Read our full statement in response to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. https://acrecampaigns.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/5_27_20-ACRE-statement-re_-George-Floyd-Police-Violence-Budgets.pdf

“In case the full horror of the situation is not already clear from the video: the city of Minneapolis invested George Floyd’s own tax dollars into increasing the police force that killed him on Monday,” said Maurice BP-Weeks, Co-Executive Director of ACRE.

“George Floyd should be alive -- yet police violence, fueled by an ideology protecting property and commerce and driven by white supremacy has murdered yet another Black man.”

“The fact that George was killed soon after the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to increase the police budget and ramp up efforts to recruit more officers -- even though residents were vocally opposed to this decision -- is particularly disgusting.

“The MPD’s budget increased between 2019-2020, from $184.9 mil to $193.3 mil. The rationale for this increase was ‘to provide public safety of all communities, enhance community engagement, communication, & collaboration to address safety issues.’ Whose safety did they protect?

“The police force has cost Minneapolis taxpayers over $45 million dollars in lawsuit settlements, and yet, the Mayor and Council voted to increase the budget and the police force. Officer Derek Chauvin — who has a record of using deadly and excessive force — murdered George Floyd

“Another officer seen in the video, Tou Thao, has also committed acts of brutality against civilians, one of which resulted in a $25,000 settlement. Minnesota policy allows for officers to appeal such decisions and have their employment reinstated by independent arbitrators.

With a large amount of settlement money coming from the city's self-insurance fund, city departments pay into the fund with money they get directly from the public in user fees or indirectly through property taxes.

“Lawsuit settlement payouts funded by taxpayers means the city is forcing taxpayers to inadvertently pay for the police brutality that killed George Floyd, while banks and investors profit from Black pain.

“To establish justice and accountability for police violence, the city of Minneapolis must follow the key recommendations from our report, Police Brutality Bonds: How Wall Street Profits from Police Violence https://acrecampaigns.org/research_post/police-brutality-bonds/

“Minnesotans are paying the price for deadly force by officers, both in physical, mental and emotional trauma as well as millions of wasted tax dollars that could be used to provide for the safety and well-being of the community.

“This extractive system of police brutality bonds is killing the city and must be abolished. Minnesota leaders have a responsibility to defund deadly police. The 4 officers who stole George Floyd’s life must be held accountable — and not at the expense of over-policed taxpayers.”