House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) is offering his stance on the difference between defunding and reforming policing.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Chris Todd noted Clyburn’s previous statement on the issue while he gave the lawmaker the opportunity to offer clarity on his stance.
The top Democrat made it clear that “defunding” police departments would not be the right approach to reach the resolution needed.
“Reform policing in this country,” said Clyburn. “We need to reform policing.”
Clyburn went on to use the Camden Police Department as an example of what needs to be done. He referenced the 2012 disbandment of the New Jersey as he noted that the decision was about “defunding a department of the police. They still funded policing. They brought the county in to do the policing.”
Clyburn added, “No one defunded policing, they defunded a rotten department, and that’s as it should be.”
See Clyburn’s remarks below:
WATCH: Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) pushes back against calls to “defund the police.” #MTPDaily
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 9, 2020
@WhipClyburn: “Reform policing in this country” instead. pic.twitter.com/wg01gEvo4Q
Clyburn’s latest remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the basis of police reform and what it will look like.
On Monday, Congressional Democrats unveiled their proposed legislation for full police reform.
The new bill includes possible solutions for reform, including a “ban police chokeholds and racial profiling, require nationwide use of body cameras, subject police to civilian review boards and abolish the legal doctrine known as qualified immunity, which protects police from civil litigation,” as previously reported on IJR.
The calls for change comes as protesters continue the fight for justice following the death of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.
Over the last two weeks, protests have taken place in more than several cities across all 50 states. International demonstrations have also erupted following Floyd’s death.
While there have been many cases like Floyd’s in the past, many of the officers involved have been charged but faced no convictions.