News, White House Report

Partisan Split on Police Reform: Pro-Civil Rights Vs. Pro-Police

April Ryan
June 25, 2020

Shanee Isabell calls out the name of her second cousin Charleena Lyles, Thursday, June 18, 2020, during a vigil for Lyles on the third anniversary of her death, in Seattle. Lyles was shot and killed by Seattle police. Also in attendance at the vigil were family members of nearly two dozen people killed by police across the country who traveled to Seattle to urge police reform, an issue renewed by protests against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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Police reform is a partisan issue; Democrats leaning pro-Civil Rights, Republicans leaning pro-police. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), who drew up the Senate police reform bill, fell short of the 60 votes needed for a procedural vote needed to begin debate on the bill. Democrats did not buy into the Republican plan. The House is expected to vote today.

April Ryan speaks with Dr. Jacqueline Rhoden-Trader, Chair & Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Applied Social & Political Science at Coppin State University, who says the culture of law enforcement needs to change to regain the trust of the populace.

Click ▶️ to listen to AURN Washington Bureau Chief April Ryan’s White House Report:

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and others speak at a news conference to announce a Republican police reform bill on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 17, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

April Ryan has a unique vantage point as the only Black female reporter covering urban issues from the White House, a position she has held with AURN since the Clinton era. Her position as a White House Correspondent has afforded her heightened insight into the racial sensitivities, issues, and attendant political struggles of our nation. April has written three books; The Presidency in Black & White: My Close-Up View of Three Presidents and Race in America, At Mama's Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White, and Under Fire: Reporting from the Front Lines of the Trump White House. Twitter: @aprildryan