Justice for George Floyd Is Justice for All
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered over an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.
This was a tragedy for his family and community, but it was also a tragedy for American justice.
Why? Because George Floyd was murdered by 4 police officers in broad daylight. He was killed by the very officers that had sworn to protect Americans like you, I, and him.
The world was shocked at the callous indifference demonstrated by the Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds, ignoring him as he begged for his mother in the last moment of his life. Tens of millions of Americans took to the streets, almost always peacefully, appealing for change, standing up to say, Black Lives Matter.
Like George Floyd’s pleas, we were ignored. Nothing changed.
Reform is Needed to Establish Justice
The murder of George Floyd was not an isolated incident. His name was used as a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement because Black Americans are disproportionately killed by police across the nation.
But this is not only a Black issue.
Police are killing innocent civilians all over the country. About three people are shot and killed by the police every day. Whether innocent of a crime or not, our law enforcement officers are not there to act as judge, jury, and executioner. That’s not how justice works in the land of the free.
We must reform the structure of law enforcement to establish justice in this country once again. It needs the same scrutiny and hallmarks of the American justice system that made our foundations so strong:
- Checks and balances
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Compassion
Our law enforcement system is broken. This is not the fault of any single police officer. But it needs to be fixed.
A Blueprint for Police Reform
The Blueprint for a Better America — the legislative package supported by members of the American Union — contains common-sense police reforms to protect both civilians and police officers.
The Blueprint’s George Floyd Justice Act is written and ready to pass. All we need is our leaders to act.
The pillars of the act include:
De-escalation
Deadly force and excessive force should be a last resort, and these types of responses, now common, will be restricted under new policing laws. Officers will be trained in de-escalation tactics, conflict management, and how to engage in a way that guarantees OUR safety and not just theirs. Officers will also have a duty to intervene if excessive force is being used.
For too many years, police departments have received surplus equipment from the military. No more. Military equipment and firearm transfers will be prohibited.
Many deaths have occurred because officers think they don’t have any other option. Shooting first and asking questions later cannot be a part of American law enforcement.
Ending No-Knock Warrants
Breonna Taylor’s unjust death showed the world that America was not the free place they thought it was.
This is not justice.
No-knock warrants are a literal invasion of property and privacy. They have no place in a free country and they will be banned. Law enforcement will be required to serve warrants during the day (safer for all involved), and prohibited from forcing entry unless the occupant has refused to admit them.
Holding Police Accountable
Why is it that police who are consistently accused of brutality and violence by Americans often continue to work without consequences?
It’s because the police hold themselves accountable. They have a different justice system than the rest of us, and it allows them to literally get away with murder.
The officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice while he was playing with a pellet gun in the park was not interviewed or investigated by jurisdictional authorities for his actions. He was later fired but faced no legal action for killing an unarmed child.
He was then re-hired as a part-time officer a few years later.
Police are less careful about using deadly and excessive force because they rarely face personal or professional consequences. Most get put on paid leave when they get in trouble.
A national police misconduct registry will be made available to the public. Politicians are always talking about “bad apples,” now we will know who these rotten apples are.
Police will also be trained to step in when their partners use excessive force. And when police violate civil rights, they will no longer receive qualified immunity. Special treatment incentivizes bad behavior.
Learn More about The George Floyd Justice Act
The George Floyd Justice Act is just one of the pieces of legislation within the Blueprint for a Better America. Explore the pillars of The Blueprint and find the full scope of the George Floyd Justice Act here.
To Make Real Change, We Need You
George Floyd’s cries went ignored by law enforcement and politicians, but they will not be in vain.
As voters, we have the opportunity to make our voices heard. We can do so by joining the American Union, a united voting block, and insisting that politicians pass common-sense police reforms included in the Blueprint for a Better America.
In exchange for passing legislation that upholds American justice over party politics, our leaders will receive our votes and keep their jobs.
The American Union is mobilizing NOW in Georgia ahead of the January 5, 2021, Senate run-off elections. This is our opportunity to hold politicians accountable and establish justice.
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Mass Incarceration: A Nation Behind Bars
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Poverty in Georgia Is Spiking. Where Are Our Leaders?
How Georgia Can Save America. (It’s Not How You Think.)
The Marginalized Must Unionize in 2020
