Castro Floor Speech on George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and member of the House Intelligence and Education and Labor Committees, today delivered the below floor speech on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act:
“For far too long, far too many people have lost their lives to police brutality. And for far too long, the government has failed to protect the people. That changes today. This is a first, yet significant step to save lives, especially Black lives.
“In my hometown of San Antonio, police violence has existed for generations. In just the last few years, Marquise Jones was killed by an off duty copy during routine fender bender. Antronie Scott was killed by an officer who thought a cell phone was gun. Charles Roundtree was killed by police. He was only 18 years old.
“The Latino community has also suffered from police brutality: Andres Guardado and Carlos Lopez are the latest to be killed. And 40 years ago in San Antonio, Hector Santoscoy was killed by a police officer who had also killed a Black man, Bobby Jo Phillips, in 1968.
“The cases we see on video are only a fraction of the misconduct and abuse that occurs every day, leaving long-lasting physical, mental, and sociological damage. The good life-saving work of police is undercut by a blue code of secrecy, officers who refuse to tell on each other, police unions who never admit when they’re wrong, and politicians who have been afraid to take on police unions. This Congress must have the courage to act to act now and pass this legislation. I yield back.”
For a video of the full floor speech, click here.
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