May 22nd 2024.
Congresswoman Cori Bush joined forces with Democratic Representatives Jamaal Bowman, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, and Rashida Tlaib to make revisions to a proposed legislation focused on providing support for families impacted by police violence. This legislation, known as the Helping Families Heal Act, was initially introduced by Bush in September 2022 and was reintroduced on May 20th, which marks the 28th birthday of Michael Brown. Brown was an unarmed Black teenager who was tragically killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, at just 18 years old. Representative Bowman took to Twitter to announce the collaboration and to honor Brown's birthday, stating, "Today, Mike Brown would be 28. Instead, he was killed by a police officer at 18 years old."
The death of Michael Brown has become a prominent symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement, and this legislation aims to address the ongoing issue of police brutality by establishing grant programs within the Department of Health and Human Services. The goal is to increase resources for mental health programs in disadvantaged communities, specifically for those impacted by police violence. This includes victims, their families, and students who have experienced trauma or grief as a result of these incidents.
If passed into law, the Helping Families Heal Act would provide funding for the recruitment, training, and deployment of mental health professionals and community health workers to provide support to those affected by police violence. The legislation defines victims of violence as individuals who have personally experienced it or have lost loved ones to such acts. Additionally, the act would invest in programs to identify and treat intergenerational trauma caused by police brutality.
Congresswoman Bush collaborated with Michael Brown's mother, Lezley McSpadden, in developing this legislation, as reported by First Alert 4. In a statement, Bush expressed her belief that "together, we can help our families heal." She also highlighted the devastating impact of police violence, not only on the victims but also on their families, communities of color, and young people. "Police violence steals precious lives, like Mike Brown and so many others," she stated.
On what would have been Michael Brown's 28th birthday, the congresswoman honored his memory by reintroducing this much-needed legislation. She also emphasized the importance of supporting families affected by police violence, stating, "Mike Brown should still be alive, and today, on his 28th birthday, we are honoring him by reintroducing this vitally needed legislation." Since Brown's tragic death, numerous other names have been added to the list of victims of police brutality, including Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tyre Nichols, and many more. The Helping Families Heal Act aims to bring about meaningful change and support those impacted by these senseless acts of violence.
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