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The LIBRE Initiative – Texas Urges Texas Senate to Pass the Sandra Bland Act

The LIBRE Initiative – Texas Urges Texas Senate to Pass the Sandra Bland Act
The LIBRE Initiative – Texas Urges Texas Senate to Pass the Sandra Bland Act

Bipartisan Legislation Would Prohibit Arrest and Jail time for Certain Traffic Offenses

(Austin, TX) – Today, The LIBRE Initiative – Texas, a group committed to empowering the Latino community, praised the Texas House of Representatives for approving House Bill 830, also known as the Sandra Bland Act, legislation that, would among other things, limit officers’ ability to arrest people for traffic offenses that at most would result in a fine.

The legislation is named after Sandra Bland, a Texas woman who died in an apparent jail suicide after a traffic stop for failure to signal a lane change.

Jorge Martinez, The LIBRE Initiative – Texas’ coalitions director, issued the following statement:

“Keeping our communities safe and safeguarding Texans’ rights are not mutually exclusive. By approving the Sandra Bland Act, the Texas House of Representatives has taken one big step to ensure that local law enforcement officials are not arresting individuals who do not pose a threat to public safety while still holding lawbreakers accountable.

 We urge the Texas Senate to approve this legislation without delay.”

 

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