During a George Floyd rally at the Houston City Hall on Tuesday (June 2nd), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announced that the new piece of “revolutionary” police reform legislation she would be introducing would be named after George Floyd himself. During the protest in Houston, several speakers pleaded with the politicians present, which included Jackson Lee as well as Councilwoman Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and Mayor Turner, to introduce some new legislation that would serve to reduce the frequency of—or entirely eradicate—police brutality in America.
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“I plead with them today to create legislation to help us fight this serious disease in this country, known as racism,” Bun B, one of the speakers present, said. “So when police can’t police themselves, that we the power have a voice because we are the dogs in this fight. When the police departments of America will not police themselves, we need independent review boards with subpoena power to hold them accountable, to have them arrested and have charges brought against them. And that takes legislation.”
“Please pass the bills that are necessary to protect the people of Houston, the people in the state of Texas, and the Black people of America and the people of colour from being terrorized by murdered hiding behind a badge on our streets,” he concluded.
Following Bun B‘s appeal, Jackson Lee took the stand to announce that such a piece of legislation will in fact be developed and introduced as soon as Thursday (June 4th). She revealed that this “revolutionary legislation” would imagine a “new culture for police and for policing,” explaining that the bill would outline guidelines for recruitment, de-escalation, accreditation and would enforce the fact that police are meant to protect and serve the people.
“It is time for a revolution of change for the dignity of all of us, no matter what our color,” Congresswoman Jackson Lee told the crowd. “We will name a bill in the United States Congress of the United States of America after George Floyd. To be able to have his memory to never be forgotten, never be ignored.”
