BLM releases list of legislation demands

DETROIT — Proposed federal legislation that would radically transform the nation’s criminal justice system through such changes as eliminating agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration and the use of surveillance technology is set to be unveiled Tuesday by Black Lives Matter.

Dubbed the BREATHE Act, rhe legislation was first shared with The Associated Press, and is scheduled to be revealed in a Tuesday press conference that is slated to include an appearance by singer John Legend.

The proposed changes are sweeping and likely to receive robust pushback from lawmakers who perceive the legislation as too radical.

The bill is broken into four sections, the first of which specifically would eliminate federal funding assistance for police.

The bill would eliminate agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and would cut the national defense budget.

The act would cut the national defense budget. It would establish the Neighborhood Demilitarization Program, which would collect and destroy all equipment like armored vehicles and weapons in the hands of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Federal law enforcement also would be unable to use facial-recognition technology, drones and forms of electronic surveillance such as ankle-monitoring.

The bill would close all federal prisons, close all federal detention centers, end life sentences and abolish all mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

The bill would remove police, school resource officers and other security and metal detectors from schools.