After losing on a ballot measure that would have dismantled the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), the progressive group behind the measure is claiming moral victory.
Question 2, which was proposed in the wake of the death of George Floyd, would have replaced MPD with a Department of Public Safety. It would have eliminated funding requirements for law enforcement in the city, and given Mayor Jacob Frey (D) and the city council dual authority over the new public safety department.
That measure was defeated Tuesday with 54 percent of Minneapolis residents voting it down.
Question 2’s defeat is good news for those in Minneapolis who support law enforcement, which has already been significantly depleted since Minneapolis became the hotbed for rioting in the summer of 2020.
As of October, MPD had lost 296 officers.
Still, Yes 4 Minneapolis, the group behind the ballot measure, claims its movement to rid the city of a police department was a success.
“This campaign began with working-class Black and brown residents marching together to demand a higher standard of public safety. It grew into a city-wide movement that spanned race and neighborhoods, to give us a say in our future and to advocate for the resources that we need,” the group said on Twitter.
This campaign began with working-class Black and brown residents marching together to demand a higher standard of public safety. It grew into a city-wide movement that spanned race and neighborhoods, to give us a say in our future and to advocate for the resources that we need. pic.twitter.com/HEPLKxUueg
— Yes On Question 2 (@Yes4Minneapolis) November 3, 2021
“Still, we knocked over 100K doors, made almost 200K phone calls, and sent 300K text messages, resulting in over 60k conversations with Minneapolis residents about expanding public safety. This DOES NOT include the work of our 90+ partner organizations and local small businesses,” it continued.
“We changed the conversation about what public safety should look like. We showed the country and the world the power of democracy and of the people. Now, we will work to hold the system accountable. We will work to heal our city and create safer streets for all our communities.”
We changed the conversation about what public safety should look like. We showed the country and the world the power of democracy and of the people. Now, we will work to hold the system accountable. We will work to heal our city and create safer streets for all our communities.
— Yes On Question 2 (@Yes4Minneapolis) November 3, 2021
According to the group’s website, its efforts were backed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, The Asian American Organization Project, the Muslim Coalition, and several other far-left organizations.
Upon its launch, Yes 4 Minneapolis received $500,000 from George Soros’ Open Society Foundation.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Minnesota Sun and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Minneapolis Police” by Tony Webster. CC BY 2.0.
