Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Black Peace Activists Fight Minneapolis City Council Plan to Dismantle Police: ‘Utopia’ Is Not Possible

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Share Tweet
By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

July 9, 2020

After weeks of violent riots and protests following the killing of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis police officer, member of the city council have vowed to dismantle the police department — a decision that has sparked concern as crime continues to escalate.

Hoping to persuade the city council members to change course, a group of black peace activists held an “urgent news conference” Tuesday to speak out against the city’s plan to do away with its police department, according to WCCO-TV.

Lisa Clemons, a former police officer who now works as a peace activist with “A Mother’s Love,” told reporters, “We cannot continue to watch these bullets flying through our community.”

“It is time for us to stand up in this city,” she continued. “It is time to tell the City Council that utopia is a bunch of B.S. We are not in Mayberry R.F.D. We are in the Wild, Wild West, and it is time for some answers.”

After the press event, Clemons was speaking to a local news reporter when Andrea Jenkins, a member of the Minneapolis city council who voted for dismantling the police, showed up.

Challenged over the issue, Jenkins laughed and said she is aware the crime-ridden city still needs law enforcement officers, but said the police department needs to be “reimagined.”

Ilhan Omar Demands ‘Dismantling’ of American Economic, Political System

“I want to reimagine a police force that responds to the community in a way that is respectful,” she said.

As for the surge in violence, the councilwoman said, “My only response to that is we are going to have — we will have those conversations. We are in an emergency situation.”

Clemons, for her part, told Jenkins she would be happy to participate in a round-table discussion about how best to move forward. Jenkins said she is eager to “work together” to “come up with reforms.”

Before the Minneapolis Police Department could actually be dismantled, it should be noted, such a measure would have to be voted on by the citizens of the city.

Latest

  • Faith

    ‘Repent’: Franklin Graham’s Call to Christians Navigating Today’s Political Storms

  • Faith

    After Damar Hamlin’s Near-Death Ordeal, Americans Overwhelmingly Back ‘Public Calls For Prayer’

  • culture

    China Is Operating Illicit Police Stations Inside the US — Why Are They Still Allowed to Be Here?

  • Faith

    Israel’s Supreme Court Chaos: An Issue US Christians Should Care About?

  • News

    Ex-Cop Speaks Out After Resigning Over Post About ‘God’s Design For Marriage’


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘Repent’: Franklin Graham’s Call to Christians Navigating Today’s Political Storms
  • After Damar Hamlin’s Near-Death Ordeal, Americans Overwhelmingly Back ‘Public Calls For Prayer’
  • China Is Operating Illicit Police Stations Inside the US — Why Are They Still Allowed to Be Here?
  • Israel’s Supreme Court Chaos: An Issue US Christians Should Care About?
  • Ex-Cop Speaks Out After Resigning Over Post About ‘God’s Design For Marriage’

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • culture
  • Culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?