Washington, D.C. — Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump is once again calling for reform within the criminal justice system on the national level. Crump and families of victims who were killed by police were in Washington D.C. today, pushing for lawmakers to support a bill that’s been in limbo for years.
Attorney Crump said America hasn’t seen systemic police reform since the 1960’s and is urging Congress to put proper laws in place.
Crump was joined by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the families of Sonya Massey, Breonna Taylor and Tyre Nichols.
The attorney listed names of individuals who had similar stories to the families present and pushed for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to be passed.
The act would allow the setup of a national registry displaying police misconduct. This would prevent officers from avoiding consequences.
Crump said police reform should have been put in place after the death of Floyd circulated the internet in 2020.
“It is an urgent call! An urgent call!” Crump said. “How many more exhibits, America do we have to give you before we say, ‘we have to have some reform on these officers?’”
Crump went on to say that police reform would have prevented families like Massey from having their loved ones become another hashtag.
During a speech given by Nichols’ mother, RowVaugn Wells, she addressed the congress directly and said that the blood of innocent lives is on their hands.
Nichols’ trial case is currently taking place in Tennessee. In 2023, Nichols was beaten to death by five police officers. Three of the officers involved were charged with his death.