A coalition of national organizations focusin on issues ranging from immigration, human rights, law and leadership to race relations, have called for an update of federal guidelines and legislation following the death of 18-year-old African-American Michael Brown.

The coalition, comprising of nearly 100 local and nationwide organizations, issued a joint statement citing Brown's death, the "military-style" response by local police and allegations of racially based law enforcement needs a review and action from lawmakers.

"We applaud the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for opening an investigation into this shooting and its aftermath. But DOJ is hindered from taking comprehensive measures that can help prevent these tragedies from recurring because there is no federal mandate that state and local law enforcement stop the practice of profiling based on race, religion, ethnicity, and national origin," said the joint statement that includes The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and The Center for APA Women.

The coalition of national and local organizations want federal-level solutions that will engage state and local law enforcement to avert similar events seen in Ferguson, Missouri, the St. Louis suburb where Brown was shot on Aug. 9.

The organizations agreed that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder needs to update the 2003 Guidance Regarding the Use of Race by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies, apply the new rules to state and local law enforcement who are collaborating with the federal government, eliminate exceptions made for the border and national security and prohibit profiling based on gender identity, national origin, religion and sexual orientation.

The League of United Latin American Citizens' (LULAC), alao a member of the coalition, expressed concern over the situation continuing to unfold in Ferguson. LULAC Director of Policy Luis Torres told Latin Post they will press Congress to end the 1033 Program, which allows state and local law enforcement agencies to access the Department of Defense's surplus resources and military-grade weapons.

"We think [the 1033 Program] has exacerbated the difficulty in establishing peace again in Ferguson, and we want to make sure that the community is aware that we are fully supportive of trying to find justice for Michael Brown and trying to make sure that the Department of Defense and Congress and state and local law enforcement agencies participating and administrating the 1033 program are aware of our concerns," Torres said. "We need more oversight. We need follow-up."

The coalition of national and local organizations are also calling for Congress to pass the End Racial Profiling Act, which would allow the prohibition of race, ethnicity, national origin and racial profiling by law enforcement agencies. The End Racial Profiling Act would also provide training and monitoring for law enforcement to prevent "disproportionately targeting" ethnic minorities. The coalition believes the act can help reduce disparities in the country's criminal justice system.

"We think that it's tragic that it took something like [the events in Ferguson] to raise the issue to the forefront, but we are hoping that this is an opportunity to move this issue in the right direction," Torres said. "We're very glad to be a part of this coalition, and we're hoping that Attorney General Holder and the administration and that Congress, in passing the End Racial Profiling Act, which we have been pushing for a while now, finally get some traction."

According to Torres, the efforts of the coalition of approximately 100 organizations are a "wake-up call" for the Obama administration, Congress and the DOJ to start listening to the diverse voices of the community. On behalf of LULAC, Torres noted they have said the militarization of state and local law enforcement is the wrong way to bring safety to communities.

The coalition's joint statement noted, "The changes we are recommending have been under consideration for more than 10 years. It's imperative that we take steps now at the national and local levels to cultivate an environment of greater trust between law enforcement and communities of color."