Minneapolis Mayor, Jacob Frey has been slammed by protesters after refusing to abolish the police department in the state.
The mayor arrived to the demonstration in plain clothes and a face mask to address dozens of protesters about the future of the Minneapolis Police Department.
However, Frey was at odds with activists fighting police brutality for refusing to abolish the police department.
The angry reaction from protesters came after Frey said he did not agree with the decision to defund the city’s police force. He is seen walking away slowly as one protester gives him the middle finger and at least one object was thrown at him.
This comes just two days after Frey sobbed uncontrollably at the foot of George Floyd’s gold coffin during a memorial service.
In a statement to WCCO, Frey did not waver on his refusal to totally ‘abolish’ the Minneapolis Police Department.
“If you’re asking whether I’m for massive structural reform to revise a structurally racist system the answer is ‘yes.’ If you’re asking whether I will do everything possible to push back on the inherent inequities that are literally built into the architecture the answer is ‘yes’”said Frey.
He added: “If you’re asking whether I’m willing to do everything I possibly can throughout the rest of my term to make sure that the police union, the police contract, the arbitration system, and some of these policies that have resulted in problems for specifically Black and Brown people and murder over series of generations, I’m all for that.
“I’m not for abolishing the entire police department, I will be honest about that.”
Read also: Minnesota Attorney General Takes Over Investigations In George Floyd’s Death
In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for Frey said the mayor is “unwavering in his commitment to working with Chief (Medaria) Arradondo toward deep structural reforms and uprooting systemic racism. He does not support abolishing the police department.”