Story at a glance
- The measure bans the use of chokeholds and neck restraints, although there are limited exceptions when such methods can be used.
- The legislation also bans warrior-style training for officers, establishes an independent unit for deadly police encounters and requires more reporting around use-of-force incidents, among other provisions.
- George Floyd died on Memorial Day after a now-former Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded with the officer that he couldn’t breathe.
Nearly two months after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota state lawmakers late Monday passed wide-ranging police reform measures, which include a ban on chokeholds and neck restraints.
The Minnesota Police Accountability Act is headed to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) to be signed into law after it passed the Democratic-led House by a 102-29 vote, and was approved in the Republican-led Senate in a 60-7 vote early Tuesday.
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“Today, we’re beginning to make the overdue changes Minnesotans have been demanding to help ensure no more lives are lost due to police violence,” state Rep. Carlos Mariani (D), who authored the bill, said in a statement. “By passing this bill into law, we’re taking the first steps toward major changes to hold police officers accountable for harmful acts, and we are committed to continuing our work for safer communities.”
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The measure bans the use of chokeholds and neck restraints, although there are limited exceptions when such methods can be used. The legislation also bans warrior-style training for officers, establishes an independent unit for deadly police encounters and requires more reporting around use-of-force incidents, among other provisions.
“They do not want to use chokeholds in their day-to-day practice,” state Sen. Warren Limmer (R) said according to MPRNews. “They condemn that, but they reserve that opportunity to at least defend their own life or the life of someone else when all other options have been negated in the conflict.”
George Floyd died on Memorial Day after a now-former Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded with the officer that he couldn’t breathe.
Cellphone video of the incident ignited widespread outrage and weeks of demonstrations in many cities across the country and around the world, putting the issue of racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S. at the forefront.
While the measure passed with a strong majority, some Democrats in the legislature said the police accountability measures do not go far enough.
State Sen. Patricia Torres Ray (D) of Minneapolis voted against the legislation.
“The communities that are impacted by police brutality want more,” Ray said according to MPRNews. “They want transformational policy, and this bill is just not that.”
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Published on Jul 21,2020