Washington, D.C. – Today, the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) Co-Chairs Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford released the following statement calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Statement from Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford, Co-Chairs of the Democratic Attorneys General Association

“The justice system does not work if people in power abuse it. For more than 400 years, Black Americans and other communities of color have encountered a criminal-justice system that has consistently discriminated against, racially profiled, and treated them as less than equal. There must be comprehensive and holistic reforms to the justice system.”

“As the chief legal and law enforcement officers of our states, we have worked diligently to bring about long overdue, systemic reforms. We will continue that work. Congress passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is one way we can do so. The Act would grant State Attorneys General the authority to step in and hold local law enforcement agencies accountable under federal civil rights laws. We need that power to play a bigger role.”

“Democratic Attorneys General stand ready to act – just as our colleague AG Keith Ellison did in Minnesota – and it’s critical that we are equipped with the necessary authority and resources to help make our country more just. The House of Representatives has done its job. We now urge the U.S. Senate to pass this legislation immediately, and we ask that people call upon their Senators to vote for this legislation.”

“Black Lives Matter. It is time our justice system recognized they do too.”