Advocacy at the Provincial and Municipal Levels
Systems of criminalization and enforcement that we refer to as policing, such as police, prisons, security guards and bylaw enforcement, are key drivers of exclusion in the communities Pivot works alongside. Policing has become synonymous with racism & violence – particularly for Black and Indigenous communities, as well as people experiencing mental distress.
Pivot’s approach to policing and criminalization focuses on the impact of municipal and provincial police forces as they relate to our cross-campaign goals. This approach emphasizes the need for systemic change, rather than piecemeal reform. Pivot looks to elected officials as well as law- and policymakers to enact decisions that reflect calls for equity and justice.
Currently, this includes advocacy related to ending the criminalization of poverty, through an amendment to the BC Human Rights Code that would protect people on the basis of social condition. As an advocacy organization we will continue to pressure the provincial government and municipalities to uphold the rights and dignity of the most-marginalized members of our communities.