National Urban League Calls Failure of Justice In Policing Act "A Betrayal"
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CALLS FAILURE OF JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT “A BETRAYAL” AND VOWS TO CONTINUE WORKING FOR PASSAGE OF COMPREHENSIVE REFORM
NEW YORK (September 22, 2021) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today said the collapse of Senate negotiations on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a betrayal of the families who have lost loved ones to police violence and the millions of Americans who marched in protest of brutality. He urged President Biden and Congressional leaders to continue working toward passage of a comprehensive police reform bill.
“In the 15 months since the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act first was introduced, more than 2,400 Americans have died during interactions with police,” Morial said. “Dozens of departments and officers around the country are under investigation or facing lawsuits for civil rights violations and allegations of excessive force. Every day that goes by without Congressional action to curb police violence and misconduct is a badge of shame on our nation. It’s unacceptable.”
Morial said the collapse raises questions about whether Sen. Tim Scott, the bill’s chief negotiator for the Senate Republicans, had the full support of his caucus.
“Did Republicans ever intend to agree to a compromise or did they send Senator Scott on a fool’s errand,” Morial asked.
Morial further questioned the role of police organizations in undermining the bill after negotiators reported they were on the verge of an agreement.
“The Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Chiefs of Police did engage in good faith, but it appears that other organizations actively worked to sabotage the reform effort,” Morial said, nodding to the efforts of negotiators Rep. Karen Bass and Sen. Cory Booker.
“Rep. Bass and Sen. Booker worked assiduously to build a strong coalition in support of the bill only to see it derailed by a handful of obstructionists,” he said.
Morial acknowledged that the U.S. Department of Justice has stepped up its oversight of police departments, but said absent comprehensive reform legislation, the agency lacks the “full set of tools” it needs.
“We are not prepared to give up the fight,” he said. “We are determined to enact comprehensive and meaningful reform.”