WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to improve accountability in policing —a meaningful but limited action on the second anniversary of George Floyd’s death that reflected the challenges in addressing racism, excessive use of force and public safety when Congress is deadlocked on stronger measures.
The event shaped by one tragedy occurred a day after a second one, a mass shooting at a Texas elementary school that killed 19 children and two teachers. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris gave remarks that tried to comfort those affected by the shooting as well those who have suffered from police brutality, promising them that change could come eventually despite the partisan divides on Capitol Hill.
“I know progress can be slow and frustrating,” Biden said. “Today we’re acting. We’re showing that speaking out matters. Being engaged matters. That the work of our time, healing the soul of this nation, is ongoing and unfinished and requires all of us never to give up.”
Floyd’s family was in the audience at the White House as the president declared that “what we do in their memory matters.” With lawmakers unable to reach agreement on how to reform police policies or on efforts to reduce mass shootings, the president has limited avenues for advancing his campaign promises. And as he tries to build consensus, Biden is also attempting to strike a balance between police and civil rights groups at a time when rising concerns about crime are eclipsing calls for reform.
As we grieve the children of Uvalde today, we should take time to recognize that two years have passed since the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer. His killing stays with us all to this day, especially those who loved him.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 25, 2022
Most of Biden’s order is focused on federal law enforcement agencies — for example, requiring them to review and revise policies on use of force. It will also create a database to help track officer misconduct, according to the White House.
Although the administration cannot require local police departments to participate in the database, which is intended to prevent problem officers from hopping from job to job, officials are looking for ways to use federal funding to encourage their cooperation.
In addition, the order is designed to restrict the flow of surplus military equipment to local police.
Many organizations and lawmakers said the order was an important but incomplete step forward.
“While this action does not have the long-term impact that we had hoped for,” Floyd family lawyer Ben Crump said in a statement, “it does represent incremental progress, and we need to commit ourselves to making progress every day.”
GOPUSA Editor’s Note: Please keep in mind that this is a mainstream media story. The source of the story is in the dateline. We publish it for the purpose of informing our readers and providing an opportunity to discuss it. What is GOPUSA? Read our About Us page to find out.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police both engaged with the Biden administration on the order. They said that they “see many components of the order as a blueprint for future congressional action.”
Related Story: Biden police order ‘is embracing’ parts of GOP reform bill Dems filibustered in 2020, Sen. Tim Scott says
Yet not everyone was satisfied.
“President Biden’s executive order is a poor excuse for the transformation of public safety that he promised the Black voters who put him in office,” the Movement for Black Lives, a civil rights group, said in a statement.
Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests two years ago. It was the largest series of demonstrations in American history, occurring in the midst of coronavirus lockdowns and President Donald Trump’s divisive reelection campaign.
However, transforming the initial outcry into political change has proven difficult.
When four officers were convicted last year for killing Floyd, Biden urged Congress to pass legislation to reform police by the anniversary of his death.
The guilty verdict was “not enough,” he said, and “we can’t stop here.”
However, no legislation was passed, and bipartisan talks dragged on, and later broke down.
The White House eventually decided to move forward with executive actions rather than wait for Congress.
Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat who helped lead the talks, said the order will enhance transparency, accountability and policing standards. But he noted that additional efforts will be needed for the police to improve relationships with the people they are to protect and serve.
“Across the United States, there is a deficit of trust between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect – particularly Black and Brown communities,” Booker said.
In September, the Justice Department curtailed federal agents’ use of no-knock warrants — which allow law enforcement agents to enter a home without announcing their presence — and updated its policy to prohibit agents from using chokeholds in most circumstances.
But extending such rules to local police is more challenging, and White House officials have spent months in negotiations with civil rights groups and police organizations.
The resulting set of policies is less extensive than originally sought, not to mention delayed by a year.
“We know full well that an executive order cannot address America’s policing crisis the same way Congress has the ability to, but we’ve got to do everything we can,” said a statement from NAACP President Derrick Johnson.
The order goes beyond issues involving misconduct and use of force. It also assesses the impact of facial recognition software on civil liberties, looks for ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in federal correctional facilities and suggests better ways to collect data on police practices.
Biden is only the latest president to sign an executive order on police reform. His predecessor, Trump, signed a similar order less than a month after Floyd’s death in 2020 aimed at curbing police brutality. It provided federal dollars to departments that met certain credentialing standards on the use of force. One of the elements of the order called for the establishment of a database tracking terminations, criminal convictions and civil judgments against law enforcement officers for excessive use of force.
Former President Barack Obama also tried to push for police reform through a task force he formed in 2014. One of that task force’s recommendations was an expansion of an already existing database of officers who had been decertified.
Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
—-
This content is published through a licensing agreement with Acquire Media using its NewsEdge technology.
“Joe Biden: ‘Second Amendment Is Not Absolute’”
If the socialist Democrat Party had its way, the socialist Democrat Party would completely rewrite our U.U. Constitution and destroy the Bill of Rights.
This traitorous, corrupt, puppet president Joe Biden has violated his oath of office numerous times and should be in prison for his destructive, traitorous, destructive actions.
OATHS don’t mean squat to libtards.
The democraps celebrate their hero, george floyd, a violent, drug addicted criminal, lowlife subhuman. That figures.
slo joe takes the opportunity to bash the second amendment, and tries to make the case that it doesn’t say what it clearly says.
Joe and the Floyd family are birds of a feather. Not a one of them could pass a drug test, which in reality is what got George killed, no gunshot wounds here. With Joe it’s never mind over matter, but what matters in polling results that is all that ever comes to mind. If he cannot lead, refuses to follow he needs to just get out of the way. Everything he sticks his nose into comes out covered with snot. With Joe the second amendment is never absolute, just the power of his will that he seeks to impose on WE THE PEOPLE in Presidential edicts that he knows could never pass a popular vote.
