Dear Friend,
Amazon’s Ring and police across the country would like us to buy the idea that more surveillance equals more safety. But domestic violence advocates argue that police interventions, enabled by surveillance, often escalate violence rather than stop it, and that families in danger need emergency housing, financial support, and other resources – not video doorbells.
Tell Jamie Siminoff, CEO Ring, Amazon, to stop partnering with police.
Amazon markets Ring heavily even without evidence it can help victims of domestic violence. Since its creation, Ring has pursued police partnerships to sell their concept of surveillance as safety. Now Ring is adding domestic violence partnerships with more than 1,800 law enforcement agencies and 360 fire departments across the U.S., providing free doorbell cameras in exchange for promoting Ring.
But police intervention often escalates domestic violence, rather than stops it.¹
In 2008 Derek Chauvin, the racist officer who murdered George Floyd, responded to a domestic violence call by busting down the door of Ira Toles’s bathroom and shooting him at close range. The police violence left the household traumatized.²
In fact, Amazon’s Ring may very well make violent police escalation easier and more frequent since Ring will be bringing police into more domestic violence situations.
Click here to sign the petition to tell Amazon Ring’s CEO to drop partnering with police.
Under COVID-19 conditions, domestic violence has spiked, disproportionately affecting households with less money, since economic independence is a critical factor in violence prevention.³ That means that the impact will undoubtedly be felt more harshly in Black and brown communities.
If Amazon wants to make a positive contribution to preventing domestic violence and supporting its victims, the company should work with experts rather than the police. Add your name to the petition by clicking here.
Until tech works for all of us,
Granate Kim, Campaign Manager, Kairos
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