Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio addressed the “defund the police” movement during a hearing yesterday on Capitol Hill that was at times moving.
Jordan spoke directly to Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, the African-American man killed by police on May 25. Floyd’s killing sparked massive protests and riots across the U.S.
“The murder of your brother in the custody of the Minneapolis police is a tragedy, never should have happened, it’s as wrong as wrong could be and your brother’s killers will face justice,” Jordan said.
Jordan also spoke directly to Angela Underwood Jacobs, the sister of Patrick Underwood, a federal law enforcement official who was killed on May 29 when a vehicle pulled up to the building he was stationed in front of and opened fire. Underwood was killed while another contract security officer was wounded. Both men worked for Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service.
“Miss Underwood Jacobs, the murder of your brother by rioters in Oakland is a tragedy, never should have happened, it’s as wrong as wrong could be and your brother’s killers will face justice,” Jordan said.
“[The American People] know it is pure insanity to defund the police and the fact that my Democrat colleagues won’t speak out against this crazy policy is just that frightening,” Jordan continued.
Underwood Jacobs also made her opposition to defunding the police be known during yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed changes to police practices.
“It is a ridiculous solution to claim that defunding police departments is the solution to police brutality and discrimination because it’s not a solution. It gets us nowhere as a nation and removes the safety net protection that every citizen deserves from their communities elected officials,” she said.