Illinois' 6th Congressional District issued the following announcement on June 25.
U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted for the Justice in Policing Act, legislation to reimagine the culture of policing in America with unprecedented reforms to curb police brutality, end racial profiling, eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement and build greater trust between law enforcement and our communities. Casten, a cosponsor of the legislation, spoke on the House floor today.
Casten said, “For too long, injustices against people of color have persisted and the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are just the latest in our long national history of oppression- from slavery to Jim Crow to the denial of the right to vote. These deaths, now, are the result of the continued police brutality across our country – it’s important we confront the deep-rooted injustice that continues to plague our country.
“We must act to reform our justice system, so it works for every American — no matter your skin color or where you live. It is up to each of us to contribute to a more equal and just future. That’s why I was proud to cosponsor and support the Justice in Policing Act. This legislation delivers the reforms needed to address systemic racism and save lives while increasing transparency to ensure police are held accountable. Our nation is built on the fundamental promise of equal justice for all, and we must continue to fight to fulfill that promise for all Americans.
“While this is a significant first step, we still have a long way to go to combat systematic racism across our country and I’m committed to the fight for equality.”
The Justice in Policing Act will take numerous key steps to combat the pattern of police brutality and racial injustice, including:
- Banning all chokeholds;
- Stopping no-knock warrants;
- Ending racial, religious and discriminatory profiling;
- Eliminating the qualified immunity doctrine that is a barrier to holding police officers accountable for wrongful conduct;
- Establishing a National Police Misconduct Registry to improve transparency and prevent problematic officers who are fired or leave one agency, from moving to another jurisdiction without any accountability;
- Requiring data collection, including mandatory body cameras and dashboard cameras;
- Establishing new standards for policing and the Public Safety Innovation grants for community-based organizations to help reimagine policing in their communities.
Alerts Sign-up