Council approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act file

The Common Council today approved legislation putting the city on record in support of the federal George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

The resolution – File #210208 authored by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs – officially puts Milwaukee on record in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and allows the city’s Intergovernmental Relations Division to lobby for its passage in Congress.

Alderwoman Coggs said she is grateful for the strong support for the measure shown by her Council colleagues. Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, Alderman José G. Pérez, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, Alderman Michael J. Murphy and Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic were added as cosponsors of the file.

“My colleagues have been supportive of this file and like most members of the community, they have been forever changed by the events following the death of George Floyd, and have worked to bring about positive change,” she said. “And on the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death, they stepped up because they see the need for what the federal bill can do and what promise it holds.”

“And while it is true that no single piece of legislation will solve all of the issues related to our nation’s longstanding crises in police killings of Black men and Black women, the Justice in Policing Act is uniquely created to help push us toward increased accountability and justice where it is sorely needed,” Alderwoman Coggs said.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to holding police accountable, ending racial profiling, changing the culture of law enforcement, empowering communities, and building trust between law enforcement and communities by addressing systemic racism and bias to help save lives. The Act would: 1) establish a national standard for the operation of police departments; 2) mandate data collection on police encounters; 3) reprogram existing funds to invest in transformative community-based policing programs; and 4) streamline federal law to prosecute excessive force and establish independent prosecutors for police investigations.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.