Congresswoman Cori Bush’s Statement on Passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Vice Chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, released the following statement after the House passage of H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.
“Although today’s legislation is long overdue, we cannot mistake progress for justice,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “This bill is part of a long tradition of work to dismantle white supremacy and violence in our policing system, not the culmination of it. As we move forward, we must keep in mind that our job in Congress is to protect our constituents and save lives. This bill puts in place a number of long sought after measures such as restricting qualified immunity and the transfer of military equipment to local police departments; banning no-knock warrants and chokeholds; and reinvigorating pattern and practice investigations into police misconduct.
“Three decades ago today, Rodney King was brutally beaten by four police officers in Los Angeles. All four officers were acquitted. Ten days from now, we will mourn one year since Breonna Taylor was gunned down by police officers during a raid on her home. All of the officers involved were acquitted. The reality of our policing system is that Black and brown people continue to be targeted and killed with impunity.
“Today, our movement secured a seat as Vice Chair on the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. In this role, we will reimagine the future of public safety— one where we divest from policing and reinvest in our communities, one where decarceration is prioritized and restorative justice is normalized, one where our schools are free of metal detectors and police and fully funded with nurses and social workers, and one where Black and brown communities don’t just survive, but thrive.”
This evening, the Congresswoman delivered a powerful speech on the House Floor, to watch and download it, click here.
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Congresswoman Cori Bush represents Missouri’s First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She is also a Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a proud member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is a registered nurse, single mother, and an ordained pastor. Following the murder of Michael Brown Jr. by a now-terminated Ferguson police officer, she became a civil rights activist and community organizer fighting for justice for Black lives on the streets of Missouri and across the country.