PFAW: GOP “More Afraid of Police Unions than Police Killings”  

PFAW President Ben Jealous and Senior Director of Outreach and Public Engagement Diallo Brooks

WASHINGTON, D.C.—  Following today’s unveiling of a Senate Republican police reform bill, PFAW President Ben Jealous and Senior Director of Outreach and Public Engagement Diallo Brooks released the following statements:

“The message in this ‘police reform’ bill is crystal clear: Republicans are a lot more afraid of police unions than police killings. We don’t need more calls to study the problem or collect data.  We need to stop the killing.  This bill is one more example of what we see too often — entrenched power trying to find a way to do just enough to tamp down public outrage, with absolutely no intention of changing the status quo,” said Jealous.

“As we expected, the Republican bill on police reform barely scratches the surface when it comes to the reforms we need to move us closer to racial justice.  It’s incredibly weak on accountability. It does nothing to end qualified immunity and very little to discourage no-knock warrants and deadly chokeholds like the one that killed George Floyd.  This bill is a failed Republican attempt to create a political fig leaf that, sadly, will not save lives or change policing on the ground,” said Brooks.

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.