Police reform bill proposed by Senate GOP—Senator Scott adds that ‘the nation is not racist’

Senator Tim Scott spearheaded the legislation amid the protests and civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police. Some politicians have gone so far as to suggest that police departments do not need to be reformed, but need to be dismantled entirely.

In announcing the proposed legislation, Scott said "The answer to the question of which side do you support is 'I support America.'"

"And if you support America you support restoring the confidence that communities of colour have in institutions of authority. If you support America, that means you know that the overwhelming number of officers in this nation want to do their job, go home to their family. It is not a binary choice. This legislation encompasses that spirit."

Scott continued with the sentiment that the vast majority of police officers in America are good people, but he also accepted the concerns people of colour have in encountering law enforcement.

"We hear you. We're listening to your concerns," Scott continued. "The George Floyd incident certainly accelerated this conversation."

Scott also addressed the belief that the US is a place where systemic racism exists, saying that there is no systemic racism but admits there is racism in the US.

"I don't know how to tell people that the nation is not racist," he said. "I'll try again: the nation is not racist. We deal with racism because there's racism in the country. They are both mutually true, not mutually exclusive."

Scott was backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, and Senators Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, John Cornyn, R-TX, Lindsey Graham, R-SC, James Lankford, R-OK, and Ben Sasse, R-NB.