Cities across the US start implementing new legislation during height of peaceful protests
For almost two weeks there have been peaceful protests around the world. People are demanding change when it comes to police brutality and racial injustices. It appears the protests aren’t stopping anytime soon and lawmakers are starting to make some much needed changes. Below is a list of legislation that has passed (or has been announced) across the US.
Minneapolis
The Minneapolis city council approved an agreement with the Minnesota department of human rights to ban police chokeholds.
Dallas
New order by city’s police chief says an officer must intervene when another officer is using excessive force
Denver
Federal judge grants order to limit firing tear gas and projectiles at peaceful protestors.
Maryland
State lawmakers announced a bipartisan police reform work group
New York City
Moving funding from NYPD to youth initiatives and social services , details will be worked out in budget process in weeks ahead
Ban on chokeholds (passed unanimously)
Prohibition on race-based profiling
New measure that will require police departments and courts to track arrests by race and ethnicity which will help identify patterns of bias
The New York State legislature gets rid of 50-a law that hides police disciplinary records from the public. Under the new legislation that would make police disciplinary records available to the public.
Seattle
Chief Carmen Best of the Seattle Police Department said she was banning the use of tear gas on protesters for at least 30 days and calling for a review of the department’s crowd control tactics.
City council announced its plans on cutting police budget by 50% and plans on making additional police reform
New Jersey
attorney general said the state would update its use-of-force guidelines for the first time in two decades.
Louisville
Police chief must approve use of tear gas first. Breonna’s law would heavily restrict the use and availability of no knock warrants
Aside from the above mentioned places, the Democrats have introduced a police reform bill that includes a ban on chokeholds and the creation of a National Police Misconduct Registry. The bill still needs to make its way through the house of representatives.