Minneapolis residents voted against police abolition – the draft reform failed at the referendum. It is reported by Associated Press.
According to RIA Novosti, more than 56 percent of the voters spoke against the abolition of the urban police. For the initiative, about 43 percent voted, but for approval it was required at least 51 percent of the votes. At the same time, some black activists expressed themselves against this initiative before the vote.
The referendum considered amendments to the Charter of the Minneapolis on the replacement of police management at the Department of Public Security (Department of Public Safety). The corresponding proposal was made after the death of a black resident of the city of George Floyd, who deceased as a result of arrest with the use of suffocating technology.
It happened in the spring of 2020. The case became resonant, and Minneapolis turned into the epicenter of the nationwide movement for the transformation of a law enforcement system. On the streets of American and European cities, mass demonstrations were held, the participants of which were called on to dissolve the police.
On April 21, 2021, the jury recognized Derek Schovina – one of the police officers who detained Floyd – guilty of murder.