This is more urgent than ever before: Tell Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act!
Of all the reactions to the conviction of Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd, one of the most shocking comes from Capitol Hill -- where aides to senior Congressional leaders said the verdict will "lessen the pressure for change."1
That's right: Congress may conclude that because Chauvin was found guilty of murder, they don't have to do anything more to address the epidemic of police violence across America. That is totally unacceptable.
The House already passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act last month. Tens of thousands of you have urged the Senate to pass it too. But unless we speak up right now and insist that Democrats end the filibuster, Mitch McConnell will be able to block it from ever becoming law. Will you speak out now and urge the Senate to build on yesterday's verdict, rather than walk away from the crisis of police violence?
Sign the petition: Tell Congress to end the filibuster and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act!
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said that the verdict is not justice, but it is accountability.2 The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a key step that Congress can take toward justice -- but if we sit back and let Congress dither, justice will remain elusive.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would restrict "qualified immunity" that police officers use to shield themselves from accountability when they kill. The "qualified immunity" rule has made it harder, though not impossible, to convict officers who kill civilians.
The bill would also abolish chokeholds and neck restraints that killed George Floyd and Eric Garner. And it would put tough restrictions on how much military-grade weapons police departments can buy from the Pentagon.3
The House already passed the George Floyd Act, but Republicans can use the filibuster to block the George Floyd Act in the Senate. Instead of holding police accountable when they kill people, Republicans in the Senate will use a procedural roadblock to prevent real reforms from becoming law. Their hope is America will forget about police violence now that Derek Chauvin has been convicted.
That's why it's absolutely critical to show Congress we expect them to act -- and not allow the filibuster to be used once again as an excuse to maintain white supremacy.
Sign the petition: Tell Congress to end the filibuster and pass the George Floyd Act!
Sources:
1. Axios, "Chauvin verdicts reduce pressure for police reform," April 20, 2021.
2. NPR, "Minnesota Attorney General Calls Chauvin Guilty Verdict 'First Step' Toward Justice," April 20, 2021.
3. New York Times, "The House passes a policing overhaul bill named for George Floyd, whose death spurred nationwide protests.," March 4, 2021.