Thousands march in Washington, D.C., protesting police brutality and the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota at the hands of local police, on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Derek Chauvin, the police officer that was caught on video kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes as the unarmed, handcuffed man laid flat and unable to breathe, has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Mass demonstrations have taken place nationwide since the incident took place.
Washington, D.C.’s police union is suing the city over a recently passed police reform bill, alleging a block on the union’s ability to negotiate on discipline for law enforcement is unconstitutional.
The D.C. Council passed the emergency bill in June as protests over police killings of Black Americans were held across the country, including in D.C. The bill, which included a number of reforms, such as mandating the release of body camera footage after officer-involved shootings and blocking the city from hiring officers who were either fired for or resigned ahead of disciplinary measures, was signed into law by Mayor Muriel Bowser on July 22.
