prohibit “warrior-style” training for law enforcement personnel.

Bowen said the package comes after a year of seeing people step up to address how Black and Brown people interact with law enforcement when it comes to abuse of force and abuse of power.

“The package you see before you is attempting to make a significant shift in the state of Wisconsin,” Bowen said. “We do not talk lip service that we want to do something only to have underwhelming policies to come forward that will not significantly change the experience of Wisconsinites and how they interact with law enforcement.”

Others voicing their support included activists like Angela Lang who serves as Executive Director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and Cecil Lacy, whose brother Ernest Lacy was killed by Milwaukee police in 1981.

The release comes days after Bowen criticized the police reform legislation, created by Speaker Robin Vos’ Task Force on Racial Disparities, for not taking drastic enough steps. One member of the task force, Milwaukee-based activist Rebecca Burrell, voiced her disappointment in it.

“We allowed those we are trying to hold accountable to determine the level of accountability they will be held to, " Burrell said of the task force. “After nine months we gave birth to a stillborn baby.”

Bowen said that this package is designed to “take the ball further.”

“Stop exploiting our death,” he said. “People are coming together and saying enough is enough.”