Faith leaders who have pushed for passage of police reform legislation believe the bill could resurface in the Senate soon, after Gov. Charlie Baker returned it with amendments on Dec. 10.
The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization said in a Monday email that the Senate will "soon be releasing" a bill addressing Baker's amendments, predicting it could come up for a vote today. The bill was not listed on a tentative agenda published for Monday's Senate session. In a Sunday email to representatives, Whitney Ferguson, an aide to Speaker Robert DeLeo, said the House would "immediately take action on police reform" once it receives a bill from the Senate - the House plans formal sessions Tuesday and Wednesday.
Baker threatened a veto if lawmakers do not agree to his amendments, and with the legislative session ending on Jan. 5, lawmakers have a shrinking window to act on this and other major issues.
Advocates continue to press for passage of policing bill, which Beacon Hill leaders hoped to passed in the summer but have let drift into the winter.
Groups including the Essex County Community Organization and Massachusetts Communities Action Network on Saturday held vigils outside Senate President Karen Spilka and DeLeo's homes, then traveled in caravans to a Swampscott church near Baker's house.
The online outlet The Appeal on Friday published bodycam video showing Boston police officers responding to protests earlier this year over the killing of George Floyd.
The Appeal described the videos as depicting "police officers bragging about attacking protesters, targeting nonviolent demonstrators for violence and possible arrest, discussing arrest quotas and the use of cars as weapons, and multiple instances of excessive force and liberal use of pepper spray."
"The body camera footage we’ve seen so far is disturbing and inexcusable. We need a full investigation into what happened that night to hold accountable anyone who acted unlawfully," Attorney General Maura Healey tweeted late Friday night.
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley shared the video on Twitter, encouraging her followers to "Take action & tell the state house to reject Baker's amendments to water down the most basic reforms."
