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On deck today: the House Judiciary Cmte meets to debate, mark up and consider amendments to the Justice in Policing Act. I will have the report for @CourthouseNews.
Background: http://www.courthousenews.com/democrats-push-sweeping-police-reform-legislation/
Background: http://www.courthousenews.com/democrats-push-sweeping-police-reform-legislation/
A live stream of today's committee hearing will be available here:
Hearing starts shortly. And another live-feed here:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?473147-1/house-judiciary-committee-debates-justice-police-act
https://www.c-span.org/video/?473147-1/house-judiciary-committee-debates-justice-police-act
Lawmakers are expected to meet for up to six hours to debate and review the bill known as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
It has 227 cosponsors in the House + 36 cosponsors in the Senate.
https://congress.gov/116/bills/hr7120/BILLS-116hr7120ih.pdf
It has 227 cosponsors in the House + 36 cosponsors in the Senate.
https://congress.gov/116/bills/hr7120/BILLS-116hr7120ih.pdf
While this happens in the House today, the Senate Judiciary Cmte introduced their police reform legislation yesterday - . @JackRodgersCNS had that coverage, ICYMI: https://www.courthousenews.com/senate-judiciary-committee-focuses-on-police-reform/
In the House legislation one of the integral calls from protesters, to end qualified immunity, will be a major point of contention today.
To wit: from the makeshift gallery of protest signs hanging from scaffolding near BLM Plaza in D.C.
Background: https://www.courthousenews.com/george-floyd-protest-signs-to-be-curated-for-museum-exhibits/
To wit: from the makeshift gallery of protest signs hanging from scaffolding near BLM Plaza in D.C.
Background: https://www.courthousenews.com/george-floyd-protest-signs-to-be-curated-for-museum-exhibits/
HJC Cmte chair Nadler: Last week Philonise Floyd told Congress of the pain he has felt since the killing of his brother George Floyd.
"He charged us with making sure his brother's death would not be in vain and pleaded with us to make the pain & anger transform into real change"
"He charged us with making sure his brother's death would not be in vain and pleaded with us to make the pain & anger transform into real change"
Background on Philonise's testimony last week from @JackRodgersCNS here:
https://www.courthousenews.com/george-floyds-brother-urges-house-to-pass-police-reforms/
Nadler says this morning: "Today we answer that call."
https://www.courthousenews.com/george-floyds-brother-urges-house-to-pass-police-reforms/
Nadler says this morning: "Today we answer that call."
Nadler says the reality for African Americans is that "centuries of systemic racism have infected all of our institutions, we see it in the covid deaths... in the vast chasm of economic inequality, all of which disproportionately falls on backs of African Americans."
Nadler says "an unmistakable message" has been wrongly sent to Black Americans: "They are second class citizens and their lives are somehow of less value."
"Let me state clearly and unequivocally Black Lives Matter," House Judiciary Committee chairman @RepJerryNadler says this morning.
"George Floyd matters, Breonna Taylor matters... and the countless others who have lost their lives to law enforcement mattered."
"George Floyd matters, Breonna Taylor matters... and the countless others who have lost their lives to law enforcement mattered."
For too long these requests have fallen on deaf ears but that "ends today" Chairman Nadler says.
Searchable PDF of the legislation: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6950201-Justice-in-Policing-Act-2020.html
Searchable PDF of the legislation: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6950201-Justice-in-Policing-Act-2020.html
. @RepKarenBass this a.m.: African Americans have been marching for over 100 years to bring attention to this gross injustice that we have faced for centuries. We’ve marched against police abuse & for the police to protect and serve our communities.
It was news cameras that exposed racism in the 80s and 90s and now it’s the cellphone that exposes the violence directed toward African Americans by police, Bass adds.
. @RepKarenBass: "When people told their stories, they simply weren't believed." When a person was killed, their bckgrnd was questioned 1st. Even if their background wasn't clean, she posits: "What happened to arresting somebody & the presumption of innocence before proven guilty"
"It has taken technology and active citizen involvement to expose this ugly reality in our country. But just understanding the problem is not enough we need fundamental change." - @RepKarenBass
. @RepKarenBass: "It took me many years to get over the fear of those lights coming up behind you. Not fear for a ticket but fear that my interaction with police might result in me not surviving. This is not just an issue for black men, this is an issue for black women as well."
Rep. @JacksonLeeTX18: "What is the value of Black lives? Are Black lives valued? Is a Black life valued? Are all Black lives valued? Living in the skin that I live in obviously for all of my life... I realized that question has never been answered by this nation."
