*SANTA MONICA, CA — Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) and L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement have formed a strategic partnership to improve police-community relations throughout the U.S. and the world.
“The heightened state of fear and distrust between law enforcers and civilians is not an aberration; it’s the result of many decades of misguided policies,” said Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), Executive Director, LEAP. “LEAP has worked since our inception to fix some of these laws. We’ve joined the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer movement to approach the solution from a new angle – one that focuses directly on officer-civilian interactions and creates space to build trust. LEAP is proud to join a movement that so clearly embodies the spirit of our organization’s mission to create safer communities for us all.”
A.J. Ali, Director of the film, WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer, and founder of the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer movement, echoed Franklin’s sentiments. “It’s about policies and relationships. Relationships influence policies.” said Ali. “Our nation is in the middle of some very divisive and difficult times. We didn’t get to this place of brokenness overnight, and there are no quick fixes. But just like a marriage, if we’re willing to put in the work, and put our faith in something greater than ourselves, we’ll work our way into a state of wellbeing. Those who say it’s not possible just don’t realize that love is the most powerful force in the universe. L.O.V.E. Is The Answer. We are absolutely thrilled to be working alongside LEAP in this historic partnership.”
LEAP and the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement will work together to promote screenings of the film, WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer, followed by healthy discussions. They will also promote each other’s programs, speak at events together, hold workshops and participate in other activities together to improve police-community relations.
The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) is a nonprofit group of police, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice professionals who use their expertise to advance drug policy and criminal justice reforms that improve public safety. LEAP is composed of more than 160 law enforcement representatives across the U.S. who speak on behalf of over 5,000 law enforcement professionals in support of sensible public policy solutions. LEAP joins the
L.O.V.E. Is The Answer movement as part of its larger mission to reduce crime and incarceration by building trust between communities and police.
The L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement, was birthed by the documentary film “WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer,” a socially-conscious film bridging the historically painful gap between law enforcement and the Black community. L.O.V.E. is an acronym for — LEARN about the community you serve, OPEN your heart to the people in it, VOLUNTEER yourself to be part of the solution in their lives, and EMPOWER others to do the same.
Join the L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement at www.LOVEIsTheAnswerMovement.com. See the film that inspired the movement at: www.walkingwhileblackthemovie.com. Visit LEAP at www.lawenforcementactionpartnership.org.
A.J. Ali:
Director & Producer, WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Founder, L.O.V.E. Is The Answer Movement – [email protected]
Errol Webber
Producer/Director of Photography, WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer – [email protected]
Mikayla Hellwich
Speakers Bureau & Media Relations Director The Law Enforcement Action Partnership – [email protected]
