Republicans pounce on Minneapolis push to dismantle the police force

MINNEAPOLIS — Hours after a majority of Minneapolis City Council members announced plans to dismantle the city’s police department, the idea reverberated in campaigns from Minnesota to Washington.

President Donald Trump went on the attack Monday, his campaign calling on Democrats to denounce the “radical” move, which Republicans say will only create more chaos in cities already damaged by riots. “We’re already seeing leading Democrats join this movement, and indeed it is consuming the entire Democrat Party, as the most extreme elements have the loudest voices and demand acquiescence,” said Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden responded immediately in a campaign statement saying that while there’s “urgent need for reform,” he does not support defunding the police. “He hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change, and is driven to ensure that justice is done and that we put a stop to this terrible pain,” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.

In a pivotal election year, Democrats in Minnesota also were forced to grapple with how far police reform efforts should go, with some swing-district Democrats weighing the mood of their more moderate constituents against the anger of an activist base mobilizing in response to the police killing of George Floyd.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, DMinn.,

who represents Minneapolis and some surrounding suburbs, told protesters at a rally to defund the police over the weekend that she supports the move from the council. But outside of Minneapolis, Democrats in Minnesota were hesitant to fully embrace the movement on Monday, instead directing attention to a series of police reform proposals they’re supporting in the Legislature and in Congress.