House lawmakers on Wednesday passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a police reform bill that would ban chokeholds & eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement. The 220-212 vote came 9 months after Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed by Minneapolis police officers.
The wide-ranging legislation would also ban no-knock warrants, mandate data collection on police encounters, prohibit racial & religious profiling & redirect funding to community-based policing programs.
"Never again should an unarmed individual be murdered or brutalized by someone who is supposed to serve & protect them," said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif. "Never again should the world be subject to witnessing what we saw happen to George Floyd in the streets in Minnesota."
In debate on the House floor Wednesday evening before the vote, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota said Minneapolis is still traumatized by Floyd's death. "Time & time again we have witnessed the people who are sworn to protect our communities abuse their power," she said.
Last year, the House passed a similar version of the bill, but it failed in the Republican-controlled Senate. This time around, Senate Democrats will have to sway at least 10 Republican members for the bill to succeed.
Republicans say the legislation goes too far & would prevent police from doing their jobs effectively. Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida said on the House floor Wednesday that the bill would "weaken & possibly destroy our community's police forces."
Earlier this week, the Biden administration released a statement urging the House to vote in favor of the proposal.
Last year, George Floyd uttered his last words, "I can't breathe" - Americans took to the streets to peacefully protest racial injustice & police brutality. Yet, it continues. With tonight's vote the George Floyd #JusticeInPolicingAct is closer to becoming the law of the land. pic.twitter.com/hnSLTR5aMv
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 4, 2021
The US House has passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act! On behalf of George Floyd’s family, we are deeply gratified and grateful for US House leadership. This represents a major step forward to reform the relationship between police officers and communities of color.
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) March 4, 2021
#georgefloyd #georgefloydjusticeinpolicingact #ripgeorgefloyd #justiceforgeorgefloyd #noknockwarrants #policebrutality #chokeholds #racialprofiling #religiousprofiling #policereform #policethepolice #derekchauvin #breonnataylor #rayshardbrooks #ronaldgreene #ericgarner #freddiegray #bencrump #nancypelosi #joebiden #presidentbiden #kamalaharris #killercops #cops #policeofficers #danielprude #elijahmcclain #icantbreathe #Ilhanomar #karenbass
Source: NPR
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