Res. No. 1372
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.
By Council Members Cumbo, Chin, Louis, Rivera, Reynoso, D. Diaz, Miller, Adams, Van Bramer, Ayala, Brooks-Powers, Cornegy, Gibson, Lander, Menchaca, Barron, Rose, Moya, Salamanca, Rodriguez, Ampry-Samuel, Rosenthal, Perkins, Koslowitz and Riley
Whereas, H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, sponsored by Representative Karen Bass, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to hold police accountable, end racial profiling, change the culture of law enforcement, empower impacted communities, and build trust between law enforcement and communities by addressing systemic racism and bias across the country to help save lives; and
Whereas, H.R. 1280, was introduced in the wake of numerous uprisings across America, including in New York City, spurred by the reported involvement of police in the unjust killings of Black Americans across the country, including George Floyd, who died after Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis Minnesota and Breonna Taylor, who was shot eight times by officers executing a no-knock warrant in her home in Louisville Kentucky, among several other victims; and
Whereas, The Justice in Policing Act of 2021, will, if made law, improve police accountability by holding police accountable in court, eliminating qualified immunity for law enforcement; bolstering federal and state abilities to investigate police misconduct; requiring data collection on police misconduct and use-of-force; mandating the use of body cameras; and making lynching a federal crime; and
Whereas, This legislation will also transform law enforcement culture, by prohibiting all racial and religious profiling; creating accreditation standards for police departments; banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants; limiting military-grade equipment transfers to state and local law enforcement; and empowering communities to create new public safety approaches through grants for community based organizations; and
Whereas, The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed H.R. 1280 and the Senate and President should immediately follow suit; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.
LS #15449
4/22/2021 4:40 PM
M.T.