Policing Overhaul Act, Named “George Floyd Police Reform Bill," Passed by House after Year of National Protests
Lawmakers passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act on Wednesday, creating a reform bill that bans chokeholds by law enforcement and reforms “qualified immunity” for all police officers.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act impacts law enforcement’s “qualified immunity.” This immunity refers to government officials such as police officers, who until now could only be held accountable for violating someone’s rights if those rights were already a “clearly established” law.
The new Act reforms this prior immunity and allows more straightforward methods for citizens to sue police for misconduct regarding a violation of citizens' rights. This bill would open up the door for police officers to be sued by citizens for violating someone’s rights.
The House approved the Act in a vote 220 - 212, almost always along party lines with Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no.
The new bill passed by the House arrives nine months after unarmed African-American Minneapolis resident George Floyd, 46, was killed by police officers. Floyd was handcuffed, held down and killed after a police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes. Floyd could be heard pleading, “I can’t breathe.”
President Joe Biden had publicly endorsed the new bill, tweeting, “I am pleased that the House will vote next week on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. I encourage the House to pass it. Following Senate consideration, I hope to be able to sign into law a landmark police reform bill.”
Rodney Floyd, George Floyd’s younger brother, celebrated the House passing the Bill.
“It took the world to stand still through COVID to witness what we see as minorities in this country," said Rodney Floyd.
The sweeping bill bans specific instances of no-knock warrants and requires mandates for the data collection on police encounters. It also bans racial and religious profiling and funding to local policy programs that enhance community policing programs.
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar spoke during the bill's debate, saying it was time to stop police crimes against people of color.
“Time and time again we have witnessed the people who are sworn to protect our communities abuse their power," said Omar.
Florida Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez disagreed, saying the new bill will"weaken and possibly destroy our community's police forces.”
The new policing bill was first passed by Democrats in the summer of 2020, during the angry protests across the nation after the murder of George Floyd. Demands for racial law enforcement justice rang in the streets from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles.
With a new Democratic majority in Congress, the bill has a better chance to become law, though the battle lines are deeply etched onto the political landscape by both parties.
The new bill would be the most extensive Federal overhaul of law enforcement in decades.
California Representative Karen Bass said it’s every American’s responsibility to protect any unarmed victim from police abuse or death.
”Never again should an unarmed individual be murdered or brutalized by someone who is supposed to serve and protect them," said Bass.“Never again should the world be subject to witnessing what we saw happen to George Floyd in the streets in Minnesota.”
Jury selection is now underway for police officer Derek Chauvin's trial for second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the Floyd death. The remaining three other police officers present during the Floyd killing are facing a separate court trial.