Rep. @JacksonLeeTX18: Its difficult to hear the rejection of the systemic racism that has plagued every aspect of our society. Invoking MLK: "We might not be able to change hearts, but we can change laws," Jackson: Had US passed laws like this long ago lives would've been saved."
"We would have seen black boys go home to their mothers," Rep. Jackson Lee, D-TX, remarks of the many missed opportunities by Congress to pass meaningful legislation addressing law enforcement failures before expressing deep gratitude to the family of George Floyd.
. @JacksonLeeTX18 "What we have to deal with now is to recognize that Dr. King's words were correct. We have to change laws in order to change hearts. And he was further correct when he said now is the time and why we can’t wait."
As the world saw a man’s life seep out in the streets of America they said no more. - @JacksonLeeTX18.
"We are ending racial profiling. We are affirming civilian review boards, funding them & giving them subpoena power. What an amazing step toward opportunity & justice."
"We are ending racial profiling. We are affirming civilian review boards, funding them & giving them subpoena power. What an amazing step toward opportunity & justice."
In Nadler’s first amendment to the legislation, beyond renaming it for George Floyd, it also includes provisions that limit qualified immunity for law enforcement and bans facial recognition technology.
Republican Kelly Armstrong proposed amendment to Nadler’s that mandates interviews by LEOs also including full interrogations. Rep Matt Gaetz at the top of his remarks, was outraged at the notion of “defunding and dismantling” police, referring to it as "demoralizing" of police
Gatez also threw his support behind Armstrong's amendment to tape interviews, highlighting what he dubbed "the Russian hoax" and the failure of Paul Manafort's interviews not being taped
Gaetz also supports keeping militarization level of police forces at same level without reductions - saying that LEOs cannot protect and serve "essentially on a level playing field with cartels and criminals"
. @RepSwalwell offers the words of Alicia Garza, founder of BLM, for the committee to consider, including that when "Black people get free, everybody gets free." Rep Matt Gaetz cuts in later, saying "all lives matter" when Swalwell asks them to unequivocally say Black lives matter
Swalwell: "I think it's clear my colleagues would like to put up a strawman about the uncomfortable conversation we need to have about race.
In police shootings, we talk about the act but we don't "get to the harder part," he adds.
In police shootings, we talk about the act but we don't "get to the harder part," he adds.
. @RepSwalwell: Nobody is disputing what the officer did here with Mr. Floyd should be defended. So we have to have the harder conversation."
Instead, he says, "we get the strawman" that Ds are suggesting wholesale defunding of police
Instead, he says, "we get the strawman" that Ds are suggesting wholesale defunding of police
"Until you're willing to get rid of the strawman, the confusion, all of the different tactics you're using to avoid the hard conversation about race in America, we're not going to get where we need to be. Not just in policing." - @RepSwalwell to members of the House Judic Cmte
Rep Ken Buck says he cannot support Armstrong's amendment. I think when we require out of custody interviews to be recorded, we are going to seriously limit the FBI's ability to carry out its mission in the anti-terrorism area, white collar area..
Buck, R-Colorado continues... "where it's difficult to predict when an interview is going to take place much less how to foster the best atmosphere for that interview."
There's a lot of criticism today from Republican lawmakers like Rep. Debbie Lesko about GOP not being brought into process when the legislation was crafted or having enough time to read it.
FTR: Bill introduced 10 days ago. It is 135 pages.
(One could read 13.5 pages per day)
FTR: Bill introduced 10 days ago. It is 135 pages.
(One could read 13.5 pages per day)
Rep Lesko also says to Swalwell, who asked GOPers tos ay Black Lives Matter: "Of course Black lives matter. Of course, my two Black grandsons matter."
She segued a moment later to "all lives matter" and the pro-life platform, often repeated by R lawmakers so far today
She segued a moment later to "all lives matter" and the pro-life platform, often repeated by R lawmakers so far today
. @RepSwalwell really touched a nerve today by asking Republican lawmakers to simply state, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter.
Rep. Mike Johnson is back up and says every human life matters because it is "given to us by our creator."
Rep. Mike Johnson is back up and says every human life matters because it is "given to us by our creator."
I am reminded of some protest signs I saw in D.C. recently:
Rep. Ted Lieu, in short, says to GOP, "show us you understand the problem" by saying Black Lives Matter without then immediately qualifying it with "All Lives Matter"
Rep. Raskin in a dig to GOP members who have removed their masks today, if you want to show that you truly value all life, you will wear your mask in this room as requested
This thread got broken up. IDK how. But for your ease it should pick right back up here: https://twitter.com/BBuchman_CNS/status/1273290136348958722?s=20
