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George Floyd protests: Democrats take a knee before unveiling police reform bill – live George Floyd protests: Democrats take a knee before unveiling police reform bill – live
(32 minutes later)
Lawmakers were silent for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time an officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck, before introducing Justice in Policing actLawmakers were silent for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time an officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck, before introducing Justice in Policing act
Joe Biden’s statement expressing opposition to defunding police departments comes shortly after the Trump campaign held a press call about the movement.
The president and his allies have sought to tie all Democrats to calls to defund police departments, which have intensified since the killing of George Floyd.
However, many of the Democratic party’s leaders seem hesitant to endorse the movement, and congressional Democrats just unveiled legislation to reform police departments rather than defund them.
A spokesperson for Joe Biden said the presumptive Democratic nominee does not support defunding the police, as a number of criminal justice activists have called for after the killing of George Floyd.
Campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement that Biden “hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change, and is driven to ensure that justice is done and that we put a stop to this terrible pain.”
Bates said the former vice president “supports the urgent need for reform,” including proposals to fund community policing programs and diversify cities’ police forces, but some activists have said such reforms do not go far enough to crack down on police brutality.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said anyone who participated in George Floyd protests should get a coronavirus test, as New York City starts to reopen.New York governor Andrew Cuomo said anyone who participated in George Floyd protests should get a coronavirus test, as New York City starts to reopen.
The Democratic governor held his daily briefing today as the city entered phase one of its reopening process, after the coronavirus infection rate there started to slow. Cuomo said the city would be conducting 35,000 tests a day to begin the reopening.The Democratic governor held his daily briefing today as the city entered phase one of its reopening process, after the coronavirus infection rate there started to slow. Cuomo said the city would be conducting 35,000 tests a day to begin the reopening.
Cuomo also implored state legislators to pass police reform legislation, which would ban chokeholds and make police disciplinary records transparent, in response to the killing of Floyd.Cuomo also implored state legislators to pass police reform legislation, which would ban chokeholds and make police disciplinary records transparent, in response to the killing of Floyd.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressional black caucus chairwoman Karen Bass tip-toed around a reporter’s question about the movement to defund the police.House speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressional black caucus chairwoman Karen Bass tip-toed around a reporter’s question about the movement to defund the police.
The Justice in Policing Act focuses on police reform rather than police defunding, which some criminal justice advocates have pushed for.The Justice in Policing Act focuses on police reform rather than police defunding, which some criminal justice advocates have pushed for.
Pelosi said of the calls to shift police budgets to other government programs, “We could rebalance some of our funding to address those issues more directly.”Pelosi said of the calls to shift police budgets to other government programs, “We could rebalance some of our funding to address those issues more directly.”
Bass noted the bill would not provide any new money to police departments and would allocate funds for community grants to potentially reenvision what policing could look like.Bass noted the bill would not provide any new money to police departments and would allocate funds for community grants to potentially reenvision what policing could look like.
House Democratic caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries argued the Justice in Policing Act would help to crack down on police brutality and hold officers accountable.House Democratic caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries argued the Justice in Policing Act would help to crack down on police brutality and hold officers accountable.
“Unless there is accountability, there will never be change,” Jeffries said. “Unless there’s change, brutality will continue, and we’ll be trapped in a vicious cycle of anguish & despair.”“Unless there is accountability, there will never be change,” Jeffries said. “Unless there’s change, brutality will continue, and we’ll be trapped in a vicious cycle of anguish & despair.”
The New York Democrat added, “All we ever wanted is to be treated equally. Not better, not worse. Equally. Why has that been so difficult to achieve?”The New York Democrat added, “All we ever wanted is to be treated equally. Not better, not worse. Equally. Why has that been so difficult to achieve?”
As congressional Democrats held a press conference on their police reform bill, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy sent a tweet in support of the nation’s police officers.As congressional Democrats held a press conference on their police reform bill, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy sent a tweet in support of the nation’s police officers.
“To the police officers across the country who put on the uniform every day and uphold their oath—THANK YOU,” McCarthy said in the tweet. “Democrats want to defund you, but Republicans will never turn our backs on you.”“To the police officers across the country who put on the uniform every day and uphold their oath—THANK YOU,” McCarthy said in the tweet. “Democrats want to defund you, but Republicans will never turn our backs on you.”
The Justice in Policing Act being introduced by Democratic lawmakers focuses on reforming policing, by banning chokeholds and incentivizing racial bias trainings, not defunding departments.The Justice in Policing Act being introduced by Democratic lawmakers focuses on reforming policing, by banning chokeholds and incentivizing racial bias trainings, not defunding departments.
Senator Cory Booker praised the details of the Justice in Policing Act, which he said would help hold police officers accountable.Senator Cory Booker praised the details of the Justice in Policing Act, which he said would help hold police officers accountable.
“Empathy and sympathy and words of caring for those who have died and suffered are necessary, but it is not enough,” Booker, who is African American, said. “We must change laws and systems of accountability.”“Empathy and sympathy and words of caring for those who have died and suffered are necessary, but it is not enough,” Booker, who is African American, said. “We must change laws and systems of accountability.”
Senator Kamala Harris, the only other African American Democrat in the Senate, added, “We’re here because black Americans want to stop being killed.”Senator Kamala Harris, the only other African American Democrat in the Senate, added, “We’re here because black Americans want to stop being killed.”
