Democratic "Squad" member Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) on Wednesday said the government needs to "invest in climate" rather than policing to promote public safety.
"The research shows we need a public health approach to public safety. You want to make us safer? Invest in poverty, in ending poverty, invest in housing, invest in climate, invest in education," Bowman said on CNN. "What we're doing is adding more police and feeding the prison industrial complex, and that has to stop."
Bowman's comments came in response to the Jan. 10 death of Tyre Nichols, who was beaten by Memphis police officers after being pulled over for driving infractions. Democrats and liberal media have been quick to point to the killing as an example of "white supremacy," even though the police officers and victim were all black. CNN's Van Jones authored an opinion piece titled "The police who killed Tyre Nichols were Black. But they might still have been driven by racism."
All the law enforcement involved in the beating have been arrested or relieved of duty.
Bowman on Wednesday called on President Joe Biden to provide "historic leadership in this moment."
"And when I say historic, I'm talking Roosevelt- and Lincoln-type historic leadership on this issue and so many others," Bowman said.
Biden is set to meet Thursday with the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss police reforms.
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