Democratic Caucus Chair, U.S. Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, alleges that mainstream policing organizations are attempting to “torpedo” the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act on Capitol Hill.
“The issues where it’s been hardest to find agreement relate to qualified immunity reform, as well as the effort to try to make sure that when a police officer crosses the line, violates the law, they can be held criminally accountable through an appropriate standard. Beyond intentionality, but that also includes extreme recklessness or depraved indifference to human life,” Jeffries told theGrio.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was delayed on Capitol Hill last month. Biden had proposed the anniversary of Floyd’s death as a deadline for its passage.
“There are complicating factors in connection with the negotiations that are ongoing, in part that involve some of the law enforcement organizations at the national level trying to torpedo the progress that has been made. And that’s quite unfortunate because we can’t have a situation where a genuine bipartisan effort to achieve police accountability,” he said.
At a rally last month, Rev. Al Sharpton called on Congress to pass policing act.
“And, that leads me to this one question: Brothers, and sisters, what is it about a Black man running away from the police that is most dangerous thing in America? We want something coming out of Washington. We want something that will change federal law,” Sharpton said. “There’s been an adjournment on justice for too long. It’s time for them to vote and make this the law.”
