In February, Berkeley, Calif., barred officers from pulling over motorists for not wearing a seatbelt, misuse of high-beam headlights or expired registrations. Many of the new rules adopted by states and cities have similarities, focusing on the use of force or accountability after the fact. Activists have called for reducing police funding and diverting some of that money to mental health initiatives and social services. But those demands have often met with resistance, not only from law enforcement but also from Black residents and officials who fear that crime would surge. In fact, in Oakland, some of those cuts were reversed after a spike in murders and attacks on Asian-Americans.

Source: New York Times April 18, 2021 16:25 UTC