Category Archives: Policing and Protests

Congressional Hearing: Hearing before the Subcom on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights to examine civil rights and public safety implications of “stand your ground” (SYG) laws, which allow a person to legally use deadly force in response to a perceived threat, in light of concerns regarding Feb. 26, 2012, incident in Sanford, Fla. in which George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon B. Martin, who was unarmed, during an altercation., 2013

Bill text: To amend title 23, United States Code, to require States to adopt and enforce standards that prohibit the use of racial profiling in the enforcement of State laws regulating the use of Federal-aid highways, and for other purposes., 2001

Bill text: To prohibit racial profiling., 2001

Bill text: To authorize the Attorney General to carry out a racial profiling education and awareness program within the Department of Justice and to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in implementing such programs., 2002

Bill text: Honoring the life of 17-year-old, Trayvon Martin, urging the State of Florida and others to repeal the Stand Your Ground law, and admonishing involved parties to pursue full investigations into all homicides, regardless of defenses asserted by the offender., 2012

Bill text: To provide grants to States in order to prevent racial profiling, 2012

Bill text: To eliminate racial profiling by law enforcement, and for other purposes., 2011

Bill text: Honoring the life of Trayvon Martin, urging the repeal of Stand Your Ground laws, and calling on the United States Government to address the crisis of racial profiling., 2013

Bill text: To provide that in the case of a law enforcement officer who uses deadly force against a person, and thereby causes the death of that person, a hearing shall be conducted before a judge to determine whether there is probable cause for the State to bring criminal charges against the law enforcement officer relating to the death of the person, and for other purposes., 2014

Bill text: Establishing the Select Committee on Excessive Use of Police Force., 2016

Bill text: Honoring the life of Trayvon Martin, urging the repeal of Stand Your Ground laws, and calling on the United States Government to address the crisis of racial profiling., 2015

Bill text: To eliminate racial profiling by law enforcement, and for other purposes., 2015

Bill text: To provide that in the case of a law enforcement officer who uses deadly force against a person, and thereby causes the death of that person, a hearing shall be conducted before a judge to determine whether there is probable cause for the State to bring criminal charges against the law enforcement officer relating to the death of the person, and for other purposes., 2015

Honoring the life of Trayvon Martin, urging the repeal of Stand Your Ground laws, and calling on the United States Government to address the crisis of racial profiling., 2018

Bill text: To eliminate racial profiling by law enforcement, and for other purposes., 2017

Bill text: To provide that in the case of a law enforcement officer who uses deadly force against a person, and thereby causes the death of that person, a hearing shall be conducted before a judge to determine whether there is probable cause for the State to bring criminal charges against the law enforcement officer relating to the death of the person, and for other purposes., 2017

Bill text: Calling for justice for George Floyd and opposing efforts to defund the police., 2020

Bill text: Recognizing the threats to press freedom in the United States in the wake of protests following the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, reaffirming the centrality of a free and independent press to the health of democracy, and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority of the United States in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance., 2020

Bill text: Calling for justice for George Floyd and others, and condemning violence and rioting., 2020

Bill text: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the wrongs and hardships of Black women are often equal to those experienced by Black men yet receive less attention and justice, and that any legislation passed in the House of Representatives to remedy racial inequities in the United States, especially those present in the criminal justice system, must include reforms to address concerns for Black women., 2020

Bill text: To eliminate racial profiling by law enforcement, and for other purposes., 2019

To amend section 242 of title 18, United States Code, to forbid the use of chokeholds by persons subject to that provision’s prohibitions, and for other purposes., 2019

Bill text: To hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies., 2020

Bill text: To improve and reform policing practices, accountability and transparency., 2020

Bill text: To prohibit the use of the intelligence community to investigate or conduct surveillance on individuals in the United States who are involved in protest activities protected under the First Amendment, and for other purposes., 2020

Bill text: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for public health research and investment into understanding and eliminating structural racism and police violence., 2020

Bill text: To amend section 242 of title 18, United States Code, to include the use of chokeholds and carotid holds as a deprivation of rights and as a punishment, pain, or penalty, and for other purposes., 2020

Bill text: To hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies., 2020

Bill text: To prohibit no-knock warrants, and for other purposes., 2020

Bill text: Recognizing that the murder of George Floyd by officers of the Minneapolis Police Department is the result of pervasive and systemic racism that cannot be dismantled without, among other things, proper redress in the courts., 2020

