We must keep demanding justice for Black lives

After the response to George Floyd’s murder, and the murders of many Black Americans by police/state violence over these past several years, the question of, “Where do we go from here?” still lingers. Activists as well as angered and grieving communities continue to wonder, "What does justice look like now? And can it ever be achieved?". While these questions prove to be some of the most challenging for our country to reckon with, The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is one answer to these questions in the form of legislation.

Various aspects of policing contribute to a lack of accountability and an abundance of bias and discrimination in law enforcement. Over the last few years, these issues have been greatly exposed, discussed and examined. While addressing the injustice present in this country's criminal justice system is a large and overwhelming task, The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a promising step. 

What would the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act do? 

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would address various issues in policing that contribute to the violence and discrimination it currently exhibits. In a broad sense, it would prohibit racial and religious profiling. It would also achieve the following: 

• Ban chokeholds at the federal level
• Make it easier to pursue claims of police misconduct
• End “qualified immunity”  for law enforcement
• Increase accountability for police officers
• Forbid no-knock warrants (in certain cases)
• Mandate data collection on police encounters
• Redirect funding to community-based policing programs

While national consciousness around Black Lives Matter has become less prominent since the summer of 2020, the work is far from over. The work does not end at marching in the streets or reposting an infographic. Rather, a commitment to this movement is expressed through continued action, including promoting this important piece of legislation.  

This piece of legislation is the culmination of outrage over police/state violence against Black communities for years. It is important that action continues to be taken to prevent this violence and increase accountability for it. 

Take action 

1. Visit IGNITE’s advocacy page and enter your information to begin.
2. Contact your legislators through email or by phone!
3. Follow @IGNITE_national on all social media to stay up to date

Suggested Reading 

Taking the time to continue to learn about issues of race and policing can create a more comprehensive and dynamic understanding of why this legislation is so critical. Take a look!

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