Trump's initiatives compromised police reforms, five years since George Floyd's death
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, the federal government led by former President Donald Trump has taken a distinct approach to commemorate the tragic event. The administration announced its decision to end the federal government's control over police reforms that were in effect in various cities across the U.S.
The Minneapolis Police Department, implicated in the death of George Floyd during a routine traffic stop, and the Louisville Police Department, involved in the death of Breonna Taylor during a botched raid, were among the departments affected. The Trump administration also plans to end ongoing investigations into misconduct, excessive use of force, and systemic discrimination against African-Americans, Latino-Americans, and Native Americans in six additional police departments.
The Defense of the decision comes from Acting Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who argued that the federal government's involvement in local police matters should be the exception rather than the norm, as it should primarily be the responsibility of local communities.
This move goes against the usual judicial procedure, as the federal control over police reforms was previously ordered as part of a "consent decree" sanctioned by U.S. courts.
American philosopher Timothy Golden, currently teaching at Whitman University in Washington State, criticized the decision, stating that it represents a significant regression in the long struggle against racial prejudices within the American police. He noted that American history is filled with examples of police violence targeting African-Americans, for which police services have often received minimal or no accountability.
Meanwhile, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has been campaigning for presidential clemency and the release of Derek Chauvin, the police officer found responsible for George Floyd's death. Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the federal crime of violating Floyd's civil rights. However, this pardon would only affect Chauvin's federal sentence and not his state sentence, resulting in a change of location but not a reduction in his overall prison term.
Under the Biden administration, the Department of Justice conducted extensive investigations into police misconduct in states such as Massachusetts, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arizona, and Minnesota. However, the Trump administration's actions may lead to increased racial disparities and police misconduct, exacerbating the fight for racial justice and police accountability. With the federal government retreating from oversight, states now have an increased responsibility in implementing reforms and ensuring accountability within their law enforcement agencies.
The Trump administration's decision to end federal oversight over police reforms, including ongoing investigations into misconduct, excessive force, and systemic discrimination, is a policy-and-legislation move that has sparked criticism from various quarters, as it may lead to increased racial disparities and police misconduct, compounding the fight for racial justice and police accountability in the general news landscape. This shift in politics, by advocating for a reduced role of the federal government in local police matters, could potentially signal a regression in the ongoing efforts to combat racial prejudices within the American police force, as highlighted by American philosopher Timothy Golden, a notable critic of the decision.
