Minneapolis City Council Proposal to Disband Police Blocked from November Ballot

Minneapolis Charter Commission has delayed a City Council amendment aimed at dismantling the city’s Police Department, following social unrest over police brutality and racial injustice.

Amendment in Minneapolis Won’t be Voted on in This Year's Election

A Charter Commission in Minneapolis decided that attempting to change the city’s charter in a rush was not the right move by the City Council, although some agree that change is necessary. Commission members said that the amendment had many flaws and faced several legal barriers as it was created with very little input from community members who oppose the move.

The five City Council members who created the proposed amendment criticized the decision, although they will continue working towards transforming the city’s law enforcement system with an eye on public safety, with the current plan being to put an amendment to the vote in November 2021.

The charter amendment was made after widespread anger and criticism of law enforcement following the death of George Floyd on May 25th, which led to a series of ongoing demonstrations in the country against police brutality and racial injustice.

The 15-member charter commission is made up of volunteers appointed by a judge, with the result of the vote regarding the proposed amendment being 10-5 to take 90 extra days to review it. Most of those who voted against taking the time flat out recommended rejecting the amendment.

However, rather than rejecting it, delaying the amendment blocks it from making the ballot this November. A similar move was made by the commission in 2018, which effectively ended a proposed charter change.

Some commissioners feared that provisions in the amendment would not be understood by voters, with others saying that people who have spoken against inequality and racial injustice for years were never consulted, adding that the amendment itself was rushed.