Ten months after the devastating events that led up to George Floyd’s death, the House of Representatives have passed a police reform bill in an attempt to stop such events from happening to other citizens again.

On May, 25, 2020 George Floyd was killed after former officer Derek Chauvin put his knee on Floyd’s neck. Chauvin later claimed that he was forced to do this because Floyd had resisted arrest. National outrage soon followed as many believed Chauvin should be charged with the murder of Floyd. This also led to issues in congress, as Republicans and Democrats clashed over how the situation should be resolved or if their was even an issue at all.

Despite all this, the House of Representatives recently passed a Bill on Wednesday, March 2 that would change the way police handle similar situations. The House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which would ban police from using choke holds on people, as well as making a change to qualified immunity which would hold officers more accountable for their actions in court. This new bill passed just five days before Chauvin’s trial on March 8th where he will be charged with second degree murder.

The bill is unlikely to pass the Senate, however, as at least ten republican senators must vote in favor for the bill in order for it to be put into effect, and with only one republican in the House of Representatives voting for the bill, it is unlikely that this will happen.

Sources: Chloe Weiner, “House Approves Police Reform Bill Named After George Floyd” March 3, 2021

Brakkton Booker, Bill Chappell, David Schaper, Danielle Kurtzleben, Joseph Shapiro, “Violence Erupts As Outrage Over George Floyd’s Death Spills Into A New Week” June 1, 2020

Jason Silverstein, “The only Republican to vote for George Floyd police reform act says he “accidently” pressed the wrong button” March 4, 2021