The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund (LDF) is urging the Senate to block a Republican Party police reform bill to get an initial test vote on Wednesday.
The NAACP LDF, which is a separate entity from the NAACP, sent a letter to the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump says he supports another round of stimulus checks The NAACP Legal Defense Fund urges the Senate to reject the Republican Party’s police reform bill. Democrats detail their green .5T infrastructure plan | Environmental groups challenge Trump’s water rules to undo MORE (R-Ky.) And minority leader of the Senate Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerGOP lawmakers express their support for the Israeli plan to annex areas in the West Bank. The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Rep. Mark Takano says Congress should extend worker benefits due July; WHO reports record increase in global cases UPDATE: Trump denies slowing tests for coronavirus MORE (DN.Y.) urging them to oppose the bill over concerns that it does not go far enough to hold police officers accountable.
“At this time, we cannot support legislation that does not incorporate a robust accountability framework for police officers and other law enforcement officials who engage in misconduct and who need reform of police practices,” the group wrote in the letter, a copy of which was sent to members of the Senate more broadly.
“We urge you to vote no on the motion to proceed with the consideration of the JUSTICE Law and, instead, move forward with reforms that will hold law enforcement accountable and offer more transparency of police practices such as those incorporated in S .3912, the Police Justice Act of 2020, “the organization added, referring to the bill introduced earlier this month by Democrats.
The group specified that the Republican bill, which was spearheaded by the senator. Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene Scott The NAACP Legal Defense Fund urges the Senate to reject the Republican police reform bill McConnell sets the initial police reform vote for Wednesday this week: Congress will face legislation police reform MORE (SC), the only black Republican senator, did not include priorities like banning stranglings, ending the use of arrest warrants, and qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that protects police officers from civil lawsuits.
He also raised concerns about the new money for law enforcement included in the bill, which is being debated amid a national discussion about restructuring how police departments are funded.
“Communities of color are weary of efforts to invest more funds in police departments to buy equipment, such as body worn cameras, and provide the same training to officers, while black and brown Americans continue to be brutalized and often killed by the police, “the group wrote.
The letter comes as Democrats weigh whether to block the Republican Party’s police reform bill, and McConnell is slated to vote to end debate on the bill’s passage Wednesday.
Republicans will need 60 votes to advance the Republican bill. As of Monday, they did not have the votes, and Senator Doug Jones (D-Ala.) Was the only Democratic senator to point out, so far, that he could vote to proceed with the bill.
Democrats want an understanding with McConnell about allowing votes on the bill’s amendments if it is put up for debate, but they said Monday they do not have an agreement yet.
Schumer criticized the Republican bill on Monday and warned that it would not have prevented the death of George Floyd and that it will not prevent future deaths.
“The more we look at the Republican police reform effort, the more obvious the shortcomings and shortcomings are,” Schumer said. “If we pass a bill that is not effective and the killings continue and the police departments resist change and there is no responsibility, the wound in our society will not close. It will ooze.
Senator Mazie Hirono
Mazie Keiko Hirono The NAACP Legal Defense Fund urges the Senate to reject the Republican Party’s police reform bill. Democrats investigate use of federal officials in DC | The Air Force appoints a woman as a non-commissioned senior officer. Democrats request the use of a federal law enforcement surveillance investigation in DC during Floyd’s protests. PLUS (D-Hawaii) called the Republican bill a “half-ass bill.”
“It doesn’t do what we should do, which is to do honest police reform … I personally like Tim, but his bill doesn’t,” Hirono told reporters Monday.
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