GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT

“You’re not saying that you do not support police officers when you call for police reforms. We all agree that there needs to be more training. I absolutely do believe that we need police reform, but for people to take it out of context and talk about how that also means to basically eliminate police departments, that’s lunacy,” said Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch.

With the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, many hope it is the beginning of change.

While the verdict may have brought a sense of relief for many, others see it as just the beginning for real change to happen.

Michigan elected officials, community leaders and organizations are reacting to the verdict in the trial of ex-cop Derek Chauvin.

MINNEAPOLIS – Nearly a year after he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, members of George Floyd’s family are discussing their civil lawsuit against the city and the four former police officers charged with his death. Members of the Floyd family and their attorney, Ben Crump, are holding a news briefing on Friday, March 12 to discuss the lawsuit. Just ahead of the family’s news conference, news broke that the city of Minneapolis agreed to agreed to pay $27 million to settle the civil lawsuit. More: Minneapolis to pay $27M to settle Floyd family lawsuitThe lawsuit conference comes as the trial of former police Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin -- who knelt on Floyd’s neck for about 9 minutes during an arrest in May of 2020 -- is officially underway. AdJudge Peter Cahill seated two more jurors Wednesday to go with the three picked Tuesday for Chauvin’s trial on second-degree murder, manslaughter and -- as of Thursday -- third-degree murder charges.

Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – House Democrats passed the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing nationwide, avoiding a potential clash with moderates in their own party who were wary of reigniting the “defund the police” debate they say hurt them during last fall's election. Approved 220-212 late Wednesday, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is named for the man whose killing by police in Minnesota last Memorial Day sparked demonstrations nationwide. “We want to feel safe when we encounter law enforcement. “Our law enforcement officers need more funding not less,” Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis. Another possible point of contention is provisions easing standards for prosecution of law enforcement officers accused of wrongdoing.

House Democrats are hustling to pass the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing. The bill would ban chokeholds and “qualified immunity” for law enforcement and create national standards for policing in a bid to bolster accountability. “Our law enforcement officers need more funding not less,” Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., said during Wednesday's debate. AdPolice unions and other law enforcement groups have argued that, without such legal protections, fear of lawsuits will stop people from becoming police officers — even though the measure permits such suits only against law enforcement agencies, rather than all public employees. California Rep. Karen Bass, who authored the bill, understands the challenge some House members face in supporting it.

DETROIT Theres a new push from House Democrats to get the Senate to take up the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. READ: Prosecutors charge 3 more officers in George Floyds deathAs elected officials, Debbie Dingell and I, are both clearly aware that we must enact policy. Thats why you all sent us to Congress, not to give speeches, said Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence. Lawrence and Dingell said they represent the people, and thats why they voted for the act. How important is to have this bill in predominately African Americans communities like Detroit, like a St. Louis.

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON For a moment, Congress had a chance to act on policing reform, mobilized by a national trauma and overwhelming public support. There are other high-profile examples where public support has been unable to overcome hyper-partisanship in Congress most notably on gun control. The parties have also failed to make progress in overhauling the nations fractured immigration laws, despite broad public support. Murray said in an interview that there was little attempt to do that kind of behind-the-scenes work on policing reform. The feeling that you want to accomplish something, that you want to get something done ... is a very different feeling than we saw with policing reform."

Exactly one month ago, George Floyd spoke his final words I can't breathe and changed the course of history, Pelosi said. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is perhaps the most ambitious set of proposed changes to police procedures and accountability in decades. After the GOP policing bill stalled this week, blocked by Democrats, Trump shrugged. The two parties are instead appealing to voters ahead of the fall election, which will determine control of the House, Senate and White House. Senate Democrats believe Senate Republicans will face mounting public pressure to open negotiations and act.