Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:
“I’ve been working closely with this administration for months to advance policing reform and I applaud President Biden for taking action with this executive order. It will enhance accountability, improve transparency, and raise policing standards in an effort to help end the horrific incidents of violence that we often witness, like the murder of George Floyd. That the families of those impacted by police violence, law enforcement groups representing our nation’s officers, and civil rights groups are standing with the Administration in solidarity to embrace this executive order shows that positive change is possible.
“Federal action was and is still urgently needed. 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. And discriminatory policing and excessive and deadly force used against Black and Brown people feeds into that.
“Properly honoring the lives of the victims of this violence means taking concrete steps now to prevent it from occurring in the future.
“While an executive order alone cannot right every wrong, today’s announcement is a step forward and, I hope, a catalyst for further change. Congress must embrace this moment and act to pass legislation, and I will not stop fighting until we achieve change that restores trust in our communities, improves policing, and better protects public safety.”