Sign the petition: Pass the George Floyd Act

 

Will you add your name and tell Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act? One year ago, George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. He should still be alive today -- and so should countless other people killed by police, like Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, Charleena Lyles, Tamir Rice, and Michael Brown. President Biden set a deadline of May 25 -- the one year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd-- for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Congress has failed to meet it.1 In fact, Democrats are even considering watering down the bill, allowing police to get away with similar crimes.2 Police continue to show us that they can't be trusted to reform their own behaviors. The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in March to hold police accountable and make sweeping changes. But it's stuck in the Senate, where the Democratic majority is wasting time negotiating with Republicans. It's time to act. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to end the filibuster and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act! Police are often protected from prosecution when they kill civilians like George Floyd, thanks to a legal doctrine known as "qualified immunity." The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would restrict qualified immunity that police officers use to shield themselves from accountability when they kill. Republicans oppose that provision and insist it be removed. Some Democrats are considering caving to those demands, despite polls that show 59% of all Americans agree on ending qualified immunity.3 But they don't have to -- especially if they abolish the filibuster and thus remove any need to win Republican votes. The filibuster was created to uphold white supremacy and slavery, and over the last 190 years has been used to uphold Jim Crow and other forms of racial segregation and oppression. Now it's being used to uphold police violence. The House already passed the George Floyd Act, but Republicans can use the filibuster to block the George Floyd Act in the Senate. Instead of holding police accountable when they kill people, Republicans in the Senate will use a procedural roadblock to make sure no real reforms can pass. That's why it's absolutely critical that you speak up and speak loudly -- and do so right now. Sign the petition: Tell Congress to end the filibuster and pass the George Floyd Act! Thanks for taking action, Robert and the team at Demand Progress Sources: 1. CNBC, "Congress is set to miss Biden’s deadline to pass police reform bill as talks move forward," May 24, 2021. 2. The Hill, "Clyburn says he's willing to compromise on qualified immunity in policing bill," May 9, 2021. 3. The Hill, "Police reform fight hinges on qualified immunity," May 25, 2021. PAID FOR BY DEMAND PROGRESS (DemandProgress.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Join our online community on Facebook or Twitter.