Tell Tennessee lawmakers: Oppose SB 30/HB 55 and stop shielding bad policing

Act Now

Tennessee lawmakers are trying to pass SB 30/HB 55 – a dangerous bill that would make it a crime to approach law enforcement within 25 feet after being told to stop, limiting the public’s ability to record and hold officers accountable. Even with an exception for those who didn’t hear or understand, this broad restriction poses serious constitutional concerns.

If this bill had been in effect in Minnesota at the time of George Floyd’s murder, Darnella Frazier, who recorded law enforcement’s unlawful killing of George Floyd, would never have been able to record the footage that became essential evidence to hold the officer accountable for his actions. Instead, she and every other bystander who was pleading for the officer to stop suffocating George Floyd would have been charged with a crime for remaining within 25 feet of the officer.

SB 30/HB 55 would grant police the unchecked power to prevent the public, including the media, from being able to be close enough to observe and record instances of law enforcement using excessive force. The bill includes no exceptions for media or bystanders engaged in the non-confrontational recording of law enforcement, verbal attempts to deescalate an officer’s excessive use of force in order to save lives, or attempts to render aid and medical assistance to an already defenseless injured individual from further unnecessary violent actions by law enforcement.

This bill would make it harder to hold police accountable for their actions, shield police from public scrutiny, and criminalize individuals for bearing witness, decreasing trust in law enforcement.

Similar legislation in states like Florida has faced backlash for blocking the public’s right to record police – something courts nationwide have said is protected.

Promote police accountability: Say “NO” to SB 30/HB 55.

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Subject “NO” on SB 30/HB 55

Dear legislator:

Please vote “NO” on SB 30/HB 55.

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This bill would make it a crime to approach law enforcement within 25 feet after being told to stop, limiting the public’s ability to record and hold officers accountable.

If this bill had been in effect in Minnesota at the time of George Floyd’s murder, Darnella Frazier, who recorded law enforcement’s unlawful killing of George Floyd, would never have been able to record the footage that became essential evidence to hold the officer accountable for his actions. Instead, she and every other bystander who was pleading for the officer to stop suffocating George Floyd would have been charged with a crime for remaining within 25 feet of the officer.

The bill includes no exceptions for media or bystanders engaged in the non-confrontational recording of law enforcement, verbal attempts to deescalate an officer’s excessive use of force in order to save lives, or attempts to render aid and medical assistance to an already defenseless injured individual from further unnecessary violent actions by law enforcement.

Similar legislation in states like Florida has faced backlash for blocking the public’s right to record police – something courts nationwide have said is protected.

Please vote “NO” on SB 30/HB 55.

Thank you,

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Tell Tennessee lawmakers: Oppose SB 30/HB 55 and stop shielding bad policing

Act Now

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