Thread by @RepJayapal

To those rising up and speaking out, marching and protesting, demanding accountability and fighting for justice: YOU have caused urgent action in Congress.

I am proud to help introduce the Justice in Policing Act on your behalf. RT to share8⃣things people should know about it ⬇

1⃣It not only bans chokeholds like the one used to murder George Floyd, but it establishes them as a civil rights violation too.

It also bans no-knock warrants for drug cases like the one that was used when officers murdered Breonna Taylor, shooting her at least eight times.

2⃣It finally classifies lynching as a federal hate crime in the United States. We know that this is long overdue but it is also urgently necessary today as we just witnessed the modern-day lynching of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.

3⃣It establishes a federal police misconduct registry that is public and tracks complaints at the local, state, and federal level.

This increases accountability and transparency while ensuring past misconduct can be detected when an officer is trying to transfer departments.

4⃣It finally ends qualified immunity.

This ensures that we are able to hold accountable police officers and members of law enforcement who perpetrate violence, murders, and injustices—no matter what badge they wear.

5⃣It requires the reporting of ALL incidents of use of force against a civilian to the Justice Department and mandates that demographic data and an explanation of the incident are included too.

It also collects data on law enforcement practices such as stops and searches.

6⃣This bill allows prosecutors to hold officers accountable for the deprivation of civil rights AND civil liberties by changing the mens rea requirement from “willful” to “knowingly or with reckless disregard”.

This improves accountability for police brutality and misconduct.

7⃣It gives DOJ the power to subpoena law enforcement departments for pattern and practice investigations, which allows them to hold accountable agencies who violate the constitution or other federal laws.

It also establishes a National Task Force on Law Enforcement Oversight.

8⃣It works to END the militarization of law enforcement by restricting the program that allows military equipment to transfer to local departments.

It also requires federal, state, and local law enforcement to use existing federal funds to ensure the use of police body cameras.

This legislation is a bold step towards justice and accountability. I'll fight to swiftly move it though Congress.

We need everyone across the country to continue building the public pressure necessary to get this approved by the House, passed in the Senate and signed into law.