Minneapolis to disband police
New York introduces laws to end police brutality; Trump says cops generally should not use choke holds amid race protests
Minneapolis leaders voted unanimously Friday to disband the US city's police force and replace it with a "community" safety department, a reaction to transformational changes demanded in mass protests against racial injustice.
The plan comes three weeks after the death of African-American George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, a killing that sparked widespread calls for police reform.
The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a resolution instructing it to "commence a year-long process of community engagement, research, and structural change to create a transformative new model for cultivating safety in our city."
The council will bring together stakeholders addressing the issues of violence prevention, civil rights, race equity, community relations and 911 emergency services.
The move comes days after the council, with a veto-proof majority, pledged to disband the police department and create a community-oriented replacement. Friday's vote is the next step in formalizing the move.
The state of New York on Friday also adopted a series of laws designed to put an end to police brutality against the African American community.
Among the measures is a law forbidding chokeholds being used by law enforcement officers that was named in memory of Eric Garner, a black man suffocated by New York police in 2014.
The state also repealed legislation that designated as "confidential" any document pertaining to professional evaluations of police officers, including records of disciplinary proceedings. In future, the public, including members of the media, will be able to access such records through freedom of information requests, without requiring a court order.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Friday it would be a good thing if police use of choke holds was ended in most instances, although he suggested their use would be understandable in situations where an officer was in danger.
Protests against police brutality and race discrimination were held yesterday in different parts of the globe.