Pressley Demands Accountability In Police Brutality Resolution

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is one of four representatives introducing a resolution to condemn police brutality after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota sparked outrage across the country. A video shows now-former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck and ignoring him as he says he can't breathe.

Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat, introduced the resolution Friday with Reps. Ilhan Omar, Karen Bass and Barbara Lee.

The resolution highlights having oversight and independent investigations in cases of police brutality. The resolution also includes establishing civilian review boards with the authority to investigate incidents of police misconduct.

An overhaul of "sound and unbiased law enforcement policies at all levels of government," also sits as a main point and the resolution stresses that the policies reduce the impact of police brutality and racial profiling, among other things.

“For too long, Black and brown bodies have been profiled, surveilled, policed, lynched, choked, brutalized and murdered at the hands of police officers,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “We cannot allow these fatal injustices to go unchecked any longer. There can be no justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, or any of the human beings who have been killed by law enforcement, for in a just world, they would still be alive. There must, however, be accountability.”

Several local and national organization have endorsed the resolution, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, ACLU, ACLU of Massachusetts, ACLU of Minnesota, Lawyers for Civil Rights, Black and Pink and Boston Chapter.

Several Massachusetts legislators are supporting the resolution, voicing their support on Twitter. Rep. Katherine Clark joined the buzz with her tweet #NotOneMore.

Rep. Joe Kennedy has been vocal on Twitter, not only about supporting Pressley's resolution but in his criticism of President Donald Trump.

And Kennedy isn't alone —Sen. Elizabeth Warren also called out Trump on Twitter for his "advocacy of illegal, state-sponsored killing."

Sen. Ed Markey echoed similar sentiments in reaction Trump's tweets about the protests, when he mentioned bringing the National Guard in to "Get the job done right." Twitter flagged the tweet and featured a disclaimer that said it violated the company's rules about glorifying violence.

Since Floyd's death, protests have erupted in cities across the country including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Los Angeles and New York City. Massachusetts police departments and chiefs began issuing statements Thursday condemning the actions of the four officers involved in Floyd's death.