Politics

Craig hits back at Tlaib for call to abolish police: 'Who does (she) represent?'

April 14, 2021, 9:47 AM

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Chief James Craig and Rep. Rashida Tlaib

Detroit Police Chief James Craig is firing back at Rep. Rashida Tlaib over her call for "no more policing" in the wake of a white officer's killing of a Black man in Minnesota.

Following word that ex-Brooklyn Center officer Kelly Potter mistook her gun for a taser before shooting Daunte Wright, Tlaib tweeted: "It wasn't an accident. Policing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. Daunte Wright was met with aggression & violence. I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can't be reformed."

The post got lots of likes and shares. And so Craig and Detroit News cops writer George Hunter hooked up to share the other side:

... Craig called Tlaib's tweets "a disgusting knee-jerk response."

"This was a tragic incident, and it should’ve never happened. But when these tragedies happen, you shouldn’t just broad-bush the entire profession," he said.

"To say policing should be abolished gives no consideration to the people who live in our neighborhoods who rely on police to provide service," Craig said. "What happens to those folks? What about the victims?

"The people who live in our city don't want to abolish the police, so the million-dollar question is: Who does (Tlaib) represent?" he said.

The Michigan GOP's spokesman and Taylor police chief are also quoted.

Tlaib's chief of staff clarified the lawmaker "was talking about the fact that we continue to see death after death at the hands of police officers with no meaningful accountability for the officers or departments involved." 

In his email, (Denzel) McCampbell said: “Rep. Tlaib understands that many in our communities are concerned about public safety, but feels that more investment in police, incarceration and criminalization will not deliver that safety.

"Instead, as she has long advocated for, she believes that we should be investing more resources into our community to tackle poverty, education inequities and to increase job opportunities," he said. "We should be expanding the use of mental health and social work professionals to respond to disputes before they escalate."


Read more:  The Detroit News


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