The House Passes George Floyd Policing Bill
The United States House of Representatives has passed a monumental bill seeking to address policing issues. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was approved 220-112 Wednesday. In addition, one Republican did vote for the bill: Texas Rep. Lance Gooden. After the fact, he claimed to press the wrong button and voted for the act accidentally.
More importantly, the bill passed the House on the 30th anniversary of the videotaped beating of Rodney King. Los Angeles Police officers brutally murdered King in 1991.
The Floyd Act would ban chokeholds and “qualified immunity” for police officers. Qualified immunity currently does not hold police accountable for their actions financially. The act would also create national standards for policing.
Civil Rights Activists And Floyd’s Family Attorney Commend The Bill’s Passage
Attorneys Benjamin Crump and Antonio Romanucci, representatives of the Floyd family, released a statement supporting the passage of the reform.
The George Floyd family is thankful for the U.S. House of Representatives passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. They appreciate the support of the American people who raised their voices for change last summer.
Organizations Disagree With Current Verbiage
However, some organizations argue that the legislation is limited in its reach.
The Drug Policy Alliance says it “fails to provide for real reform and accountability, and we oppose this bill in its current form. This bill doesn’t fully tackle problems like police militarization and quick-knock raids, which unfairly target people of color in drug investigations.
The bill restricts military equipment transfer to police departments but doesn’t completely end it. It bans no-knock warrants for drug cases but doesn’t address quick-knock raids, which can be equally dangerous, as stated by Maritza Perez, DPA’s director of the Office of National Affairs.
Furthermore, she added that the bill still funds police departments and the war on drugs, instead of redirecting resources to education, housing, harm reduction services, and other community-strengthening initiatives that enhance public safety.
The Senate needs to pass the bill next. Then send it on to President Biden’s desk for approval.
