George Floyd was murdered on May 25, last year. A cop knelt on his neck for a total of 8 minutes and 15 seconds. The store clerk who called the cops on Floyd was concerned about a $20 counterfeit bill, he alleged Floyd had used. Floyd died over this counterfeit bill. His death caused a new wave of skepticism over the role of police in the U.S., with a particular focus on policing within African American communities. Most of the people supporting the new wave claimed the police was an institution with too much power, who have gotten away with incidents like George Floyd’s. The supporters cited the shootings of Breonna Taylor and Trayvon Martin as examples that George Floyd was the latest casualty in a long line of victims. A lot of this new wave would go on to be directly responsible for the large-scale Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Most protesters would claim they were fighting to get rid of the power that allowed the police to kill with impunity.
The U.S. House would pass the George Floyd Justice in policing act at a 220-212 vote almost a year later. The beginning of the act states that its purpose is “to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies.” The act itself has made numerous changes to how policing in the U.S. will be done from now on. Headlocks and no-knock warrants have been banned, while the act also has lessened many immunities officers had before, making it easier for them to be charged with various offenses. In addition, officers who commit infractions will be more thoroughly investigated.
Various politicians took to Twitter to talk about the bill with the public.
“The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act represents an important step towards ensuring more accountability and transparency in policing. I join @POTUS in encouraging Congress to pass this legislation and get it to the President’s desk.” Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted about the bill.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act represents an important step towards ensuring more accountability and transparency in policing. I join @POTUS in encouraging Congress to pass this legislation and get it to the President’s desk.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) February 26, 2021
“I’ve felt handcuffs around my wrists as an 11 year-old. I’ve seen the inside of a jail cell without any charges or justification. My story isn’t unique in Black America. We need to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to bring accountability to our police forces.”Congressmember Jamaal Bowman tweeted.
I've felt handcuffs around my wrists as an 11 year-old. I've seen the inside of a jail cell without any charges or justification.
My story isn't unique in Black America.
We need to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to bring accountability to our police forces. pic.twitter.com/9BFWTayIJX
— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) March 2, 2021
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Congressmember Adam Schiff tweeted out.
I voted YES on the Justice in Policing Act in honor of George Floyd. Police brutality, particularly against Black Americans, has persisted far too long.
This bill will ban chokeholds, end qualified immunity and fund community-led safety initiatives.
Police must be accountable. https://t.co/C7UP1hO2Bu
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 4, 2021
“The US House has passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act! On behalf of George Floyd’s family, we are deeply gratified and grateful for US House leadership. This represents a major step forward to reform the relationship between police officers and communities of color.” Civil Rights Lawyer Bill Krump tweeted.
The US House has passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act! On behalf of George Floyd’s family, we are deeply gratified and grateful for US House leadership. This represents a major step forward to reform the relationship between police officers and communities of color.
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) March 4, 2021
However, the act has received its fair share of criticism from both sides due to two controversial parts of the act: The increase in the police’s budget and how the investigations into police officers will be handled. Police departments will be the ones monitoring officers for any infractions to many complaints.
This "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act" is just another NOTHING BURGER. They can pass a million of these little bills, and they simply will not be enforced. There is ZERO punishment to police, prosecutors and judges who simply IGNORE these bills. Same with the Constitution
— Tariq Nasheed ???????? (@tariqnasheed) March 4, 2021
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“Congress made sure to include $750m in the George Floyd Act to investigate the deadly use of force by law enforcement. Protesters have been demanding to defund the police to keep us safe; not spend millions of dollars to investigate how we die. We know how we die – the police.” Lawyer Derecka Purnell tweeted.
“H.R. 1280, aka the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021,” expands the size and scope of the federal government while violating the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution and spending money we don’t have. I will be voting no on this bill later this week.”
H.R. 1280, aka the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021,” expands the size and scope of the federal government while violating the 9th and 10th Amendments to the Constitution and spending money we don’t have. I will be voting no on this bill later this week.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 1, 2021
I have arguably the most conservative/America First voting record in Congress!
Of course I wouldn’t support the radical left’s, Anti-Police Act.
I have changed the official record to reflect my opposition! pic.twitter.com/s7uCdlxvgO
— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) March 4, 2021
It will be interesting to see how things continue to change as more people hear about and comment on the act. Whatever direction the act takes, it will be another notch on the history of Civil Rights in America/
