U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) are co-sponsoring complementary police reform bills, commonly known as the “Justice in Policing Act,” that would ban chokeholds and mandate body cameras for officers – among many other things.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Persistent, unchecked bias in policing and a history of lack of accountability is wreaking havoc on the Black community.†Booker said in a statement.
“ … There’s no one singular policy change that will fix this issue tomorrow – we need an entire set of holistic reforms to improve police training and practices, and ensure greater accountability and transparency.â€
U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) co-sponsored the bill, which also includes making police misconduct a federal crime, creating a national police misconduct registry, and banning religious and racial profiling, with Booker.
“I believe that the Justice in Policing Act is a necessary step that includes important policy to address bias and the historical lack of accountability,” Sires stated.
“While I know that one piece of legislation will not solve the issues that have long plagues our society, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and work on additional federal legislative efforts.â€
In the lower house, Sires introduced the bill with U.S. Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) – the chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
The Justice in Policing Act would also make lynching a federal crime, as well as limiting the transfer of military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement.
In a tweet yesterday, President Donald Trump (R) appeared to reference the bill, writing that he would not support attempts to “defund the police.”
Sleepy Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats want to “DEFUND THE POLICEâ€. I want great and well paid LAW ENFORCEMENT. I want LAW & ORDER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
