In response to calls to abolish the police force amid the murder of George Floyd by ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin and his three fellow officers, the Minneapolis City Council vowed to move forward with the public's request. On Friday, the council unanimously approved a measure to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department in favor of a "holistic" public safety force.
While the proposed plan passed on Friday has many shortcomings, the basis of the measure envisions "a department of community safety and violence prevention, which will have responsibility for public safety services prioritizing a holistic, public health-oriented approach." The mayor will be tasked with appointing a director of the proposed public safety force and will only consider those with "non-law enforcement experience in community safety services, including but not limited to public health and/or restorative justice approaches."
"We are going straight into the architecture of how safety is provided for in our community and we're going straight into the heart of the foundations of that work," said councilmember Alondra Cano. "The Council has been fielding ongoing calls from residents for accountability, systems change, and community-led safety," she added.
This is a small victory for those on the side of the #defundpolice but there are bureaucratic constraints that will be at play. The amendment needs to be formalized and finalized by the Aug. 21 deadline to clear the proposal for November ballots.
Source: npr.org
