Showing posts with label George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Congressional Black Caucus Requests Meeting with President Biden on Police Reform

Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on behalf of the Members of the caucus:

"The Congressional Black Caucus takes its role to advocate for the safety and protection of the people in our communities very seriously.

"To that end, CBC is requesting a meeting with the President this week to push for negotiations on much needed national reforms to our justice system - specifically, the actions and conduct of our law enforcement.

"No one in our nation should fear interacting with the police officers who serve our diverse communities, large and small. We all want to be safe.

"Many Black and brown people, however, and many young people in general, are justifiably afraid to interact with law enforcement officials.

"We are calling on our colleagues in the House and Senate to jumpstart negotiations now and work with us to address the public health epidemic of police violence that disproportionately affects many of our communities.

"The brutal beating of Tyre Nichols was murder and is a grim reminder that we still have a long way to go in solving systemic police violence in America."

Sen. Cory Booker statement on Tyre Nichols and renewing efforts to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the death of Tyre Nichols and renewing efforts to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act:

“The videos bearing witness to the brutal killing of Tyre Nichols evoke feelings of pain, horror, and terror that are tragically familiar to so many Americans. Tyre Nichols is now part of a group whose names we know -- like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery -- and whose names we don’t.

“Tyre Nichols should be alive today. My heart aches for his family, friends, and loved ones, who are dealing with an unimaginable loss. His death is a grave injustice. Those responsible must be held accountable, and we can’t stop there.

“In recent years I’ve worked with families, civil rights leaders, local mayors, activists, law enforcement leaders and union members and many more who all share the same understanding that we can raise the levels of transparency, accountability, and professionalism in American policing. Doing so will not only help prevent tragedies like this one, it will help us achieve higher levels of public safety. We can do better, we must do better, and this moment demands again that we muster the collective political will to act.

“Although Senate action on policing reform has proven difficult, from the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to more targeted reforms, I will never stop working to build a broad coalition to enact the changes that will make our nation safer, stronger, and more just.

“In the coming days as this new Congress is beginning, I will be renewing my legislative efforts to advance the reform we need and that Americans are demanding.”

Sunday, October 03, 2021

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Rep. Karen Bass on failed police reform negotiations

California Congresswoman Karen Bass authored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and was one of the lead Democratic negotiators for the bill. She joins MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart to discuss the future of police reform as Congress remains unable to secure a deal to pass the legislation.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Cory Booker Statement on Ending Bipartisan Policing Reform Negotiations

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) issued the following statement after bipartisan congressional talks between he, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif) on overhauling policing practices have ended without an agreement:

“America has a serious problem when it comes to discriminatory policing and excessive and deadly force used against communities of color. We can’t properly honor the lives of the victims of this violence if we don’t take meaningful steps to prevent future violence and deaths from occurring and make our communities safer.

“We made it clear from the beginning of our negotiations that a bill must ensure true accountability, transparency, and the policing standards necessary to bring an end to horrific incidents of violence Americans are routinely seeing -- like the murder of George Floyd. After months of exhausting every possible pathway to a bipartisan deal, it remains out of reach right now, even after working collaboratively with and securing the support of policing groups like the Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Chiefs of Police for our proposals.

“Unfortunately, even with this law enforcement support and further compromises we offered, there was still too wide a gulf with our negotiating partners and we faced significant obstacles to securing a bipartisan deal.

“The time has come to explore all other options to achieve meaningful and common sense policing reform. I will not stop fighting until we achieve change that keeps our communities and police officers safe.”

Saturday, June 12, 2021

AFL-CIO President to Congress: Pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder:

One year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. Working people throughout America—from large urban cities to small rural towns—protested peacefully, marched down streets and declared three words: Black Lives Matter. Today, we continue to demand action to root out systemic racism in all forms. On the anniversary of his murder, the labor movement joins our allies in calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This bill is not only a legislative priority, it’s our nation’s moral obligation. Elected leaders should work together with all stakeholders, including America’s unions, to finally make police reform a reality.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition statement in support of George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

On behalf of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, James Cadogan, the Coalition’s Executive Director, released the following statement:

“Almost exactly one year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. Like millions around the world, NBA players, coaches, governors, officials, and staff throughout our organizations were outraged to see the horrifying and unlawful actions of the officer who pinned Mr. Floyd’s neck to the ground under his knee for 9 minutes. Mr. Floyd’s death added new fuel to the protests, marches, and urgent calls for racial justice and reform locally and nationally.

“Today, as this painful anniversary approaches, we have an opportunity to honor the memory of Mr. Floyd and others who have been victims of police brutality in this country by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Systemic problems demand systemic solutions. And, because police actions are governed by a diverse array of state laws and local policies, the Floyd Act takes unprecedented strides towards consistency—reforming at a federal level the practices that failed its namesake.

“The bill already passed with a bipartisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate where we hope it will have similar bipartisan support as it should and must. As Board Members of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, representing the NBA, the Players Association, the Coaches Association, league staff, and teams in every region of the country, we are calling on our elected representatives of both parties to work together to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the U.S. Senate now and present it to President Biden for him to sign into law this year.

“As members of the NBA family, we will continue to use our influence to support common-sense policy reform in our communities across the nation so that equal justice is afforded to all.”

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Carmelo Anthony (Portland Trail Blazers)

Avery Bradley (Houston Rockets)

Sterling Brown (Houston Rockets)

Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)

Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Micky Arison (Miami Heat Managing General Partner)

Steve Ballmer (L.A. Clippers Chairman)

Clay Bennett (Oklahoma City Thunder Chairman)

Marc Lasry (Milwaukee Bucks Governor)

Vivek Ranadivé (Sacramento Kings Governor & Chairman)

Coach Lloyd Pierce

Coach Doc Rivers (Philadelphia 76ers)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver

NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum