PACK City Hall! Vote on Marijuana Ordinance 17-O-1152

STOP the profiling of Black, Trans, queer, immigrant and poor communities! Join SNaP Co in ending racially biased arrests starting with Ordinance 17-O-1152! This ordinance could make possession of small amounts of marijuana a non-arrestable offense and lower the maximum fine from $1,000 to $75. TUESDAY, MAY 23RD: Meet us at 2:30pm at City Hall for the press conference & stay for the Public Safety Committee meeting where they'll vote on moving Ordinance 17-O-1152 to full city council! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Currently, the law: TARGETS BLACK YOUTH This ordinance leads to unacceptable race disparities in our city’s arrests and our jail population. Over 90% of arrests for this charge are of Black people even though Black and white people use marijuana at the same rate. The only thing that can account for this is racially biased enforcement. When black youth are targeted for arrest using this charge, it interferes with school and jobs, and labels them as “criminals.” This label is devastating when youth start to believe it about themselves. TAKES MONEY FROM ALL OF US We are in Atlanta because this is where we want to build a stable, good life. The police making hundreds of arrests every year for possession of marijuana does exactly the opposite: when people are arrested and jailed, it’s us – their families and friends – who often end up paying bail to get them out, and helping out with fines and probation fees. This is our rent money, child care, and gas money. We are sick and tired of giving those dollars to bail bondsman and the city municipal court. INCREASES THE RISK OF POLICE VIOLENCE From Atlanta to Ferguson to Baltimore to New York, when police use small violations like traffic offenses and the “smell of marijuana” as a pretext (excuse) to stop someone, our loved ones can end up dead. Reducing these kinds of encounters between police and community will reduce police violence. Here in Atlanta we are still struggling with the death of DeAundre Phillips, father, son and community member. The police officer used “smell of marijuana” as the excuse to harass Mr. Phillips. For him, and before anyone else is killed, this ordinance should be passed. We cant stop, we wont stop. Join us in the fight to repeal racism.