Tomorrow, January 25, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee will decide whether or not to allow San Francisco to receive funding that supports the Urban Shield police war games and weapons expo.
On January 10, we showed Alameda County of Board of Supervisors the strength of community opposition to Urban Shield. Now it’s time to show their peers in San Francisco.
Tell San Francisco Board of Supervisors: No to Militarization! Vote No on Urban Shield!
Fight for stronger, safer, and healthier communities.
Take these two steps to end Urban Shield now:
1. Call the SF Board of Supervisors today, January 24th. Tell them to vote no on Urban Shield!
Please spread the word and encourage your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors to let the Board know, we want and end to Urban Shield now! Use the script and contact information below.
Sample script:
Dear Supervisor _________,
I am calling/writing to urge you and all San Francisco Supervisors in the Budget and Finance Committee to take leadership in putting an end to the militarization of police and the militarization of disaster preparedness in the Bay Area. On Wednesday, you will be asked to decide whether to authorize the City to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Areas Security Initiative. Because San Francisco is the fiscal agent for these programs in the Bay Area, this agreement will include funding for the militarized Urban Shield training and weapons expo, unless you amend the resolution to exclude Urban Shield. Several of your Supervisor colleagues last year publicly called for an end to Urban Shield. [see attached] As you are aware, the divisive election of Donald Trump has raised concerns about an increase in militarized policing and attacks on immigrants, Arabs and Muslims, communities of color, and poor people. We call on you to stand with the communities you represent and end the divisive, dangerous, and xenophobic Urban Shield training and weapons expo.Tomorrow, we urge you to exclude the authorization of any funding for Urban Shield. Thank you.
Call or write San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee members:
Supervisor Malia Cohen (415) 554-7670, Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org
Supervisor Norman Yee (415) 554-6516, Norman.Yee@sfgov.org
Supervisor Katy Tang (415) 554-7460, Katy.Tang@sfgov.org
2. Bring yourself and your people out to make a public comment on Wednesday, January 25th against Urban Shield.
Wednesday, January 25th, 10:00 a.m., San Francisco City Hall Room 250. Sign up for public comment on Item 161354 (8thitem on the agenda).
If the committee approves this resolution, it will go to the full Board of Supervisors, where there will not be an opportunity for public comment.
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By listening to the clear and powerful voice of San Francisco residents, the Board of Supervisors has the opportunity to shift away from the cynical fear mongering at the heart of Urban Shield and toward an approach that responds to genuine Bay Area disaster threats by investing in health, food security, emergency shelter, and community resilience.