Trahan joins Black Caucus leader for broadcast on race

In a Facebook Live broadcast, Congresswoman Lori Trahan discussed policing and criminal justice reform with Rep. Karen Bass of California — the first in a discussion series, called “Being the Change,” where Congresswoman Trahan will speak with leaders fighting for racial justice.

“Americans are reawakened to the pervasive racism and inequality that exists in our country,” Trahan said. “The passage of time has only confirmed that we must continue tough conversations and expose racial injustice in all its hiding places. ”

Bass represents California’s 37th District and sponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed late last month. The bill, which would ban chokeholds, imposes new restrictions on using deadly force and makes it easier to prosecute officers for wrongdoing, among other measures, now goes to the Republican-led Senate, where it is considered unlikely to pass.

“The bill tries to hold officers accountable, because when all of us saw that horrific video, that officer was literally looking in the camera with his hand in his pocket while he was committing a murder. He clearly knew he was acting with impunity. He didn’t think anything was going to happen to him at all,” Bass said. “So the bill addresses that.”

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