More than 450 performing artists released an open letter to Congress in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that names ending qualified immunity (QI) in its mandate. The sweeping police-reform bill targets no-knock warrants and chokeholds in addition to QI.
The letter is addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy. As Rolling Stone reports, Ariana Grande, Rhianna, and Billie Eilish are among the high-profile names who have signed on.
“Since the killing of George Floyd . . . our country has seen protests grow, attitudes shift, and calls for change intensify,” the letter says. “ We in the music and entertainment communities . . . are more determined than ever to push for federal, state and local law enforcement programs that truly serve their communities. Accordingly, we are grateful for movement of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 in the U.S. House of Representatives and urge its quick passage.”
These artists join athletes and business leaders in support of ending QI. This letter reflects a similar statement released by the Players Coalition. That letter, signed by more than 1,000 pro athletes, endorses the Ending Qualified Immunity Act. The bill was originally proposed by reps. Ayanna Pressley and Justin Amash with the goal of ending qualified immunity for all government officials.
Read the entire Rolling Stone article here.