Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Sunday reiterated that he doesn’t support abolishing the city’s police force, hours after a veto-proof majority of …
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Sunday reiterated that he doesn’t support abolishing the city’s police force, hours after a veto-proof majority of members of the Minneapolis City Council said they want to take that drastic step in the wake of the in-custody death of George Floyd.
Frey, who ordered a police station to evacuate as rioters burned it to the ground last month, was shouted down by a large gathering of demonstrators near his home on Saturday when he defied their demands to shutter the city’s police forces.
„I’ll work relentlessly with Chief [Medaria] Arradondo and alongside community toward deep, structural reform and addressing systemic racism in police culture,“ Frey said in a statement to KARE. „We’re ready to dig in and enact more community-led, public safety strategies on behalf of our city. But, I do not support abolishing the Minneapolis Police Department.“
Before the crowd outside his home, Frey had prefaced his comments by saying he was „coming to grips“ with his „own brokenness,“ and by promising to put the police union „in its place.“ But, many protesters clearly were unconvinced, yelling, „It’s not about you!“ and „Go home Jacob, go home!“
On Sunday, nine city council members spoke at a protest at Powderhorn Park, a neighborhood in Minneapolis.
