Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a member of The Squad, announced that she is currently working on legislation that will “establish an independent federal agency to investigate all officer-involved shootings and excessive uses of force.”
On Twitter, the Minnesota Congresswoman wrote her post in response to the police killing of George Floyd in her native Minneapolis. She said that she is working on legislation to make this level of federal oversight “a reality.”
READ MORE: Minneapolis police station set afire during George Floyd protests
We need to establish an independent federal agency to investigate all officer-involved shootings and excessive uses of force.
I am working on legislation to make this a reality.
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) May 28, 2020
Omar called for peace in the city during comments made to reporters on Thursday.
“It’s heartbreaking what took place last night, and continues to happen, to watch our city burn is one of the most devastating things to us,” Omar said. “I’m asking for the community to step up and show us how to organize a peaceful protest so people are not taking advantage of the hurt people are feeling.”
The Congresswoman also said that she has concerns that violent or destructive protests could spark a “cycle of violence,” which could potentially lead to more people of color being harmed by police.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YArZmbRx2yzax6j7D4OvU
Moreover, she is concerned that the violence could cause a spike in coronavirus diagnoses in Minnesota due to the lack of social distancing and wearing of personal protective equipment.
On Twitter, she wrote that while the anger is justified, Minnesotans must protect one another.
Our anger is just.
Our anger is warranted.
And our priority right now must be protecting one another.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 28, 2020
Omar called for the end of the cycle of violence.
In another tweet, she echoed the sentiment of many saying, “Charges need to be brought immediately. Deep injustice begets social unrest. We can’t ask for peace without delivering justice.”
George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight in our city.
Charges need to be brought immediately. Deep injustice begets social unrest. We can’t ask for peace without delivering justice.
If the county attorney is unwilling to do that, a special prosecutor needs to be appointed.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 29, 2020
READ MORE: Minneapolis councilwoman wants racism labeled as a ‘public health crisis’
Another member of The Squad, the four-woman group of allies within the House Representatives, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said recently that politicians are scared of “the political power of (the) police.”
AOC wrote that George Floyd should be alive, saying that he was killed even as he begged for his life. The popular Democratic Socialist Representative said, “The status quo is killing us.”
#GeorgeFloyd should be alive. Instead, he was killed as he begged police for his life.
The impunity of police violence is a systemic problem we must face to save lives.
Police brutality is now a leading cause of death for young Black men in the US. The status quo is killing us.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 26, 2020
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XG71SmYPP80MxutbI1UyO