This week, a group of Senators, led by New Jersey's Cory Booker, reintroduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act for consideration by the nation's highest legislative body. The Senate reintroduction comes shortly after the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee had reintroduced the bill in Congress in May of this year. If passed, the legislation would take significant steps to hold police accountable by ending qualified immunity, limiting the transfer of equipment used on battlefields from the Pentagon to local police departments, enhancing transparency to increase accountability, and more.
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP shared the following message:
"The NAACP has been a fervent supporter of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act since its introduction. It is disgraceful that the Black community continues to suffer unjust violence and trauma due to inaction on these necessary reforms. The sad reality is that many Black Americans both before, and after the tragic death of George Floyd have lost their lives due to an inherently racist system of policing that is long-overdue for change. We applaud the leaders who continue to push to pass the accountability measures to champion community policing and ensure that all Americans are truly protected and served. Any who stand in opposition of this legislation are sending a clear message to Black voters that they do not value our lives. Enough is enough. Pick up the pen and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act."
Black people are 2.9x more likely to be killed by police than white people. Only one year after the tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, 229 Black Americans lost their lives at the hands of police. This year, police have killed over 150 Black people, including the most recent death of Sonya Massey.