Bill text: Expressing the sense of the Senate that the tragic death of George Floyd was unjust and the perpetrators must stand trial and be brought to justice, the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees individuals the right to peaceably assemble and protest, groups like Antifa and the individuals who took over peaceful protests with violence, chaos, looting, and destruction should be held accountable for their actions, the attacks on law enforcement, individuals, small businesses, and communities are causing death, injury, and millions of dollars in damage, the vast majority of men and women in law enforcement work tirelessly and risk their lives to protect the people of the United States without prejudice, police departments are the cornerstone for maintaining a society of order, calls to defund the police threaten the safety and security of the people of the United States, Congress will continue to appropriate funding to local law enforcement agencies that bolster police efforts, and the Nation must come together in healing, reconciliation, and prayer to reaffirm that every life is sacred, our society must strive for equality, and that we will work to ensure a tragedy like George Floyd’s never happens again in the United States., 2020

Bill text: Declaring racism a public health crisis., 2020

Congressional Record: Al Green’s comments on the death of Sandra Bland, 2015

Congressional Record: Comments from the Congressional Black Caucus on the police killing of Michael Brown and protests in Ferguson, Missouri, 2014

Congressional Record: Congressional Black Caucus on the police killings of African Americans and Black Lives Matter protests, 2015

Congressional Record: Donald M. Payne Jr., Barbara Lee, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Cedric L. Richmond, and George Kenneth Butterfield Jr. on the issues affecting Black males, including incarceration, health, the increasing suicide rate among Black youth, and the missing Black male in our society., 2015

Congressional Record on the Trayvon Martin Case, 2012

Jimmy Carter Library file folder: United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Patricia Roberts Harris correspondence with Jimmy Carter on race riots and aftermath in Miami, Florida, 1980

Jimmy Carter Library file folder: Memorandum for the President; letter from Louis Martin, 1980

Congressional Hearing: Hearing before the Subcom on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights to examine incidence, scope, and use of racial profiling by law enforcement agents and agencies that target minority groups for routine traffic stops and subject them to inappropriate questioning and searches., 2012

Congressional Hearing: Hearing before the Subcom on Civil and Constitutional Rights to examine the adequacy of civil and criminal remedies for police misconduct and brutality against crime suspects., 1992

CRS Report: Examines FBI investigation of possible civil rights violation in case in which a police officer shot and killed a teenager, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Miss., 2014

CRS Report: Addresses First Amendment issues pertaining to ongoing public protests in response to police shooting in Aug. 9, 2014 police shooting in Ferguson, Mo., 2014

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Files: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Report “Confronting Racial Isolation in Miami”, 1982

House and Senate Reports: Recommends passage, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020, to amend the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and three other acts to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies., 2020

Bill text: To encourage greater community accountability of law enforcement agencies, and for other purposes, 2020

Statement of Administration Policy: The Administration opposes House passage of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. Signed by President Donald Trump., 2020

George H. W. Bush Presidential Library file folder: Rodney King , urban development, Korean Americans, and George H. W. Bush and William J. Clinton responses to Los Angeles riots, George H. W. Bush Administration civil rights files, 1989-1993

George H. W. Bush Presidential Library file folder: Los Angeles riots, Presidential Task Force on Recovery in Los Angeles, Rodney King , and discrimination against Asian Pacific Americans, George H. W. Bush Administration civil rights files, 1989-1993

Congressional Record: Transcription of John Conyers speech on racial profiling after the killing of Trayvon Martin, 2013

CRS Report: Discusses new guidance issued by the Department of Justice to prevent discriminatory profiling by Federal law enforcement agencies, encompassing a series of changes to racial profiling guidance issued in 2003., 2015

Congressional Record: Transcription of Barbara Lee’s comments on the police killing of Breonna Taylor, 2020

Jimmy Carter Library file folder: Black youth rioting in Miami, Florida, 1980, 1980

Congressional Record: Henry C. Johnson Jr.’s comments on the recent police killing of Eric Garner, 2014

Congressional Hearing: Hearing to examine Federal role and programs to provide State and local police with surplus DOD military equipment and Federal grant funding for tactical training and equipment, in light of concerns about alleged excessive use of military-type equipment and tactics by police in Ferguson, Mo., to maintain public safety and crowd control during protests and demonstrations in the days following Aug. 9, 2014, death of African-American teenager Michael Brown, who was killed by a white Ferguson, Mo., police officer. Background and Context: Since 1997, Federal agencies have supplied over $5 billion in surplus DOD supplies and equipment to law enforcement. Recent events in Ferguson, Mo., have raised concerns about whether State and local law enforcement use of military-type equipment and tactical training should be more closely examined., 2014