Harris emphasized the country still had a long way to go on racial justice, noting the Senate could not approve an anti-lynching bill just last week after Republican Rand Paul blocked its passage.Harris emphasized the country still had a long way to go on racial justice, noting the Senate could not approve an anti-lynching bill just last week after Republican Rand Paul blocked its passage.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called on majority leader Mitch McConnell to put the Justice in Policing Act on the floor before July.Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called on majority leader Mitch McConnell to put the Justice in Policing Act on the floor before July.
The bill will likely pass the Democratic-controlled House, but McConnell has previously held up key pieces of legislation passed by House Democrats.The bill will likely pass the Democratic-controlled House, but McConnell has previously held up key pieces of legislation passed by House Democrats.
Schumer pledged that Senate Democrats would “fight like hell” to get a vote on the police reform bill, but the Democratic leader has few options when it comes to pressuring McConnell to take up the legislation.Schumer pledged that Senate Democrats would “fight like hell” to get a vote on the police reform bill, but the Democratic leader has few options when it comes to pressuring McConnell to take up the legislation.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi reflected on the moment of silence that lawmakers observed for George Floyd in Emancipation Hall this morning.House speaker Nancy Pelosi reflected on the moment of silence that lawmakers observed for George Floyd in Emancipation Hall this morning.
Just before unveiling the Justice in Policing Act, congressional Democrats kneeled for eight minutes and 46 seconds, in observation of the lenght of time that a police officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck.Just before unveiling the Justice in Policing Act, congressional Democrats kneeled for eight minutes and 46 seconds, in observation of the lenght of time that a police officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck.
“My members will attest, it is a very long time,” Pelosi said.“My members will attest, it is a very long time,” Pelosi said.
The Democratic speaker said “the martyrdom of George Floyd” has sparked nationwide protests, which has now inspired this piece of legislation.The Democratic speaker said “the martyrdom of George Floyd” has sparked nationwide protests, which has now inspired this piece of legislation.
“This moment of national anguish is being transformed into a movement of national action,” Pelosi said.“This moment of national anguish is being transformed into a movement of national action,” Pelosi said.
After reading out the names of some of the people who have been killed in police custody, Pelosi said, “We cannot settle for anything less than transformative, structural change.”After reading out the names of some of the people who have been killed in police custody, Pelosi said, “We cannot settle for anything less than transformative, structural change.”
Congressional Democrats are now holding a press conference to introduce their sweeping police reform bill in response to the recent killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.Congressional Democrats are now holding a press conference to introduce their sweeping police reform bill in response to the recent killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Karen Bass, the chairwoman of the congressional black caucus, said the Justice in Policing Act would help prevent future deaths in police custody, and she applauded the protests against police brutality in recent weeks.Karen Bass, the chairwoman of the congressional black caucus, said the Justice in Policing Act would help prevent future deaths in police custody, and she applauded the protests against police brutality in recent weeks.
“The world is witnessing the birth of a new movement in our country,” Bass said.“The world is witnessing the birth of a new movement in our country,” Bass said.
Democratic lawmakers held a moment of silence on Capitol Hill in honor of George Floyd, minutes before they are exepcted to reveal a bill aimed at cracking down on police brutality.Democratic lawmakers held a moment of silence on Capitol Hill in honor of George Floyd, minutes before they are exepcted to reveal a bill aimed at cracking down on police brutality.
Congressional Democrats kneeled in Emancipation Hall for eight minutes and 46 seconds to recognize the length of time that a police officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck.Congressional Democrats kneeled in Emancipation Hall for eight minutes and 46 seconds to recognize the length of time that a police officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck.
The number of people fatally shot by police each year has been frighteningly stable in recent years, despite recurring protests against police brutality that have spread across the country in recent weeks, since the killing of George Floyd.The number of people fatally shot by police each year has been frighteningly stable in recent years, despite recurring protests against police brutality that have spread across the country in recent weeks, since the killing of George Floyd.
According to the Washington Post’s database on police shootings, officers have shot and killed nearly 1,000 people every year since 2015.According to the Washington Post’s database on police shootings, officers have shot and killed nearly 1,000 people every year since 2015.
The Post reports:The Post reports:
The criminal justice activists who have pushed to defund police departments have pointed to the stable statistics to argue that reforms like body cameras and racial bias training will not be enough to crack down on police brutality.The criminal justice activists who have pushed to defund police departments have pointed to the stable statistics to argue that reforms like body cameras and racial bias training will not be enough to crack down on police brutality.
Congressional Democrats are expected to release their bill aimed at cracking down on police brutality today, two weeks after George Floyd was killed while in police custody.Congressional Democrats are expected to release their bill aimed at cracking down on police brutality today, two weeks after George Floyd was killed while in police custody.
The bill is expected to include a national ban on police chokeholds and the creation of a national police misconduct registry “to prevent problem officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability,” according to CNN.The bill is expected to include a national ban on police chokeholds and the creation of a national police misconduct registry “to prevent problem officers from changing jurisdictions to avoid accountability,” according to CNN.
The legislation will also incentivize racial bias training for officers and include the anti-lynching measure that has stalled in the Senate, which sparked a heated argument on the Senate floor last week after Republican Rand Paul blocked the proposal.The legislation will also incentivize racial bias training for officers and include the anti-lynching measure that has stalled in the Senate, which sparked a heated argument on the Senate floor last week after Republican Rand Paul blocked the proposal.
The Democratic legislation will almost certanly attract criticism from criminal justice activists, some of whom have argued that such reforms do not go far enough to address police brutality and have thus pushed to defund departments instead.The Democratic legislation will almost certanly attract criticism from criminal justice activists, some of whom have argued that such reforms do not go far enough to address police brutality and have thus pushed to defund departments instead.