10 June, 2020
The Massachusetts State Senate is committed to urgently addressing racial inequities in the Commonwealth, to that end Senate President Karen E. Spilka has formed a bipartisan Senate Advisory Group on Racial Justice to review and recommend legislation to consider this session.
The Advisory Group will be chaired by Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and Senate President Pro Tempore Senator William Brownsberger (D-Belmont).
“I believe we have reached a history-making moment in our Commonwealth and that it should not pass without taking action on policing and racial justice this session,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “As the driving force behind that action, I have convened a bipartisan Senate Advisory Group on Racial Justice – chaired by Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and Senate President Pro Tempore Senator William Brownsberger (D-Belmont). The Senate group, which already met today, was tasked to review existing legislation and recommend further policies to address systemic racism.”
“This moment in public consciousness, born out of tragedy, presents a rare opportunity to accomplish serious changes in public policy,” stated Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz. “My hope is that this working group will help the Senate quickly digest the advocacy we're receiving and advance serious police accountability legislation in the immediate term--and keep our eye on the ball of racial justice more broadly even after this initial spike in public attention has passed. I’m grateful for President Spilka's sense of urgency on this issue, and I’m looking forward to working with Senator Brownsberger, Senator Collins, Senator Comerford, Senator Moore, and Senator Tarr on policies to provide meaningful, systemic change.”
