Tlaib claims that Daunte Wright’s death ‘wasn’t an accident’
Representative Rashida Tlaib, is encountering extreme judgment after calling for “no more policing” following the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by a police officer.
“It wasn’t an accident. Policing in our country is inherently [and] intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression [and] violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can’t be reformed,” Tlaib posted on her Twitter on Monday evening.
Senator Tim Kaine, separated himself from her point of view in comments to Fox News.
“We definitely need reforms in the space of qualified immunity, but I am not in the camp that says, you know, we should disrespect police. We should reform police where police are necessary,” Kaine stated on Tuesday.
Her Republican congressional colleagues were fast to fire back.
“Insane. ‘No more policing,'” Senator Ted Cruz posted on his Twitter. “It doesn’t get more explicit than this that Democrats want to abolish the police.”
“If you don’t want bad guys in jail or police protecting our cities, why don’t we start with your district and see how it goes?” Representative Ken Buck posted on his Twitter Tuesday.
He also said that he was planning to pay his respects to Officer William Evans, who passed away on Good Friday while protecting the Capitol. Evans, who is an eighteen year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police, will be laid down in honor at the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday.
“BREAKING- Congresswoman @RashidaTlaib would like to abolish US Capitol Police,” former Republican congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik bantered.
Minneapolis broke out in looting and riots later Sunday evening after Wright was shot by a police officer during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn., just ten miles from where Derek Chauvin had George Floyd restrained to the ground last May.
Brooklyn Center Police did not straight away identify Wright or state his race. In a statement, Brooklyn Center Police said officers pulled over an individual shortly before two p.m. on Sunday. After finding out the driver had an outstanding warrant, police tried to arrest him. But the driver got back in the car and drove away, police said. An officer had fired at the car, hitting Wright.
Police said the car went several blocks before colliding into another vehicle. A female passenger had nonlife-threatening injuries.
Tlaib, a member of the so-called progressive Squad, has latched onto the slogan “defund the police” before.
“Too many folks are confused when they hear we need to #DefundPolice. I ask you to engage in this debate with an openness. There is real validity in dismantling the current racist system that has led to this pain,” she posted on her Twitter in May 2020 after the passing of George Floyd.
Such statements have divided the Democratic Party. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., blasted progressives for “defund the police” rhetoric she said nearly cost her her race in November.