Minneapolis City Council votes to disband police department

As widespread protests continue across the US and the wider world in the wake of George Floyd's murder, the Minneapolis City Council  has pledged to disband its police department.

Yesterday, June 7, nine of the council's 12 members voted in support of the change, in response to increasing calls to defund law enforcement, and replace the model with an alternative, community-led approach to public safety.

The announcement arrives just under two weeks after Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after a white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck. After initially being charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, Chauvin's charge was upgraded to second-degree murder last week. Three other police offers who were also present have been charged with aiding and abetting murder.

The nine council members who voted in favour of disbanding the police department responsible for George Floyd's represent represent a veto-proof majority on the council. However, the city's mayor, Jacob Frey, has expressed that he does "not support abolishing the Minneapolis Police Department".

At a community rally at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis yesterday, the council's president Lisa Bender pledged their commitment to end the city's "toxic relationship with the Minneapolis Police Department, to end policing as we know it, and to re-create system of public safety that actually keep us safe."

Across the US, many other cities are also looking into changing their approach to police funding. New York mayor Bill de Blasio announced a series of reforms yesterday, including shifting funding from the NYPD to youth services.

Many activists in the US have responded positively to Minneapolis' plans to dismantle the police department.

Help us celebrate the long, hard work that @BlackVisionsMN, @reclaimtheblock and others have done to set the stage for this huge day here in Minneapolis.

It hasn’t been quick. It hasn’t been easy. Thank you for your leadership.

— ACLU of Minnesota (@ACLUMN) June 8, 2020

Minneapolis City Council voted today to disband @MinneapolisPD and replace it w/ a community-led system that prioritizes community safety/health! That’s REAL accountability for a BROKEN Dept w/ illegal procedures and failure to discipline corrupt officers! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/ZCOEK9dsJk

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) June 8, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS REALLY DECIDED TO DISBAND THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT ON PRINCE’S BIRTHDAY SKSKJFBF

— Verónica Bayetti Flores 🐜 (@veroconplatanos) June 8, 2020