May 25th 2024.
The tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, in 2020 shook the nation to its core. Many believed that this event would finally bring about real change in America, but four years later, it seems as though the country has fallen back into its old ways. Incidents of police brutality against Black individuals have continued, and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a piece of legislation created in his name, has yet to make any significant progress.
As reported by Reuters, the momentum that was sparked by Floyd's murder, as well as the murders of Breonna Taylor and Stephen Clark in the same year, has faded away as legislative efforts have failed to produce any tangible results. Community advocates, family members of victims of police violence, and activists are all feeling frustrated by what they see as a lack of progress since the summer of 2020.
Stevante Clark, brother of Stephen Clark, expressed his disappointment with the Biden Administration's actions (or lack thereof) in seeking justice for his brother and George Floyd. He believes that simply honoring their lives and legacies is not enough without concrete policy changes to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. "This is not just a fight for the Black community, this is a fight for everyone. People have become desensitized to police killings," he stated.
On May 24, the Biden Administration renewed its call for Congress to take action on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was first introduced in 2021 to address issues such as police aggression, misconduct, and racial bias. However, the bill stalled and was not passed due to the tactics of Republicans. One day before this statement, Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee reintroduced the bill in hopes of reviving it.
During the reintroduction, Jackson Lee expressed her gratitude to the Floyd family, other families affected by police violence, her colleagues in Congress, and advocacy organizations for their support. The bill's reintroduction was also acknowledged by other politicians, including Representative Ilhan Omar and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who emphasized the need for national standards in policing.
Despite these efforts, police reform has taken a backseat in the national conversation due to other pressing issues such as the economy and global conflicts. However, for Black voters, police reform remains a top priority. Phillip Atiba Solomon, co-founder of the Center for Policing Equality and professor at Yale University, believes that the current lack of progress is part of a cycle of backlash against efforts for reform.
In 2023, another bill focused on police reform, The People's Response Act, was introduced by Representative Cori Bush and is supported by The Movement for Black Lives, a national coalition of over 150 leaders and organizations. The bill takes a holistic and health-focused approach to public safety. However, experts warn that it may face resistance from both Republicans and more moderate Democrats, despite its modest goals.
Cicely Gay, Board Chairwoman of Black Lives Matter, expresses concern that while legislation aimed at reform continues to stall, families are left to bear the burden of the slow progress of justice. She believes that incremental changes are not enough and that more meaningful reform is necessary to address the systemic issues within the justice system. "We hear directly from families about their struggles and the lack of progress in making real policy changes," she said.
In light of these ongoing issues, it is worth noting that Derek Chauvin, the police officer responsible for George Floyd's death, has also been accused of using excessive force on another woman just months before Floyd's murder. This serves as a reminder that there is still a long way to go in the fight against police brutality and the need for meaningful reform in our justice system.
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