US protests: Council advances plan to dismantle Minneapolis Police

Protesters resisted when crews arrived with heavy equipment at an occupied protest zone in Seattle

People pause at a newly painted George Floyd mural on a building near central Atlanta, Georgia, on June 11, 2020. EPA

Protesters and police face each other during a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. AP

A row of police officers walk with the coffin of George Floyd, whose death in Minneapolis police custody sparked nationwide protests against racial inequality, before his burial at the Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery in Pearland, Texas, on June 9, 2020. Reuters

Protesters march on Hiawatha Avenue against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Four Minneapolis police officers have been fired after a video posted on social media showed Floyd's neck being pinned to the ground by an officer as he said, 'I cant breathe'. AFP

A firework explodes by a police line as demonstrators gather to protest against the death of George Floyd, on Saturday, May 30, 2020, near the White House in Washington. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers. AP Photo

Medics tend to a man who was shot in the arm by a driver of a black vehicle at a protest against racial inequality following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Seattle, Washington, on June 7, 2020. Reuters

Philonise Floyd, George Floyd's brother, holds his fist as he marches with fellow protesters near the White House against police brutality and racism, on June 10, 2020 in Washington DC. The brother of George Floyd, whose killing by police sparked worldwide protests against racism, made an emotional plea to the US Congress to pass reforms that reduce police brutality. AFP

A broken Statue of Liberty figure is seen between glass shatters outside a looted souvenir shop after a night of protest over the death of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis on June 2, 2020 in Manhattan in New York City. AFP

Demonstrators scuffle with police officers as they try to march through Times Square during a protest against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in New York City, New York, on June 14, 2020. Reuters

A demonstrator raises fist as a fire burns in the street after clashes with law enforcement shortly after midnight on June 8, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. Getty

An elderly man appears to be shoved by riot police in Buffalo, New York. Reuters

Protesters scuffle with members of the US Army as they demonstrate against the death of George Floyd, near the White House on June 3, 2020 in Washington, DC. AFP

Protesters on horseback march against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, through downtown Houston, Texas, on June 2, 2020. Reuters

A tanker truck drives into thousands of protesters marching on 35W north-bound motorway during a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 31, 2020. Reuters

Demonstrators jump on a damaged police vehicle in Los Angeles on May 30, 2020 during a protest against the death of George Floyd. AFP

Demonstrators kneel before police on May 30, 2020, in Minneapolis. AP Photo

Protesters gather under the rain near the spot where George Floyd died in the custody of the Minneapolis Police, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP

People, who gathered in protest against the death of George Floyd, march to the White House in Washington DC on June 2, 2020. EPA

The Minneapolis City Council on Friday unanimously approved a proposal to change the city charter to allow the police department to be dismantled, following widespread criticism of law enforcement over the killing of George Floyd.

The 12-0 vote is just the first step in a process that faces significant bureaucratic obstacles to make the November ballot, where the city’s voters would have the final say.

It came amid a spate of recent shootings in Minnesota’s largest city that have heightened many citizens’ concerns about talk of dismantling the department.

The proposed amendment next goes to a policy committee and to the city’s Charter Commission for a formal review, at which point citizens and city officials can also weigh in.

“I hope that the Charter Commission will recognise the moment that we are in and take our offer of support, however we can provide it, to expedite this process so that voters have a chance to have their voices heard on this important question and this important moment in our city’s history,” Council President Lisa Bender said.

The Minneapolis force has come under heavy pressure since Mr Floyd, an African American man in handcuffs, died on May 25 after a police officer pressed his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

Activists have long accused the department of being unable to change a racist and brutal culture, and earlier this month, a majority of the council proclaimed support for dismantling the department.

Jeremiah Ellison, a member of the council, said before the vote that the charter has been a barrier to the kinds of changes that citizens have demanded.

According to a draft posted online, the amendment would replace the department with a Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention, “which will have responsibility for public safety services prioritising a holistic, public health-oriented approach.”

The amendment goes on to say the director of the new agency would have “non-law-enforcement experience in community safety services, including but not limited to public health and/or restorative justice approaches.” It also provides for a division of licensed peace officers who would answer to the department’s director.

Meanwhile, a Minnesota judge on Friday rejected allowing cameras in the court for pretrial proceedings of four former Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of Mr Floyd.

News media organizations as well as defence attorneys had requested the audio and visual recordings. But Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill rejected the request, noting the prosecution had objected.

The judge will rule later on whether cameras will be allowed at trial.

Seattle

Crews arrived with heavy equipment early on Friday at Seattle’s “occupied” protest zone, apparently ready to dismantle barriers set up by demonstrators, but halted work when demonstrators resisted, including by lying on top of some of the makeshift structures.

Stefanie Formas, chief of staff for Mayor Jenny Durkan, said the goal is to improve access for neighbourhood residents.

The collective of protesters, activists, educators and volunteers in the Capitol Hill Organised Protest was born after clashes with police who tear-gassed people protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Durkan has expressed support for the protest, calling it “a peaceful expression of our community’s collective grief and their desire to build a better world.”

But following several recent shootings in the area, Durkan said this week the city would wind down the protest zone, at first by encouraging demonstrators to leave, and that police would return to a nearby precinct they abandoned following clashes with demonstrators.

New York

Donald Trump on Thursday struck out at New York Mayor Bill de Blasio over plans to paint a Black Lives Matter mural on Fifth Avenue across the street from Trump Tower.

"Told that @NYCMayor Bill de Blasio wants to paint the fabled & beautiful Fifth Avenue, right in front of Trump Tower/Tiffany, with a big yellow Black Lives Matter sign," the US president tweeted.

The mayor's office had said on Wednesday the mural would be painted across from the president's skyscraper in Manhattan, where he stays when he visits his hometown.

Mr Trump continued, tweeting that New York officers were "furious" over alleged chants from protesters of "Pigs in a Blanket, Fry 'Em Like Bacon" which he said referred "to killing Police."

That chant is not among those commonly used by protesters in New York or elsewhere marching to support African American lives.