January 1, Voters may decide on abolishing police department, Minnesota Supreme Court rules

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that voters can decide whether or not to abolish the Minneapolis police department in the upcoming municipal elections.

“We’re incredibly thrilled that the people of Minneapolis have their democracy honored,” said JaNaé Bates, a spokeswoman for Yes 4 Minneapolis. “The Supreme Court recognized that we were on the right side of the law, we were on the right side of democracy, and we’re going to be [on] the right side of history as we move forward.”

If successful, the measure would replace the police with a public safety department “that employs a comprehensive public health approach.”

The state’s high court overturned a lower court’s ruling that rejected the measure based on “unreasonable and misleading” language.

The measure comes after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of former police officer Derek Chauvin, which sparked a nationwide movement for “defunding the police.”

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Minnesota Supreme Court rules Minneapolis voters may decide on abolishing police department