George Floyd: Minneapolis, California Agrees To Ban The Use Of Chokeholds, Neck Restraints By Police
Minneapolis City Council, US has voted in favor of banning the use of chokeholds and neck restraints on persons by police officers.
It also agreed that officers are to report and intervene when they see unauthorized use of force by another officer.
The decision follows demonstrations protesting police violence and systemic racism in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in the city by police.
It would be recalled that Floyd was killed using this chokehold and neck restraint approach, in which former Minneapolis office Derek Chauvin restrained the deceased by the neck with his knee for 8 minutes, 46 seconds.
This incident happened while three officers stood by and watched as Floyd slowly lost breath despite plea saying; ‘I can’t breathe.’
The Minneapolis police fired all four officers, and they have been charged with murder.
Since the incident occurred in May, cities across the United States are also reconsidering the use of such restraints.
Minneapolis decision came in response to a Minnesota state human rights complaint against the city.
In a proposed court order that must be approved by a judge, the Minneapolis City Council said it would ban all chokeholds and neck holds, and require any member of the police department to immediately report any unauthorized use of force by an officer.
The proposed order which the council approved unanimously stated that;
Black, Indigenous, and communities of color have suffered generational pain and trauma as a result of systemic and institutional racism and long-standing problems in policing.
San Diego County in California this week also banned another type of restraint called carotid restraint, in which an officer blocks the flow of blood to a detainee’s brain, leading to unconsciousness.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom said he would end state police training in carotid restraints similar to the technique used on Floyd by Chauvin.
Newsom noted that he supports legislation to ban use of the carotid technique in local police departments throughout California.
He stated;
At the end of the day the carotid hold is literally designed to stop people’s blood from flowing into their brain. That has no place any longer.
Many police departments have ended the use of chokeholds, which put pressure on a detainee’s windpipe, but some have still allowed carotid restraints.
