WHAT IS THE MILITARIZATION OF BALTIMORE CONFERENCE?

On April 7, 2017, the City of Baltimore and the Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a Consent Decree to resolve the DOJ's findings that it believed the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) had engaged in a pattern and practice of conduct that violated the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and specific provisions of federal statutory law.

Following the demands of the national uprisings in 2020 to “defund the police”, last October, Governor Hogan announced his “re-fund the police” initiative, pledging $150 million to raise salaries, help agencies with recruitment, pay for body cameras and de-escalation training, and other programs. In January, Hogan said he has upped the amount to $500 million over the next three years.

BAP-Baltimore understands that Police are used to enforce the status quo of white power and colonial control over the lives of Black, Brown, and other oppressed nations of people. Police are constantly well-funded and well-resourced despite police NOT being First Responders and police NOT being constantly-trained and well-trained in demographic and cultural equities and justice, mental illness services, and medical emergencies.

The Militarization of Baltimore Conference will serve as a space for Black/ African led organizations in Baltimore City to come together with the community and contribute to the collective involvement, and collective outcomes shaped by resistance to this latest assault on the human rights of the Black poor and working class.

Featured Speakers:

• Bry Reed (Greene Clothe Collective)

• Gassoh G (BAP-Baltimore)

• Brandon Walker (Ujima People’s Progress Party)

• Rob Ferrell (Organizing Black)

• Lisa Snowden (Baltimore BEAT)

• Roger Evans (Ujima People’s Progress Party)

RSVP here: bit.ly/baltimorecon