United States: Democratic Senator Blocks GOP Resolution That Slammed ’Defund Police’ Calls

By Staff, Agencies

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [D-NY] blocked a resolution which opposed calls to defund the police and demanded “justice” for George Floyd, killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis on 25 May.

"The great worry so many Americans have is that so many on the other side will feel rhetoric and then try to let this go away. We demand action, and we demand it now. Real action, not rhetoric", Schumer told the Senate on Wednesday.

Referring to the non-binding document initiated by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, Schumer said “the resolution by my friend will do nothing; […] it is rhetoric”.

He spoke after Cotton underscored the need “to reject radical proposals to dismantle and defund police departments as some suggested”.

The Senator argued that "[…] defunding the police would be deadly” and that “it isn't a solution but an insult to good officers and a threat to law-abiding citizens”.

Cotton added that “what we're seeing here is the Democratic leader apparently objecting on behalf of the Democratic Party in defense of the radical idea that we should defund the police”.

The remarks come after White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Monday that US President Donald Trump is "appalled" by demands to defund US police and that POTUS is currently reviewing other proposals for reforming the police and admits that "instances" of racism exist within US law enforcement.