Reggie Jones: Last News

Among the 400 or so bills that California Governor Gavin Newsom either signed or vetoed this week was AB 2799, which provides that courts “must consider specified factors…in determining whether creative expression evidence is more prejudicial than probative.”

Billboard report, the bill would restrict the use of song lyrics as evidence, and be banned from being referenced in court unless the prosecution can prove a direct relevance between the lyrics and the particular case, and that the process will not “inject racial bias into the proceedings”.In a statement (via Pitchfork), the author of the bill, State Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, said: “Under current law rap artists can feel as though they are being read their Miranda Rights before they even begin to write music: ‘You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law’.“We should not stymie the creative expression of artists.

Billie Eilish and Rihanna are among the multiple big names from the worlds of music, entertainment and sports to sign an open letter calling for police reform in California.Addressed to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Assembly Member Ken Cooley, the letter calls for two bills, SB 731 and SB 776, to be introduced that would increase accountability within the police force in the state.“While the killing of George Floyd inspired sustained outrage, protests, and reporting, the people of California have long understood the need to properly address the actions and accountability of police,” the letter states.“For too long, courts have undermined the intent of the State’s laws,