We call upon the Senate to pass The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, also called H.R. 1280, which passed the House of Representatives in early March.
The Jewish Center for Justice is mobilizing Jewish communities and working with racial justice and police reform groups as well as people of faith in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, which would increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, restrict the use of certain practices, enhance police transparency, and establish best practices and training requirements. Further, H.R. 1280 would:
- Mandate training on racial, religious, and discriminatory profiling for all law enforcement.
- Ban chokeholds and carotid holds at the federal level and conditions law enforcement funding for state and local governments banning chokeholds.
- Ban no-knock warrants in drug cases at the federal level and conditions law enforcement funding for state and local governments banning no-knock warrants at the local and state level.
- Make it easier to prosecute offending officers by amending the federal criminal statute to prosecute police misconduct. The mens rea requirement in 18 U.S.C. Section 242 will be amended from “willfulness” to a “recklessness” standard.
As a community that has by and large received the protection of law enforcement during our times of need, especially today with the rise of anti-Semitic attacks, we have a moral obligation to ensure that all in our community receive the same protection and care. Honoring this moment, the Jewish Center for Justice believes we must call on our elected leaders to reform our policy system to ensure that our community is protected, cared for and treated with dignity and respect under the law.
Take ACTION by Contacting your Senator to urge them to support this important piece of legislation. U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Sample call script:
Hello my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am calling to urge Senator [NAME] to support The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 HR1280. As a member of the Jewish community, we know it is our moral obligation to ensure that all of our citizens receive the same care, protection, and respect from law enforcement. We cannot have a just society when some are protected from law enforcement while others are fearful. As a community that has received the protection of law enforcement we know its our ethical mandate to stand with those who need to receive the same level of trust and care.
Background Information and Resources:
- Breakdown of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
- Important article from April 13, 2021 on data and stats regarding policy reform and how the public opinion has changed
- ACLU’s comprehensive page on police reform, use of force and more
- A September 2020 article from The Brennan Center for Justice which provides an in-depth analysis of police reform
- One Year After George Floyd: The Changing Landscape Of Policing (NAACP Legal Defense Fund)
Current bills up for discussion
The Federal George Floyd Police Reform Bill which the House passed last month which President Biden supports.