Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) reintroduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act on Thursday, a bill that would create federal police reform.
Speaking to a crowd that included family members of people affected by police violence, Jackson Lee called the legislation “critical.”
“Too many lives have been lost or forever changed due to unacceptable incidents of police brutality across our country,” said Jackson Lee. “We cannot allow another American to be deprived of their humanity, dignity and constitutional right without taking action. ”
Four years ago, a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Witnesses filmed the encounter as Floyd repeatedly told officers, “I can’t breathe.”
The words would become a rallying cry for protests around the world as millions of people demanded police reform.
The act, in honor of the 46-year-old black man, was first introduced by former congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), now mayor of Los Angeles.
The bill would lower the criminal intent standard for convicting a police officer of misconduct in a federal case and would limit qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a police officer.
It would also limit the use of force and restrict the use of no-knock warrants, chokeholds and carotid holds.
Although the bill passed the then-democratically controlled House, the legislation stalled in the Senate, in part due to language about qualified immunity and writs.
Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, criticized lawmakers who voted against the bill.
“If they can make federal laws to protect the bald eagle, they can make it federal law to protect people of color,” Floyd said.
Floyd invoked the names of Tire Nichols, Stephon Clark, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland and Roger Fortson — other Black Americans who were killed by white Americans, including law enforcement.
“Everything that’s happening in America has been happening for 400 years,” Floyd said. “Frederick Douglass said there is no struggle if there is no progress. Well, I’m tired of fighting. I want to see progress.”
“They say this is the land of the free, the home of the brave… and every time you look up, you see people being murdered every day for no reason,” Floyd added.
Although Black Americans make up only about 14% of the population, they account for 23% of those killed by police, Jackson Lee said.
“We are well aware of the pain you felt,” Jackson Lee told the families. “But just because we are aware of your pain doesn’t mean we don’t understand the value of law enforcement.”
The legislation has the support of President Biden, who has previously called on Congress to pass police reform.
“We know that implementing real, lasting change at the state and local level requires Congress to act,” Biden said last year. “I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for police accountability and urge Congress to pass meaningful police reform and send it to my desk. I will sign.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
