Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement on the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and in response to a new executive order on policing issued today by President Biden: 

“Two years ago today, the country watched George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Before he was a globally recognized name, he was a father, friend, brother, and son. On this painful anniversary, our thoughts are first and foremost with his family and community. We thank the Floyd family for sharing George’s memory with the world, including with the honor of their presence at today’s signing ceremony.

“President Biden has taken a very important step today to increase police accountability by executive order. In particular, the President's order addresses the policing asks from our Progressive Caucus Executive Action Agenda: to collect and publish data on the use of force in police departments across the country; to establish strict national standards governing the use of force; and to demilitarize law enforcement by preventing the transfer of certain excess military-grade weaponry to federal, tribal, state, and local police. We applaud the Biden administration for this executive order, and the Progressive Caucus stands ready to work in partnership to ensure these actions are implemented in a manner that maximizes their impact.

“But let us be clear: these executive actions are necessary because Republicans have refused to move forward the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, passed by the Democrats in the House more than a year ago. There is still far too little accountability for far too many killings at the hands of police, especially those of Black and Brown people. Republicans would rather demagogue activists and movements than find a path forward. 

“The Progressive Caucus will continue to support the Congressional Black Caucus as our members continue to introduce legislation to tackle this crisis, such as CPC Whip Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05)'s Amir Locke End Deadly No-Knock Warrants Act. This bill would establish strict limitations on the use of no-knock warrants and other police actions that have taken too many Black lives. On this anniversary, in the names of families across the country who have been touched by the pain of police violence, we vow to continue to push for Congressional action and for eliminating the Jim Crow-era filibuster that robs Black and Brown families of justice.”