In response to nationwide protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder, U.S. Sens. Ed Markey,  Kamala Harris and Cory Booker have introduced a resolution abolishing qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields officers from certain lawsuits.

Qualified immunity protects law enforcement officers from being sued in their personal capacity and being held personally liable for their abuses, noted Markey.

“For decades, law enforcement has relied on qualified immunity to shield officers from accountability in instances of police brutality and excessive force,” said Markey.

“Qualified immunity effectively immunizes law enforcement officers from civil suits,” he said.

Qualified immunity affects people of color disproportionately because they are disproportionately victims of excess force at the hands of law enforcement, noted Markey.