House Democrats kneel for George Floyd, unveil police reform bill

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats introduced a large police reform bill on Monday after kneeling for eight minutes and 46 seconds in memory of George Floyd, whose death sparked nationwide protests.

The “Justice in Policing Act of 2020” aims to increase transparency and limit abuses after unrest over Floyd’s May 25 death when Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck until he died.

“The martyrdom of George Floyd gave the American experience a moment of national anguish as we grieve for the black Americans killed by police brutality,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said at a press conference.

“In the Senate, Democrats are going to fight like hell to make this a reality,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Pelosi said in response to a reporter’s question that she does not support abolishing police, a position that’s gained momentum among many Democratic politicians following protests, but said she could support “rebalancing some of our funding” so that issues such as mental health would be handled “more directly” rather than by police.

“We want to work with our police departments,” Pelosi said, while later saying additional measures are “a local decision.”