I was unable to watch the funeral of George Floyd yesterday, because my colleagues and I in the NY State Senate were busy honoring his legacy in a different way: by passing a whole package of legislation to advance accountability and transparency in policing in New York State.
- We voted to repeal 50-A, the notorious section of state civil rights law that has shielded police officers from accountability for decades.
- We passed the Police Statistics and Transparency (STAT) to mandate collection of data on arrest-related deaths and low-level policing activity.
- We voted to create an Office of Special Investigation for civilian deaths in interactions with police, and a Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Office to review law enforcement policies and practices.
- We also passed (unanimously) the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act. We required state police to use body cameras, affirmed the right of civilians to record police activity and the duty of police officers to provide medical attention to people in their custody. And we created a private right of action for those who are victims of frivolous 9-1-1 calls.
Yesterday was a day for mourning and reflection, but also a day for action. Many of these bills have been languishing for years in the New York State Legislature. It is a tribute to the outpouring of grief and the principled protests we have seen locally and around the world, that they were moved swiftly to a vote in both chambers and now await the Governor’s signature.
Finally, let me end with this: Everyone should watch Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s speech on 50-A. He began with a LONG list of Black victims of police brutality, stretching back to the 1940s. The list appears in this thread, but it is most impressive to watch him deliver it, by heart, complete with details about some of the cases. One of many amazing people with whom I have the honor to serve.
Rachel May, 53rd Senate District (Syracuse)