Minneapolis City Council has announced its commitment to disband the city’s embattled police department, which has suffered series of criticism over the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man by one of its former officers.
The decision comes after calls to defund the law enforcement agency are being made in the US, following the gruesome killing of George Floyd and other black people who died as a result of police brutality.
Speaking at a community rally on Sunday, June 7, a majority of the council members declared their intent to ‘dismantle’ and ‘abolish’ the Minneapolis police department responsible for Floyd’s death.
Speaking at the event, Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said;
In Minneapolis and in cities across the US, it is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe. Our efforts at incremental reform have failed, period.
Our commitment is to do what is necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth: that the Minneapolis police are not doing that. Our commitment is to end policing as we know it and to recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.
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The announcement was confirmed through an official tweet by American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLUMN).
BREAKING: Minneapolis City Council members have announced their intent to disband the Minneapolis Police Department and invest in community-led public safety.
— ACLU of Minnesota (@ACLUMN) June 7, 2020
The City Council’s decision also follows intent of several other high-profile partners, including Minneapolis Public Schools, University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, to sever longstanding ties with the Police Department, over complete loss of confidence in the force.
Minneapolis Police Department reportedly has a lengthy track record of misconduct and decades-long history of violence and discrimination.
However, according to The Guardian, the council members are expected to face opposition from law enforcement officials and the police union, though activists emphasize that the veto-proof majority of the council has the authority to move forward regardless of oppositions.
