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Dear [Name of MP],

Re: The use of excessive force that the US police utilises and the need to suspend UK exports of rubber bullets, tear gas and riot shields.  

As we are all aware, across America police are responding to peaceful, anti-racist protests with violence. In New York, officers cover their badge numbers to spray peaceful protesters in the face with pepper spray. In Austin, a pregnant woman was shot in the stomach with rubber bullets.  In Salt-Lake City an elderly man with a cane was shoved to the ground. Images of police brutality are continuing to flood our TV screens, news apps and social media feeds.

Britain is complicit in this violence and the public are aware of this. Despite legislation outlawing the export of weapons to states engaging in internal repression, government records show that the UK grants export licenses worth millions of pounds for the sale of anti-crowd gas, riot equipment, rubber bullets and small arms to the USA (https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/usa-protests-uk-should-review-exports-security-equipment-us-police-forces ). I ask that you raise the issue of freezing the export of rubber bullets, tear gas, and riot shields to the USA.  I also ask you to call for a full investigation as to whether any UK-made weapons have been used in these abuses by police.

The British Government’s  lack of clear condemnation of the excessive violence from many US police forces and the National Guard is striking. In times like these, it is important that our Government sends a strong message. In light of this I ask that you raise this issue in parliament, and to the best of your ability put pressure on our Government to issue a public condemnation of the words and actions of President Donald Trump, violent US police forces, and the National Guard.

Yours Sincerely,

[Name]