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<h1 id="reader-title">White House to Reauthorize Military
Equipment for Police</h1>
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<p>22 July 2016 <br>
</p>
<p>The Obama White House is set to authorize police
agencies to once again acquire military equipment, a
move that is sure to be met with heavy criticism from
activists seeking greater accountability from police in
light of regular police killings of Black men. </p>
<p>Reuters reported Thursday that the U.S. government will
revisit a 2015 ban on police forces getting riot gear,
armored vehicles and other military-grade equipment from
the U.S. armed forces. </p>
<p>The use of military gear by police agencies was
criticized by supporters of the Black Lives Matter
movement and other critics of police impunity and
brutality as being part of a broader militarization of
police, which was seen as a factor in the mistreatment
of demonstrators and U.S. residents. </p>
<p>In response to the public outcry, the White House
issued a ban in May 2015 on the transfer of some
equipment from the military to police. </p>
<p>However, in light of recent killings of police,
President Barack Obama agreed to review each banned
item, two police organization directors told Reuters. </p>
<p>Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of
Police, and Bill Johnson, executive director of the
National Association of Police Organizations, met with
Obama along with eight other police chiefs at the White
House on July 11, three days after a shooter targeted
and killed five police officers in Dallas. </p>
<p>At that meeting, law enforcement leaders urged Obama to
reinstate military equipment such as helmets, grenade
launchers and tracked armored vehicles. </p>
<p>Pictures of police in riot gear and driving armored
vehicles toward peaceful protesters sparked a national
debate that drew attention to a program used by the U.S.
military to unload its excess equipment on local police.
</p>
<p>One of the demands of Black Lives Matter activists is
for the demilitarization of police. </p>
<p>Despite months of peaceful protest, there has been very
little progress on the issue of police brutality and the
frequent shootings of Black people by police. </p>
<p>The decision to allow for even greater militarization
of police is sure to provoke the ire of many activists,
who have been forced to see political leaders not only
ignore their demands but, rather, take regressive
decisions. </p>
<p>Military-grade riot gear and armored vehicles continue
to be a regular sight during protests against police
brutality, and the latter have become a staple in SWAT
teams across the country. </p>
<p>Police claim they need the military-grade equipment to
enhance officers' safety and their ability to respond to
violent riots and dangerous hostage situations. </p>
<p>A White House official said the administration
regularly reviews what military equipment can be
transferred to police and that current rules ensure
police get “the tools that they need to protect
themselves and their communities while at the same time
providing the level of accountability that should go
along with the provision of federal equipment.” </p>
<p>At Obama's request, White House chief legal counsel
Neil Eggleston will review the ban, Pasco and Johnson
said. </p>
<p>Under the 2015 executive order, the federal government
may no longer transfer such equipment. Local police are
not banned from purchasing it on the private market, but
most departments cannot afford that on their own, said
Pasco. </p>
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San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
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