The Goal of 1033 Program
The 1033 program has seen increased humanitarian concerns, with findings indicating a tremendous rise in various humanitarian factors, including police-based racial violence and police brutality. These, among other concerns, have informed the move by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez to table a bill seeking the scrapping of the program. Her efforts have gained significant momentum in the new Congress despite the program having numerous powerful figures, especially from the Trump administration, that vehemently backed the program. We examine why this program has been such a controversial bone of contention in congress, with split views on whether to continue its implementation.
Why is its scrapping being advocated for?
The 1033 program has been a controversial topic, especially within humanitarian circles, which view the militarization of local police departments as a step backward from enhancing human rights standards. Studies have shown how much of a negative impact is caused by arming local police departments with military-grade weaponry. For instance, findings have shown that an increase in weaponry in local police departments has been known to significantly increase civilian deaths at the hands of police, as arming them with military-grade weapons and equipment tends to encourage a military-based mentality much more violent than conventional policing.
Various humanitarian groups have expressed concerns supporting the bill re-introduced to congress by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and backed by various other members of Congress. These concerns majorly revolve around the tendencies and high likelihood of heightened levels of violence due to the militarization of local police departments. This has been viewed as undoing progress towards improving civilian safety owing to the sustained implementation of the 1033 program since the early 1990s. Its scrapping is not only projected to support efforts at promoting peace but as well to help with channeling budgetary resources towards more productive and viable programs.
Who is involved with the bill to scrap the program?
There are numerous interested parties that have come out to endorse the bill reintroduced to congress by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. Some of the co-sponsors of the bill include; Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ayanna Pressley, Yvette D. Clarke, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mark Pocan, Don Beyer, Ro Khanna, Kathy Castor, Adriano Espaillat, Chellie Pingree Carolyn Maloney, James P. McGovern, Ilhan Omar, Jan Schakowsky, Cori Bush,
Some of the organizations in support of this bill include; the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Center for Victims of Torture, Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at New York University School of Law, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, Church World Service, CODEPINK, Color Of Change, Common Defense, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Daily Kos, The Daniel Initiative, Defending Rights & Dissent, Dignity & Power NOW, Dream Corps JUSTICE, Drug Policy Alliance, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Equal Justice Society, Equal Rights Advocates, Essie Justice Group.
Conclusion
The demilitarization of local police departments is largely viewed as a necessary step forward toward achieving set human rights goals. This is due to the significant negative impact the 1033 program has undeniably had on the public perception regarding efforts by police to maintain law and order.
