U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge introduces federal bill as to Cleveland and other police shooting rubber bullets at peaceful protesters and the health impact behind the practice, and in response to the George Floyd riots in Cleveland where a protester lost an eye due to a rubber bullet, Fudge also a finalist for possible recommendation for Agriculture secretary with the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.... Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest, and the most read independent digital news sites in Ohio. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.
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| Thousands gather at the Free Stamp next to Cleveland City Hall in downtown Cleveland on Sat., May 30 for a rally for justice for Minneapolis police murder victim George Floyd, a rally that turned violent and erupted into riots. Photo by Tristan Rader |
WASHINGTON, D.C –U.S. Rep Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), a Warrensville Heights, Ohio Democrat whose largely Black 11th congressional district includes Cleveland, has introduced the Analyzing Kinetic Impact Projectiles (KIPs) Against Americans Act.
The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to study the health impacts of KIPs in the United States, including rubber or plastic bullets, bean bag rounds, sponge rounds, pellet rounds, or wooden dowels.
A peaceful protester who attended a George Floyd protest in the downtown area of the city of Cleveland in May where riots ultimately broke out, was shot in the face with a bean bag of lead pellets, causing the individual to lose an eye, the impetus, in part, behind the recently introduced bill, which is currently in committee.
“Rubber and plastic bullets are hardly an alternative to lethal force when people continue to sustain life-threatening injuries,” said Rep. Fudge. “It is time we take a closer look at the use of KIPs and the frequency and types of associated injuries."
Cleveland's protest was one of many held across the country behind the police killing of Floyd, so many of them plagued with aggressive and sometimes violent police behavior directed against innocent protesters.
KIPs are often used by law enforcement for crowd control purposes, but their use has led to countless serious bodily injuries.
To date, there has yet to be a federal comprehensive review of the short and long-term health effects of the use of KIPs, particularly when used against civilians.
Also a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and a finalist to be considered for recommendation for the position of Agriculture secretary with the administration of President-elect Joe Biden, Fudge said that the "Analyzing KIPs Against Americans Act will provide Congress with the information to implement government-wide policies on the correct use, if any, of KIPs while ensuring the safety of our neighbors.”
Original cosponsors for the bill include Reps. Alma Adams (NC-12), Karen Bass (CA-37), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) Anthony Brown (MD-04), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).
The proposed federal legislation is endorsed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
“We view this issue not through a political lens, but through our commitment to saving vision,” said Michael X. Repka, MD, MBA, American Academy of Ophthalmology Medical Director for Governmental Affairs. “About 30 people suffered serious eye injuries after being struck in the face by rubber bullets and other kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs) during last summer’s demonstrations."
Repka said that one-third of the people injured suffered complete loss of vision, the federal lawmakers said, adding that the legislation is an important component of efforts to develop recommendations on the appropriate use, if any, of KIPs as a means of crowd management in the future.
Congresswoman Fudge said that Americans should have the right to speak and congregate publicly and should be able to exercise that right without the fear of blindness.
For the text of the Analyzing KIPs Against Americans Act click here.
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest, and the most read independent digital news sites in Ohio. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.
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