Pro Sports Address The Death Of George Floyd On One Year Remembrance
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 03:43PM NYSJ Sports-Entertainment Business News Service
George Floyd: b Oct. 14, 1973, d May 25, 2020
May 25, 2021: Introduced in the House as H.R. 1280 by Karen Bass (D–CA) on February 24, 2021
Committee consideration by: House Judiciary
Passed the House on March 3, 2021 (220–212)
AKA the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
"This bill addresses a wide range of policies and issues regarding policing practices and law enforcement accountability. It increases accountability for law enforcement misconduct, restricts the use of certain policing practices, enhances transparency and data collection, and establishes best practices and training requirements.
"The bill enhances existing enforcement mechanisms to remedy violations by law enforcement.
"Among other things, it does the following:
• Lowers the criminal intent standard — from willful to knowing or reckless — to convict a law enforcement officer for misconduct in a federal prosecution,
• Limits qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer, and
• Grants administrative subpoena power to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in pattern-or-practice investigations.
"It establishes a framework to prevent and remedy racial profiling by law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels. It also limits the unnecessary use of force and restricts the use of no-knock warrants, chokeholds, and carotid holds.
"The bill creates a national registry — the National Police Misconduct Registry — to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct. It also establishes new reporting requirements, including on the use of force, officer misconduct, and routine policing practices (e.g., stops and searches).
"Finally, it directs DOJ to create uniform accreditation standards for law enforcement agencies and requires law enforcement officers to complete training on racial profiling, implicit bias, and the duty to intervene when another officer uses excessive force."
According to The New York Times, “The family of George Floyd, along with their attorneys, announced on Tuesday the creation of a fund named after Mr. Floyd to support the community in the predominantly Black Minneapolis neighborhood where he was killed.
“The George Floyd Community Benevolence Fund will be made from the family’s legal settlement with the city of Minneapolis, which in March reached an agreement to pay $27 million to Mr. Floyd’s family.
“The family will direct $500,000 of the settlement toward the fund, which will award grants to eligible businesses, community organizations, and charitable organizations to benefit the community at 38th & Chicago in Minneapolis, the statement from the family’s legal team said.”
From the NFL:
"As we mark one year since the murder of George Floyd, our thoughts are with the Floyd family and all who have been affected by his death.
“This has been a year filled with reflection and reckoning, one that has renewed our commitment to build and strengthen our communities. The work for equitable justice must continue and the NFL and its clubs are proud to work alongside NFL players to build a more just society."
In 2020, the NBA and National Basketball Players Assn. formed the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, an organization that leads the NBA family’s collaborative efforts to address racial and social inequality by advocating for policy change at the national, state, and local level.
On behalf of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, James Cadogan, the Coalition’s Executive Director, released the following statement:
“Almost exactly one year ago, George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. Like millions around the world, NBA players, coaches, governors, officials, and staff throughout our organizations were outraged to see the horrifying and unlawful actions of the officer who pinned Mr. Floyd’s neck to the ground under his knee for 9 minutes. Mr. Floyd’s death added new fuel to the protests, marches, and urgent calls for racial justice and reform locally and nationally.
“Today, as this painful anniversary approaches, we have an opportunity to honor the memory of Mr. Floyd and others who have been victims of police brutality in this country by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Systemic problems demand systemic solutions. And, because police actions are governed by a diverse array of state laws and local policies, the Floyd Act takes unprecedented strides towards consistency — reforming at a federal level the practices that failed its namesake.
“The bill already passed with a bipartisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate where we hope it will have similar bipartisan support as it should and must. As Board Members of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, representing the NBA, the Players Association, the Coaches Association, league staff, and teams in every region of the country, we are calling on our elected representatives of both parties to work together to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in the U.S. Senate now and present it to President Biden for him to sign into law this year.
“As members of the NBA family, we will continue to use our influence to support common-sense policy reform in our communities across the nation so that equal justice is afforded to all.”
National Basketball Social Justice Coalition
Carmelo Anthony (Portland Trail Blazers)
Avery Bradley (Houston Rockets)
Sterling Brown (Houston Rockets)
Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Micky Arison (Miami Heat Managing General Partner)
Steve Ballmer (L.A. Clippers Chairman)
Clay Bennett (Oklahoma City Thunder Chairman)
Marc Lasry (Milwaukee Bucks Governor)
Vivek Ranadivé (Sacramento Kings Governor & Chairman)
Coach Lloyd Pierce
Coach Doc Rivers (Philadelphia 76ers)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum
Black Players for Change, described as an independent organization representing Black players in Major League Soccer, said it is "joining forces with the National Basketball Players Assn. to support passage of the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act.
“It’s been one year since George Floyd was murdered in the streets. Let’s honor him properly by passing some police reform. CALL YOUR SENATORS to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Together we can prevent murder. Together we can prevent murder.”
The WNBPA said it is "hopeful that the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is the important first step for comprehensive policing reform at the federal level."
"America has a serious problem when it comes to discriminatory policing. It is a deadly problem for Black and brown people. Excessive force used against communities of color is past crisis-level. Excessive force used against communities of color demands action by Congress."
Sports World Impacted By George Floyd Verdict
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