Rep. Robyn Vining Supports Meaningful Policing Reform

Press release from Representative Robyn Vining:

Aug. 31, 2020

Last week, Governor Evers signed an executive order calling on the Wisconsin State Legislature to meet in a special session on policing accountability and transparency reform today. State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) issued the following statement in support of the special session:

“The fabric of our nation is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are a people with a shared destiny, and a promise to one another that We The People means all the people, people of every race, creed, and gender.

“It is imperative that everyone is treated equally under the law. That is not the case, and the evidence is playing on cell phone after cell phone across this country. The argument being had today isn’t more law and order versus less law and order, it is that right now, because the system treats Wisconsinites differently, law and order is not equally applied to all Americans or all Wisconsinites. And so, the work we have in front of us is to change that.

“As legislators it is our job to evaluate the state statutes and propose changes that better serve The People. It’s our job to hold ourselves accountable in tackling systemic racism and inequity. It is also our job to see preventable violence, and evaluate the statutes for how better laws can mean a more fair, just, healthy, safe, equal, transparent, and accountable world for everyone. That is what has been done by the legislators who have introduced these bills for violence prevention, and more transparency and accountability in policing.

“The time for leadership is now. The people are watching, Wisconsin is watching, the country is watching. These bills aren’t partisan, and the behavior from politicians shouldn’t be either. Let’s check our egos at the door, do the work people entrusted us to do, and create a more fair, just, healthy, safe, equal, transparent, and accountable Wisconsin.

“Standing by and allowing our people to be endangered is not an option. We swore an oath. The people are waiting. Let’s go.”

Rep. Vining represents the 14th Assembly District, which includes parts of Brookfield, Wauwatosa, and Milwaukee. For more information, visit Rep. Vining’s website here.

This press release was produced by Representative Robyn Vining. The views expressed here are the author's own.