Democratic lawmakers bent in silent tribute to George Floyd in the U.S. Congress on Monday before revealing a package of comprehensive police reformations in response to the killing of African Americans by law enforcement.
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led a group of Democrats in a moment of silence, taking a knee for 8 minutes, 46 seconds – the time that elapsed when a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck.
“Today, as we stand in silence, rather than in a spoken pledge, let us reflect on those words ‘justice for all,’ and what we need to do to make those words actually true in our time,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said.
After kneeling, Pelosi struggled to rise to her feet, receiving assistance from an aid and quipping, “It’s better not having on high heels.”
“You see how long it was to have that knee on his neck,” she said.
Pelosi said Democrats are transforming a “moment of national anguish” into “a moment of national action,” promising the bill is the first step in a series of actions Democrats will take this year.
“Today, with the Justice In Policing Act, the Congress is standing with those fighting for justice and taking action,” Pelosi, D-Calif., proclaimed. “We cannot settle for anything less than transformative, structural change, which is why the Justice In Policing Act will remove barriers to prosecuting police misconduct and covering damages.
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