[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 38 (Monday, March 1, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
A LIFETIME OF DEALING WITH POLICE BRUTALITY AND POLICE MISCONDUCT
(Mr. BOWMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise proudly in support of the George
Floyd Justice in Policing Act, along with my colleagues, Congresswoman
Jackson Lee and Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
Unfortunately, I have had a lifetime of dealing with police brutality
and police misconduct. It first happened when I was 11 years old. I was
simply horseplaying with some of my friends in my neighborhood when the
police approached us and asked us to keep it down. Because we had the
audacity to ask a follow-up question, I was grabbed on my arm, I was
thrown against the wall, and I was thrown to the ground, handcuffed,
and night-sticked in the back.
Unfortunately, this was the first time, but not the last time. I have
been taken out of my car and handcuffed, taken to jail and released
without seeing a judge. Unfortunately, this is the norm for too many
African Americans and too many poor people across this country.
So I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the
George Floyd Justice in Policing Act so that we can finally have
justice and, most importantly, accountability across this country.
Those who serve us in law enforcement are not above the law.
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