Tell President Obama to End the 1033 Program: Stop the War on Black People and Demilitarize Police

The Department of Defense 1033 Program has transferred close to $5 billion in military war weapons to local police throughout the country. These are weapons used everyday by police SWAT teams across the country raiding homes and the militarized police occupations of Ferguson, Baltimore and Charlotte. The existence of the 1033 Program is in itself a civil and human rights violation—it operates as a counter-insurgency program that has contributed to the police and military siege of Black and Latino communities. It is unconscionable for the Department of Defense to give military grade weapons to city and state police forces—including police in schools. We also challenge the ethical rationale of those institutions requesting these weapons. At a time of growing racist rhetoric in the public sphere, the movement needs a major, high visibility test case and Presidential Order that directs an end to the mass occupation, brutality, and imprisonment of our people.