In recent years, police departments across America and beyond have been steadily militarizing their forces, beginning to obtain and use weapons designed for war, that should never be used on civilians.

We have seen this creeping development and we have not resisted, trusting that police departments will know how and when to utilize the weapons they are obtaining. However, of late it is becoming apparent that they are not capable of making appropriate decisions. Innocent civilians have been maimed and killed by police officers through both misconduct and incompetence.

When we see oppressive regimes slaughtering their populations, we feel that their plight is far from us, in another world. However, the concept of police using large-scale, military weapons, from tear gas and assault rifles to armored vehicles and grenade launchers, is not in fact so distant from our own lands. This technology is already in the hands of local police forces, and they are obliged to use it.

Stop attacking and killing innocent civilians.

Stop stockpiling military-grade weapons for police use on civilians.

Stop using dangerous "non-lethal" weapons on innocent protesters.