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House passes police reform bill to ban choke holds in George Floyd's name

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislation aimed at preventing police misconduct that Democrats named in honor of George Floyd, whose death in police custody sparked nationwide calls to overhaul policing and address racial injustice.

Posted Updated

By
Gilbert Baez
, WRAL Fayetteville reporter
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Some of George Floyd's family members are celebrating the passing of a House Bill that bears his name.

The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is aimed at police reforms – some of which could have saved his life.

Bridge Floyd, his sister, lives in Hoke County. She said she's elated that the bill was passed.

Rev. Brian Davis, his first cousin, who lives in Wake County, could hardly contain his joy.

"I'm ecstatic. I'm like a kid in a candy store. Gat boy at a pizza store," said Davis.

He said the family has come a long way from the day his cousin died in Minnesota after a police officer kneeled on his neck.

"The spirit of my cousin went out, and we have kept it lit believing and hoping for this day to come," he said.

If the Bill becomes law, it would reform policing across the country in several ways.

  • Banning choke holds
  • Banning 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.
  • Requiring data collection, including mandatory body cameras and dashboard cameras

When asked if he felt Floyd might still be alive if these reforms had been in place, Davis said, "He would be. There's no might."

Davis knows the bill is in for a tough fight in the Senate, but he is confident it will become law.

Last year, the House passed a similar version of the bill, but it failed in the Republican-controlled Senate.

This time around, Democrats must convince at least ten Republican Senators to vote for the bill in order for it to pass.

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