George Floyd anniversary: BLM got a plaza in Washington. Will it get police reform?

Dozens of protestors, many with the Black Lives Matters movement, stand off with police on Grand Ave., downtown, in response to the death of George Floyd. In September, Kamala Harris — then a vice presidential nominee — praised the movement, speaking of “the brilliance and the impact of Black Lives Matter,” which she called “the most significant agent for change within the criminal justice system.” One year after the killing of George Floyd and the largely peaceful protests it spawned, the Black Lives Matter movement has achieved mainstream recognition in the United States and beyond, with protests in the summer covering all seven continents. Yet, over the last year, the Black Lives Matter global network has increasingly sought influence in Washington and chosen sides: fundraising through a newly formed political action committee to help tilt the control of the Senate toward Democrats; proposing legislation on police reform; and pushing for the second impeachment of President Trump. Chances for any compromise seem slim, but on Tuesday, Sen. Cory Booker, Bass and Scott said in a bipartisan statement they “continue to make progress toward a compromise and remain optimistic about the prospects of achieving that goal.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters: “We’re certainly hopeful that activism, that engagement, will help move this legislation across the finish line.” Outsiders inside Although the movement may have finally prodded Washington to seriously take up police reforms, its broad calls to defund the police have run afoul of Democratic Party leaders such as James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, one of the longest-serving Black lawmakers, who said the slogan cost them seats in both chambers. Veteran groups such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund back the Democratic bill’s passage, but the Black Lives Matter global network does not because it does not call for defunding the police, Abdullah said.