At the funeral of Tyre Nichols, Vice President Kamala Harris told the attendees that the White House is seeking ambitious federal legislation to tackle police brutality. Harris said that it is non-negotiable and that there should not be delays in passing the legislation. However, in Washington, progress on this front appears to be slow, with bipartisan efforts to reach an agreement on policing legislation stalling over a year ago.
In an effort to get the legislation back on track, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Congressional Black Caucus members on Thursday. Rep. Steven Horsford, the caucus chair, stated that he is working to ensure that the White House has a clear plan.
The White House is facing increasing pressure to move forward on the issue, with some political allies expressing frustration with what they view as caution from President Biden. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., said that Biden is failing to grasp the chance to be a historic president on social issues and needs to champion a new vision for America. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Republicans for blocking progress in Congress, stating that the only way to deal with this issue is through federal legislation.
Jim Pasco, the executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, said that his organization is in a wait-and-see mode, with Republicans recently regaining control of the House making legislative progress much more complicated. Pasco noted that his organization welcomes any constructive effort to help police do their jobs better.
The issue of police brutality is a critical political question for the White House.
President Biden has carefully balanced his approach, supporting both overhauling how police do their jobs and emphasizing his long-standing support for law enforcement. As the first woman of color to serve as Vice President, Vice President Harris is under scrutiny for her approach to police issues.
As a result of negotiations between civil rights leaders and law enforcement organizations, last year’s executive order mainly focuses on federal agencies and requires them to review and revise their policies on using force. The administration also encourages local departments to participate in a database to track police misconduct. However, more profound changes, such as making it easier to sue officers for misconduct, have remained elusive.
Rashad Robinson, the president of the activist group Color of Change, said that the swift arrests of the Memphis police officers responsible for beating Tyre Nichols should not be the end of the matter and that those in power should be willing to do something to ensure it does not happen again.
