GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The following are essential elements that guide all our efforts, and will be in the forefront of the UJPLI’s work.

  • Develop and implement campaigns with impacted communities at center;

  •  Engage existing allied leaders, cultivate new leaders, and commit to growing ourselves as leaders of change through public education, resource sharing and skill building opportunities (i.e. trainings, workers, etc.);

  • Lift up the voices of the impacted;

  • Remain accountable to and transparent about goals, strategies and relationships effecting campaign outcomes with coalition partners, impacted communities and allies;

  • Committed to creating an inclusive and intentionally anti-racist group culture by consistently engaging in analysis of systems of oppression; 

  • Committed to ensuring language access is included in all of our work;

  • In order to effectively counter harmful enforcement narratives we should always remain accountable to impacted communities and think strategically about power when and if we decide to share a space with campaign targets; 

  • Effective coordination among organizing, policy, research, public education, and communication efforts. Rather than working as stand-alone strategies, these efforts should be understood as tools that are grounded in the experience and needs of affected communities, and reinforced by organized community power; 

  • The voices, insight, and collective power of directly affected communities. Even if policy change is secured, conditions will not improve meaningfully for affected communities without a shift in power, and without building an environment of accountability between police and the communities they patrol;

  • A significant increase in the number of individuals, organizations, and decision-makers who understand the problem as we do, and will take action to advocate for our alternatives;

  • Meet community members where they are, work to amplify and elevate their voices, and be a resource to advance their priorities;

  • Recognize and acknowledge the privilege we carry as organizations and individuals;

  • Build the capacity for leadership within affected communities and act as a network of support and solidarity for those affected by police violence.

 
Coalition Banner_.png