“Floyd’s family was in the audience at the White House as the president declared that “what we do in their memory matters.”
Another publicity stunt and more BS from the Malarkey King. I’m surprised he didn’t bring up something about Bo. His sole concern at this charade should have been the families involved in the Uvalde tragedy. Parading the Floyd family yet again and harping on racism had no place in the event. But lest we forget—he is a Dem and he has to play his cards.
and joe biden is not the president
Joe Biden: ‘Second Amendment Is Not Absolute’….then go ahead and try to change it you Demented old piece of ****.
You Joe is not Absolute.
AMEN!!!!
His opinion is just tone man’s opinion, what counts is the opinion of the other millions of other Americans.
I DISAGREE with Biden [on MANY things!]!!!! The CONSTITUTION say “shall NOT be abridged”!!!! [the reason behind the mass shootings/casualty events is the Democratic parties support for abortion! It devalues the sanctity of life that starts when the sperm penetrates the egg! Therefore SCOTUS made a mistake when it created the ‘right to abortion’ as ‘abortion meets the definition of MURDER and MURDER is illegal and has been for centuries/eons! The ‘abortion’ being legal but MURDER being illegal creates brain confusion and some stressed out individuals draw the incorrect conclusion they are allowed to kill/shoot whomever/whatever stresses them out. Biden needs to ‘grow a spine’ and stand up against pro-abortion forces he CLAIMS he personally opposes {but ‘carries the water for’ and ‘invested’ $450K to buy him the WH]
What irks me, is the ONE AMENDMENT that states “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED” has more laws AGAINST IT, than voting does, which wasn’t made a law TILL THE 16 amendment iirc… WHY IS THAT?!
>> CONSTITUTION say “shall NOT be abridged”!!!! <<
"Infringed," there's a difference.
Nope. The word is INFRINGED.
INFRINGED all over the place!
The private ownership of over 300 million firearms presents a strong counter argument.
what the hell are the members of the family of a worthless thug- drug abuser doing at a conference /speech site-
CONCERNED WITH THE MASS SHOOTING AT A SCHOOL IN TEXAS-
floyd was not shot–not even once-he died from consequences he himself set in motion-an over dose of drugs that actually led to his death
but may have been helped along by the cop’s boot
How about San Fran Nan obsequious presenting his family with a folded flag thereby, essentially pissing on the graves of every member of our armed forces who ever died while serving under that flag?
https://75radio.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/104142880_10220665863148079_8910652154702098636_n.jpg?w=750
If the 2nd Amendment is not absolute, then what of the rest. The Bill of Rights were insisted upon by the Founders as a GUARANTEE OF OUR FREEDOM. If this isn’t an indication of what the D’Rats plan for us, I don’t know what is. It’s time for the people to realize that the worst enemy is the enemy within, and they have made themselves known. Joe Biden is the face of their movement but is far too inept to be its leader.
American needs to be reconstructed on its original documents. The Declaration of Independence is being threatened by Biden’s plan to hand our sovereignty to the W.H.O. and the Constitution is being dismantled piece by piece on a daily basis by the left. The politicians who are systematically destroying what the Founders gave us must be stopped.
AND the way the BoR was worded, these WERE RIGHTS FROM GOD, that the govt just Recognized.. NOT RIGHTS THEY GIVE US..
Come and take em!
George Floyd, a known criminal with arrests for assault, assault with a weapon, and several misdemeanor charges, is sanctioned as a hero under the new, liberal left-wing socialist party, formerly known as the DNC! Only in this new socialistic agenda can this be acceptable. To reasonable people, the solution is simple: stop cowering to liberal antagonists whose interest lies in destroying the Constitution and cease treating criminals like victims. Barack Obama, not considered a reasonable person, still refers to George Floyd’s death as murder by police, completely ignoring Floyd’s criminal background and his propensity to defy all attempts by police officers to peaceably execute the arrest of Floyd for breaking the law. Obama, Biden, and all liberal facets of this society show open contempt for law enforcement by supporting the actions of Floyd on the day he died and denouncing law enforcement officers’ efforts to execute the arrest of George Floyd.
Biden states the Second Amendment is not absolute, when, in fact, it is! Liberal socialists have spent decades, and millions of dollars, trying to dismantle the Second Amendment. This open attack on the Second Amendment is obviously an attempt to destroy the democracy we employ and replace it with a socialistic form of government. Left-wing organizations continue to spread lies about conservatives, Christians, Republicans, and police as being a negative influence in the United States. Only in this new America can a president assign honor to a lifelong criminal, while issuing an illegal Executive Order directing local and state police policy. News Flash, Biden! Executive Orders are granted to you by Congress to address stalemates in FEDERAL government issues, not in the private sector or non-federal persons or employees!
Liberals tear down statues of Confederate soldiers, force sports teams to change their names, and denounce the United States flag in protest of oppression and hate while elevating criminals like George Floyd to hero status! That is sick and the only force strong enough to end this madness is the United States voter! You can vote against liberal politicians and stop the carnage against our Constitutional Democracy or you can vote for liberal politicians and suffer with the rest of us when this nation crumbles!
Can anyone imagine the sheer outrage from the left, aclu and the like, if someone said
“FINE WE will agree to X for gun control, ONLY IF YOU AGREE TO THE EXACT same requirements for folks to vote! SINCE BOTH ARE RIGHTS guaranteed by the constitution, then its ONLY FAIR in accordance with the 14th amendment, to APPLY the same rules to BOTH rights!”
The second amendment is more absolute than Biden being president.