Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry led an 11-state Attorney General letter to Congressional leadership in support of America’s law enforcement personnel. Joining AG Marshall and other attorneys general in the letter were the Western States Sheriffs Association and the Southwestern Border Sheriffs Association.
The June 22 letter called on Congress to temper “anti-police rhetoric” and its potential for harm.
“As the chief law enforcement officers of our states, along with law enforcement partners, we write to express our unwavering support for law enforcement across the country and to ask for your assistance in tempering the anti-police rhetoric that is jeopardizing the safety of our officers,” the letter stated. “We especially rely on you, as leaders of the most important legislative body in the world, to discourage disinformation and to help us restore the country’s faith in the overwhelming majority of law-enforcement officers who perform their jobs honorably and bring stability to our cities and states.”
The letter noted the death of George Floyd but disputed claims that there are systemic problems in the law enforcement system: “The tragic and preventable death of George Floyd at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers shined a national spotlight on bad actors within the law-enforcement profession. At the same time, data simply does not support claims that law enforcement is systemically racist or structurally biased. Despite the lack of available evidence to support the anti-police narrative, it proliferates and has spawned radical reactions such as the current calls to ‘defund the police,’ as well as increases in violence against police — ranging from assaults to murders.”
The letter stated it is possible to both speak out against racism and support law enforcement: “These two concepts are not mutually exclusive and is why there has been virtually no support from law enforcement of the horrific decisions made by the officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death. Individuals, including members of Congress, are dangerously fanning the flames of emotion by tacitly or explicitly supporting the ‘Defund the Police’ (or worse) movement. These comments are inciting chaos through the myth that Americans will be better off without the ‘thin blue line’ — law enforcement — that stands between society and anarchy. Ultimately, it is the prerogative of cities and states to choose the best course of action for their citizens. As for us, we stand with law enforcement and for a safer future for all Americans.”
To read the full letter, click here.
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