To: President Donald Trump

President Obama: Sign an executive order to curb discriminatory and violent policing now

We will not wait any longer for change. As president of the United States, you have both the power and the responsibility to help end the police discrimination and brutality that are plaguing many cities in our nation.

I urge you to use an executive order to enforce and expand federal bans on discriminatory and violent policing, to strengthen current disciplinary actions for law enforcement nationwide, and to direct the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate and prosecute police misconduct much more aggressively and on a broader scale.

Why is this important?

The Department of Justice just found the Ferguson Police Department guilty of widespread abuse, racial profiling, and brutal misconduct. The report details the conditions that led to the murder of unarmed teenager Michael Brown six months ago that sparked the "Hands Up Don't Shoot" movement across the country. At the same time, the DOJ failed to indict Officer Darren Wilson for racially profiling and brutally killing Michael Brown. Finding the Ferguson police guilty of widespread abuse, racial profiling, and brutal misconduct is not enough.

Darren Wilson should have been indicted and made to see a day in court for his brutal action. The DOJ's failure to do so highlights deep-seated structural problems that must be fixed in order to keep our families safe. The reality is, Ferguson is America, and President Obama must be held accountable for doing everything in his power — more than speeches and commissions — to stop unjust killings by police, increase police accountability, and expand community control over policing nationwide.

This epidemic of racial bias, police violence, and lack of accountability in our country’s police forces must end. Thousands have been killed. Millions have been thrown into the criminal justice system by racially biased practices, stripped of their rights, and unable to gain employment because of discrimination.

The federal government could, at the direction of President Obama, significantly change the culture of police violence that puts the lives and dignity of people of color at risk. Through an executive order, President Obama has the power to direct the Department of Justice to enforce our civil rights protections more aggressively and to remove unjust barriers to employment targeting the formerly incarcerated.

Take action and tell President Obama to do everything in his power to stop police violence and discrimination and to ensure that those with criminal records can return to their communities and employment without obstacles.