Joe Biden pitches sweeping police reforms during town hall address

Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden addressing issues of police reforms on Thursday night at the town hall meeting in Philadelphia stated that he would ensure a systemic change in policing policy and end redlining in the infrastructure and building industry for black communities. The Presidential candidate said that he still believes in “more cops, less crime” and added that he would look to promote community policing. The 77-year-old Presidential candidate also stated that he would ensure chokeholds are banned.

Biden also emphasised on community policing and stated, “We had community policing from the mid-’90s on until — until (George W.) Bush got elected, what happened? Violent crime actually went down.”

“The cops didn’t like it,” he
added. “They didn’t like the community policing because you had to have
two people in a vehicle. They had to get out of their cars.”

Addressing the ABC town hall meeting hosted by George Stephanopoulos on Thursday night at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden stated,” I do not believe that people should go to jail for drug use.” He added that he would build
more institutional and rehabilitation centre to battle drug abuse.

Biden added that he would  “decriminalise
marijuana.” The 77-year old reminded his audience he was a major proponent behind passing the  “second chance act.”

Addressing issues on systematic violence in the justice system of America, Presidential candidate Biden said, “The mistake came in terms of what the
states did locally,” he said. “What we did federally, we said it was
— you remember, George, it was all about the same time for the same
crime.”

Biden added that he has been collaborating with black and brown communities to devise method and strategies that would end unjust policing of the coloured community.

Biden also stated that if elected his administration would call for de-escalation training for police.
“So instead of anybody coming at you and the first thing you do is shoot
to kill, you shoot them in the leg,” Biden said.

On being questioned about his support for the 1994 Crime Bill and his view now, Biden stated, “Things have changed drastically, That crime bill, when we voted, the black
caucus voted for it, every black mayor supported it across the board.”

When Stephanopoulos  pressed Biden on his support for the bill, he said the mistake occurred at the state
level.

Common American citizens exercised their right to question the Presidential candidate Joe Biden probing his stand on key and integral issues that plague the common American on Thursday night. The questions fielded during the town hall varied form criminal justice reform to tax cuts for the middle class and the poor.

Biden also emphasised on how he would raise money for social services aimed for the lower and middle class by ensuring that top industries and industrialists pay a fair share of their taxes. 

Biden also added the need to include psychologists with police personnel on calls where mental health is a factor.