On Thursday, the Democrats’ police reform bill, that addresses police brutality and systematic racism in the light of George Floyd’s death, gained enough votes to pass in the House of Representatives.
What We Know:
- The bill aims to “curb police brutality and bring accountability to our police departments,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated Thursday. “Exactly one month ago, George Floyd spoke his final words — ‘I can’t breathe’ — and changed the course of history,” Pelosi.
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The people celebrated as they cheered after the bill’s passage. Three Republicans, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Will Hurd of Texas, and Fred Upton of Michigan broke ranks and joined Democrats in supporting the bill.
- Representative Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, stated “This is the first step in bringing real change to policing in this country. My community has been crying out for justice and real reform for decades.”
- Seven unarmed black people have been shot and killed by police so far in 2020, compared to 14 in 2019, according to a database maintained by the Washington Post.
- The night before the vote, President Donald Trump’s administration said he would veto the bill. Republicans say the bill could undermine law enforcement.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 236-181 roughly along party lines to adopt the legislation, one month to the day after Floyd’s death in police custody.
