Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said local New York police departments must pass race reforms or they will lose state funding.
During a press briefing on Saturday, Cuomo told protesters they “won” by protesting over the issues of police violence and systemic racism, introducing a plan in which communities will implement reforms consistent with their constituency’s demands.
“We heard you. You’re right. We agree with you, protesters,” Cuomo said, revealing a plan to “remake” police departments within a period of nine months.
“If you don’t do it, local government, you won’t get any state funding. Period. We’re not going to tell you what to do. But we’ll tell you have to go through the process. And you have to pass a law with your redesigned police force,” Cuomo said, setting a deadline for April 1.
Demands to defund police departments have grown as police brutality protests continue across the country over George Floyd, who died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
In response to Floyd’s death, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a motion to dismantle the police department and replace it with a different, community-led public safety system. The unanimous vote prevents Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey from blocking the resolution by veto.
“The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, by Minneapolis police officers is a tragedy that shows that no amount of reforms will prevent lethal violence and abuse by some members of the Police Department against members of our community, especially black people and people of color,” five city council members wrote in the resolution.
