Sandra Bland's Mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, came back to Texas last week to support an effective police reform bill that prominent law enforcement groups are preventing. Her return was the very first time Bland's family spoke before Texas lawmakers who meet every two years only one time. The 'Sandra Bland Act' as composed would refurbish police training programs, laws against racial profiling, and other liability measures surrounding law enforcement. Veal stated in the briefing, "I will need this bill to go ahead, so it will explain things to people that say that Texas is the most dreadful state to establish residence.
And to me personally, that is correct. So, today I need one to consider what you have the powerful ability to do.”
Bland's story behind the bill
Sandra died in prison after a traffic stop turned into a confrontation between her and law enforcement two years ago. Her death became a national highlight in a movement orchestrated by Black Lives Matter.
She was discovered deceased in prison outside Houston 72 hours after a highway patrol officer stopped her for not signaling a change in lanes. Investigators reported that Sandra Bland died from committing suicide. The trooper, who pulled Bland's car over while using a firearm as intimidation, has since been fired.
Latest developments surrounding the 'Bland Act'
The bill has a hard time reaching the desk of Governor Greg Abbott. This situation comes at a times when there are less than eight weeks before the Texas Legislature dismisses for another two years. Law enforcement organizations reject some of its important provisions, including the one which might prohibit detaining motorists for minor infractions that happen to be punishable only by monetary penalties and fees.
Veal informed the Public Safety Committee and the Department of Homeland Security that the act is not an anti-police legislation. She said, "I don't despise law enforcement. I just hate the mere fact that we don’t realize that this continues to be happening for too long simply by those people who have been obligated to not only serve but also protect all of us."
The enhancement of police protections instead of a policeman's liability has been Texas' leader's top priority in 2017 following the assassinations of five Dallas officers attacked by a local sniper.
The Senate in Texas already approved proposals that could provide $25 million to acquire bullet-resistant jackets for cops and design an alert program that notifies citizens when an officer is hurt or dead. The Texas Legislature's focus has been more on providing law enforcement more suitable armor rather than implementing legal reformation.
However, Garnet Coleman, a Houston Democrat, recognized that he was the first one to draft the bill. He filed the legislation in March biased against police. Now Coleman says he's focused on working with police organizations and willing to negotiate improvements to them.
Coleman says this bill is the greatest way to generate growth that’s not vindictive to the people who defend us.