U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn is currently the only elected official in Minnesota who has signed a pledge to “oppose any bill, resolution, or movement to ‘Defund the Police.’”
The Minnesota Sun pointed out in a Tuesday article that so far no other elected leaders from Minnesota have signed the pledge, though Republican congressional candidates Tyler Kistner and Michelle Fischbach have added their names, and Republican Senate candidate Jason Lewis said he plans to sign the pledge. At the federal level, no Democrats have signed their names.
The “Police Pledge” was created last month by Heritage Action for America and has been signed by 13 U.S. senators or Senate candidates, 112 U.S. representatives or candidates, 118 state and local officials, and more than 57,000 citizens.
“Our law enforcement officers do heroic work, day-in-and-day-out, to protect and serve our communities in southern Minnesota and across the nation,” Hagedorn said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, in recent months, we have seen mayors in big cities across America cave to the most radical voices and undermine police departments. Rioters and looters are routinely destroying public and private property, the businesses that American citizens have spent their lives building, and even people’s homes,” he added.
Kistner said he “stands with America’s police” and will “work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe” after signing the pledge last month.
Proud to sign the Heritage Action Police Pledge! In Congress I will work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe. I stand with America’s police, and pledge to oppose any bill, resolution, or movement to Defund the Police. #MN02 #SendInTheMarine pic.twitter.com/xBfT5OGP8Y
— Tyler Kistner for Congress (@KistnerCongress) August 20, 2020
Hagedorn said the “cowardice” of big-city mayors across the country “is both a disservice to the American people and the officers who put their lives at risk in service of our nation.”
“I am proud to sign the Police Pledge because I see firsthand the sacrifices our police make to keep us safe and preserve law and order. To the men and women in Blue: We support you, we stand with you and we will always have your backs,” he said.
Update: State Sen. Dan Hall had also signed the pledge as of Wednesday morning.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
