Minneapolis City Council Passes Resolution to Declare Racism a ‘Public Health Emergency’

Police take back the streets at around midnight after firing copious amounts of tear gas to disperse protesters and rioters outside the Minneapolis Police 5th Precinct during the fourth night of protests and violence following the death of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 29, 2020. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

The City Council of Minneapolis declared racism a public health emergency on July 17, about two months after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody, and following measures that seek to defund the city’s police department.

“Systemic racism is among the greatest long-term threats our city and nation are facing, and the last two months have made that reality painfully clear,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, in a news release. “For Minneapolis to be a place where everyone can live and thrive, we must recognize this crisis for what it is and approach policymaking with the urgency it deserves.”