Wednesday marks the second anniversary of the police killing of George Floyd. Floyd’s death under the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer was caught on camera, sparking worldwide outrage and support for law enforcement reforms. President Joe Biden Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at strengthening police accountability, calling for a national database of federal officers with disciplinary records and proven claims of misconduct. The order also creates national standards for training and requires federal agencies to update use-of-force policies. Advocates have been pressing the White House to act ever since a sweeping police reform bill failed in Congress last year.
“I hope that our Congress then can build on this executive order so that it can have real tangible impact at the community level,” said Jason Williams, an associate professor of justice studies at Montclair State University. “If the community doesn’t feel as if their voices were involved in this, I’m not so sure they are going to get the applause they are expecting from the executive order.”
