Minneapolis City Council plans to disband police department

Following days of protests, Minneapolis City Council has announced their intent to disband the Minneapolis Police Department and reinvest into local community-led safety measures.

City Council President Lisa Bender stated “Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our community safety and to tell the truth. That the Minneapolis police are not doing that. Our commitment is to end our cities toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department. To end police policing as we know it and recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.”

The call to dismantle police began with prison abolition work years in the making across the country. Today, at the height of protest, many community-led groups also call out the wrongdoings of police across the nation and continue demands to defund police.

With each day forward, protest have remained clear in their demands. Many calls include opposing police budgets increases, mass reductions, full defunding, closures of prisons, and reinvestment in local services.

To make the request clear activist groups Black Lives Matter DC, BYP100, Organizing Black, and Movement For Black Lives in Washington D.C. added “defund the Police” to the newly created Black Lives Matter Mural on 16th street in what is now called Black Lives Matter Plaza.

Fixed it! 🔥Tell @MayorBowser
BLACK LIVES MATTER = #DefundPolice
Go to https://t.co/W2jKoLdG0V for more info!#BlackLivesMatter  #BlackLivesMatterDC #BLMDC #AbolishThePolice @Mvmnt4BlkLives @DMVBlackLives #InDefenseOfBlackLife #M4BL #StopMPD pic.twitter.com/miYXUmyh0b

— BYP100 (@byp100) June 7, 2020

On Sunday, just blocks away from where George lost his life, Council president Lisa Bender made the announcement to disband the city’s police force at a Black Visions Collective and Reclaim the Block rally at Powderhorn Park.

The current call to dismantle police has pushback from Mayor Jacob Frey, but with 9 out of 12 votes from council members that support the call, the proposal should pass veto-proof.

Along with the Council President, council members in attendance included Andrea Jenkins, Phillipe Cunningham, Steve Fletcher, Alondra Cano, Andrew Johnson, Jeremy Schroeder, Jeremiah Ellison, and Cam Gordon.

Today, #Minneapolis City Council members formally announced their commitment to end the MPD and create a new transformative model of public safety.

Here is their statement: pic.twitter.com/0jAE8YKQjf

— Local Progress (@LocalProgress) June 7, 2020

The Minneapolis City Council made this announcement the same day as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to cut funding from the New York Police Department for the first time.

Across the nation calls to defund the police along with overall systemic change to address racism in the country continues.

Minneapolis

5/26 – The four officers fired for murdering George Floyd

5/28 – Univ. of Minnesota cancels contract with police

5/29 – Officer Chauvin arrested for unlawful killing of George Floyd

5/30 – Attorney General Ellison takes over prosecution of officers

6/1 – Minneapolis public schools end contract with police

6/2 – Civil Rights Investigation launched against Minneapolis Police Department

6/5 – Minneapolis bans chokehold use by police department

6/7 – Minneapolis city council members call to disband police department and invest in communities

Kentucky

5/29 – Louisville Mayor suspends “no-knock” warrants in response to the police killing of Breonna Taylor and protest that also called for action

6/1 – Louisville police chief fired after shooting David Mcatee

6/4 – Breonna Taylor case reopened for investigation

New York

5/30 – TWU Local 100 Bus Operator refuses to drive arrested protestors

6/4 – NYC Comptroller called to defund NYPD in a $1.1 Billion cut to reinvest in communities

6/4 – NYS Judge James Burke rules NYPD can keep those arrested for over 24 hours in suspension of Habeas Corpus

6/5 – Legal Aid Society filed appeal to Habeas Corpus

6/7 – NYC Mayor to defund NYPD to reinvest in local communities

Georgia

5/31 – Two abusive officers fired for violently pulling young protestors out of their car

6/2 – Six other officers charged for violence against residents and protestors

6/3 – Atlanta commissioners deny proposal for $23 million expansion of Fulton County jail

California

6/1 – CA prosecutors launch campaign to stop taking police union funds

6/2 – Resolution to prevent law enforcement from hiring officers with history of misconduct by San Francisco DA Boudin and Supervisor Walton

6/3 – LA announces at least $100-$150 million dollar cut to LAPD to reinvest in communities

Oklahoma

6/1 – Tulsa Mayor agrees to not renew current PD contract

Massachusetts

6/4 – Metro Bus (MBTA) bus orders that will not transport police to protest or protestors to police

Virginia

6/3 – VA Governor announce removal of Robert E Lee Statue

6/3 – Richmond Mayor Stoney announces RPD reform measures to establish “Marcus” alert for people experiencing mental health crises, citizen review board, implement racial equity study and remove confederate monuments

Colorado

6/3- Denver police offer fired for tweets that promoted violence against protestors

Washington

6/4 – Kings county Labor Federation issue ultimatum to police unions to admit and address racism in Seattle PD or be removed

Oregon

6/4 – Portland schools superintendent to discontinue presence of armed police officer in schools

Not a comprehensive list – other full details from community source found here.