Minneapolis Police are now blocked from responding to nonviolent calls and from serving as staff at events in Minneapolis parks.
This decision came by way of a unanimous vote in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in police custody, per the Star Tribune. “Recent actions by the Minneapolis Police Department… have severely undermined community trust in, and sense of safety around, Minneapolis Police,” reads the Park Board’s newly affirmed resolution that distances the park system from law enforcement.
The police department “does not support the mission of the [Park Board] and has no place in our parks,” according to the resolution.
The park police are also slated to receive new uniforms, presumably to create a visual difference between them and the actual police.
One in 50 violent crimes in Minneapolis occur in the parks, according to the Tribune.
This marks yet another area of the city that law enforcement has been disinvited from. The University of Minnesota, Public Schools, museums and other venues have also dissociated from the police.
UMN was the first major entity to disavow the police, notably barring cops from pulling security at Gophers football games. The student body president says this decision was made because students are afraid of law enforcement, per Fox 11.
The Minneapolis Schools Board took similar action with a much more scathing tone, recently.
“I value people and education and life,” school board chairwoman Kim Ellison told the Star Tribune. “Now I’m convinced, based on the actions of the Minneapolis Police Department, that we don’t have the same values,” she said.
The Walker Art Center has also announced that they will no longer contract off duty officers to work security at events on their premises. “Enough is enough. George Floyd should still be alive. Black lives matter,” the museum said, per Art News.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
