The calls to end qualified immunity continue.
With the state legislative session coming to a close, Albany lawmakers are reviewing a bill that seeks to hold law enforcement accountable for unlawful conduct.
On Tuesday night, state lawmakers attended a special screening of The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain in The Madison Theatre in Albany.
The film is based on the true story of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an Army veteran from White Plains who was fatally shot by police in 2011.
The officers involved in the incident were granted qualified immunity, a contested doctrine that shields public officials from liability if they’ve violated an individual’s rights.
"It's not only important to just say my father's name, it's important to remember all families that are impacted by police violence," Chamberlain's son, Kenneth Chamberlain Jr., said Tuesday night. "So, with this film, I'm hoping, if nothing else, it can be a teaching tool to law enforcement throughout the world in what not to do."
"We really want to make sure that we are protecting our constitutional rights, and if they are violated, that New Yorkers have a legal course of action," Assembly Member Pamela Hunter said.
After the screening, actor Morgan Freeman, who co-produced the film, and others joined the audience for a virtual question-and-answer session.
Last month, New York City became the first major city to ban qualified immunity for police officers.