Walz’s Response to George Floyd Protests Draws Scrutiny
Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, has faced criticism for his handling of the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.
Critics have accused Walz of being slow to deploy the Minnesota National Guard to quell the violence, which resulted in widespread looting and arson. A 2020 Minnesota Senate report found that Walz “was not willing to do what was necessary to stop the rioting right away because he was having a philosophical debate about whether the use of force should be used to stop violence.”
Walz has defended his actions, saying he and other state officials were acting in good faith amid unimaginable circumstances. He has also pointed to the fact that he was eventually able to restore order without deploying the Guard in a large-scale way.
The debate over Walz’s handling of the protests is likely to continue in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, in which Walz is a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Background
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis police officer. Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, even after Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe.
Floyd’s death sparked widespread protests across the United States and the world. In Minneapolis, the protests turned violent, with protesters looting and burning buildings.
Walz’s Response
On May 27, 2020, two days after Floyd’s death, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey asked Walz to deploy the National Guard to help quell the violence. The next day, the city’s police chief submitted a written request for 600 troops.
However, it was not until the afternoon of May 29 that Walz signed an executive order allowing the Guard to assist cities.
Critics have accused Walz of being too slow to deploy the Guard, arguing that the violence could have been prevented if he had acted sooner.
Walz has defended his decision, saying that he wanted to give local officials a chance to restore order without the use of military force. He has also said that he was concerned about the potential for violence if the Guard was deployed too quickly.
Impact of the Protests
The protests following Floyd’s death had a significant impact on Minneapolis and the surrounding area. More than 1,500 businesses and buildings were damaged or destroyed, and at least three people were killed.
The protests also led to a national debate about race and policing. In the wake of the protests, several cities and states have taken steps to reform their police departments.
Conclusion
The debate over Walz’s handling of the protests following George Floyd’s death is likely to continue in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election. Critics argue that Walz was too slow to deploy the National Guard, while Walz has defended his decision, saying that he wanted to give local officials a chance to restore order without the use of military force.
