New York to introduce a package of bills to curb police excesses

New York City, the cultural hub of the United States is currently reeling from the effects of coronavirus and the ongoing protests against the murder of George Floyd.

The murder of George Floyd in the United States has triggered protests not only in the country, but across the world. Protesters are demanding justice for Floyd while calling for an end to systemic racism which targets black people across the globe.

The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo recently said that state legislators are coming up with an overhaul of criminal justice, which could pave the way for nationwide reform.

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Derek Chauvin, the 44-year-old police officer who knelt on Floyd was charged with second and third-degree murder, with his previous bail set at $1 million. However, on Tuesday, the bail was raised by $250,000 to $1.25 million.

The package of bills will focus on curbing police excesses and abuses, and by banning the “chokehold” which led to the death of Floyd.

"If they pass the bills that we've discussed, I will sign the bills, and I will sign them as soon as they're passed," Cuomo said in a briefing.

Floyd does not mark the first incident of police excesses that include the aforementioned chokehold technique.

Eric Garner, a black man was murdered after a policeman used a similar technique. His last words were “I can’t breathe”, the same words echoed by George Floyd before he became unconsciousness.

Floyd’s murder has reignited Black Lives Matter movementacross the globe, with new cases of police brutality across the globe being brought to attention in countries like France and the United States.

In the video that went viral after Floyd’s death, the officer was seen kneeling on the man for almost nine minutes, even when he was repeatedly telling the officer about his inability to breathe. It was only when the ambulance arrived that the officer retracted his knee from the neck. An hour later, Floyd was dead.

Calls across the country for defunding the police have gained traction. Trump recently claimed that he will protect the police, and that there will be no defunding, a sentiment which was also echoed by Joe Biden, his Democrat rival in the upcoming elections.

As part of the proposed legislation, the state of New York will make the records of police officers public, including their disciplinary records.

"New York state will take this legislative action, and I hope it then becomes a model for other states to follow," Cuomo said.

Cuomo had earlier put an order in place which called for investigations into police killings of unarmed suspects. If passed, all killings will be investigated will be investigated by the state attorney general.