Minneapolis PD has not been held accountable for Floyd's death. #JusticeforFloyd: Demand Mayor Frey defund the MPD!
John,
You and more than 1.3 million Color Of Change members are standing with us in demanding justice for George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered in broad daylight in Minneapolis on Monday.1
On Tuesday, the four officers, including Derek Chauvin, who executed the killing, and Tou Thao, were fired from the force.2 This is a major victory because it rarely happens but this is only step one. Local officials must do more to hold the officers accountable for murdering George.
Due to COVID19, Minneapolis is facing a budget shortfall and has to make decisions about how to cut $60 million from the city budget. Our communities are in need of PPE, affordable housing, jobs, and mental health care, so these vital social services must remain intact. The MPD is given a budget of $193 million annually, which funds their murderous police force and tear gas on peaceful protestors.
We're calling for their budgets to be cut because right now there is no system of accountability for their bad actions. They've had years of misconduct, citizen killings, racism, and harassment on Black and Brown communities. And rarely, if ever, are their officers held accountable for their misconduct. Overinvestment in police and underinvestment in public services lead to more criminalization of Black and Brown communities, like the killing of George Floyd.
Mayor Jacob Frey must hold them accountable in the only language they speak: money. We're joining Black Visions Collective3 to demand Mayor Frey defund the MPD now!
John, demand Mayor Frey defund the Minneapolis Police Department Now.
Until justice is real,
--Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Erika, Malachi, Marybeth, Madison, Leonard, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
1. "Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died." CBS News.
2. "4 Minneapolis Police Officers Fired Over George Floyd Death." Huffington Post.
3. Black Visions Collective (BLVC) believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems. Learn more here.
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