Minnesota lawmakers appeared divided this week on sweeping police reforms while the Minneapolis City Council agreed on replacing the department after the police-involved killing of George Floyd.
June 13 (UPI) — Minnesota lawmakers appeared divided this week on sweeping police reforms while the Minneapolis City Council agreed on replacing the department after the police-involved killing of George Floyd.
During a special session Friday, Republican lawmakers in the state legislature said they oppose restoring voting rights to felons and placing the state’s attorney general — instead of local prosecutors — in charge of prosecuting police killings.
Still, there was agreement on some other issues across political parties in the legislature. Both parties supported banning chokeholds and providing more funding for de-escalation training.
Gov. Tim Walz and the legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, initiated reform proposals, including redefining when police are justified in using deadly force, providing funding for community-based alternatives to traditional policing and reforming how officers are disciplined.
Democrats said that there was not enough sweeping reform in what Republicans agreed to.
« This is not what Minnesotans of all persuasions are asking us to do, » said state Sen. Jeff Hayden, a Democrat who represents the district that includes the Minneapolis neighborhood where Floyd died.