Congressional Hearings: Hearings before the Subcom on Civil and Constitutional Rights to review concerns about the extent of police misconduct and excessive violence, in view of the videotaped Mar. 3, 1991 severe beating of black motorist Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers after King’s forced halt for traffic offenses. Also examines the prevalence of racially motivated police brutality against minority groups., 1991

Congressional Hearing: Hearings before the Subcom on Criminal Justice to examine the nature and extent of police misconduct and violence, including issues involved in police use of firearms and other deadly force. Focuses on allegations of racially motivated police abuse and brutality against minority groups., 1983

Congressional Hearing: Continuation of hearings before the Subcom on Criminal Justice, in this volume held in Brooklyn, N.Y., to examine the nature and extent of police misconduct and violence., 1983

CRS Reports: Provides legal context for debate over police use of force in light of several high-profile police shootings and other law enforcement-related deaths. Examines constitutional rules governing use of force by the police, role of Congress in providing a remedy for violation of rules, and legislative proposals to reform these rules and remedies to rein in police use of excessive force and provide accountability., 2015

Congressional Hearing: Hearing to examine factors that impact culture and practices of policing, and to review strategies to increase public trust and improve public safety. Background and Context: There is increasing unrest in urban communities about policing. There have been recent protests in Ferguson, Mo., NYC, and Baltimore, Md., due to concerns about the use of force by police officers when stopping suspects. Although no charges were filed against the officers in question in two of those cases, there is widespread disagreement about the actions of police in those instances., 2020

CRS Report: Provides brief overview of police-community relations and how the Federal Government might be able to promote more accountability and better relationships between citizens and law enforcement. Examines public perception of law enforcement in general, Federalism and Congressional control over State and local law enforcement policy, Federal efforts to collect data on law enforcement use of force, and Department of Justice (DOJ) authority to investigate law enforcement misconduct. Discusses DOJ role in improving police-community relations, and considers policy options for Congress., 2016

CRS Report: Provides a short bibliography of CRS and other materials on racial profiling., 2003

CRS Report: Addresses constitutional and Federal law constraints on racial profiling, describes existing enforcement actions, and highlights selected proposals for Congressional action., 2020

CRS Report: Analyzes the debate about racial profiling, and reviews legislative proposals on racial profiling before the 107th and 108th Congresses., 2004

CRS Report: Reviews State laws to define, prohibit, or prevent racial profiling. Outlines various State legislative approaches to deal with the issue, including defining racial profiling; express prohibition; data collection, analysis, and reporting; training; public education and awareness; changes in law enforcement policies and procedures; technology and equipment; complaint procedures; penalties for noncompliance; and funding., 2003

Congressional Hearing: Hearing before the Subcom on Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights to consider S. 821 (text, p. 65-68), the Traffic Stops Statistics Study Act of 1999, to require the Department of Justice to conduct a study, based on police data, of the race and other characteristics of drivers stopped for alleged traffic violations and the rationale for subsequent vehicle searches. Bill responds to concerns that police unfairly target African American men and other minorities for routine traffic stops and search their vehicles for contraband, including drugs., 2000

Transcript of a speech delivered by President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden on the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent civil unrest, 2020

Congressional Hearing: Hearing before the Subcom on the Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights to consider S. 989, the End Racial Profiling Act of 2001, to prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement agents or agencies and to authorize Department of Justice grants to State and local governments to assist them in their compliance with racially neutral administration of justice requirements., 2001

Congressional Hearings: Hearing to assess urban area economic conditions and adequacy of Federal aid to cities in view of Apr. 1992 riots in Los Angeles, Calif., and to examine urban economic deterioration, including increased poverty and unemployment, in the 20 years following National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (Kerner Commission) 1968 report predicting increased social inequalities., 1993

Hearing before the Subcom on Government Information, Justice, and Agriculture to examine neighborhood crime reduction initiatives involving cooperation between community members and the police., 1992

CRS Report: Addresses concerns regarding “militarization” of law enforcement and expanding role of special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams, in light of recent clashes between police and protesters in Ferguson, Mo. Examines possible militarization role of DOD “1033 Program,” established to provide material support to authorized Federal and State law enforcement agencies in the form of transfers of articles suitable for use in counterdrug and counterterrorism activities., 2014

Congressional Record: Patrick J. Toomey’s comments on the Ferguson protests, 2015

Congressional Record: Pete Olson reading the essay of high schooler Phillip Nguyen on the Ferguson protests, 2016