'We Need To Do Better': The Push for North Carolina After George Floyd

Protesters face Charlotte police after George Floyd's killing in May 2020. (Photo by Grant Baldwin for Cardinal & Pine)

By Emiene Wright

May 28, 2021

NC Attorney General Josh Stein co-chaired a racial equity task force that proposed dozens of state policy changes and legislation following Floyd’s killing.

This week marked a year since George Floyd’s killing by Minnesota police sparked the largest justice movement in US history.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein spoke with Cardinal & Pine about the NC Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, which he co-chaired with state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, and the recommendations that came out of the months-long study.

"We need to do better." This week marked a year since #georgefloyd was killed. NC Attorney General @JoshStein_ spoke w/ us about the NC Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, co-chaired by @Anita_Earls. #ncpol #ncga @scsj @NC_Governor @ncnaacp @TarrahCallahan @CCJRNC pic.twitter.com/3paaSXqJYr
— Cardinal & Pine (@CardinalAndPine) May 28, 2021

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The task force made recommendations for policy and legislative changes, including for law enforcement to increase bias training, utilize body and dash cams across the state and to carry out more transparent misconduct investigations.

Other proposals cover decriminalizing marijuana, use of fines and fees in court, jury composition, juvenile justice and re-entry support programs.

Find an overview of the recommendations here. And an executive summary of the report here.

ICYMI, the NC Supreme Court's @Anita_Earls spoke w/ C&P on the anniversary of #georgefloyd's death about what racial equity reforms mean for education, court fines, and sentencing. It's a big system needing big ideas. For the full chat, check it out on FB. https://t.co/Du3AgrG6B4 pic.twitter.com/X5yNFpTrgl
— Cardinal & Pine (@CardinalAndPine) May 26, 2021