More white voters support replacing police in Minneapolis than black voters: poll

The poll conducted from Sept. 9 through Sept. 13 found that more white voters, 51 percent, support replacing the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety, "which may include police officers and will focus on public health," while just 42 percent of black voters support the measure.

Male and female voters evenly support replacing the MPD, 48 percent and 49 percent, but the divergence in support among white and black voters is noticeable.

The most stark contrast in opinion is seen based on party affiliation. 55 percent of DFL/Democratic voters in the city support replacing the MPD compared to just 7 percent of Republicans. 44 percent of voters who identify as Independent/Other support the public safety charter amendment.

More white voters also support reducing the size of the police force than black voters, the poll results reveal. However, there wasn't a majority among either demographic with 33 percent compared to 14 percent, KARE 11 reported. 75 percent of black voters felt that the police force should not be reduced in size, compared to white voters, who came in at 51 percent.

The Star Tribune, MPR News, KARE 11 and FRONTLINE, the PBS series, interviewed 800 Minnesota likely voters. The sample included interviews with 537 self-identified white registered voters and 157 black registered voters. During the same period, an additional 343 interviews were conducted with black registered voters in Minneapolis who indicated they are likely to vote in November, for a total of 500 interviews, according to the poll's described methodology.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) is furious about a recent court decision to block the aforementioned measure that would overhaul the Minneapolis Police Department.

"This ballot measure should be on the ballot," said the controversial far-left House member claimed on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis. "As you can tell, I'm pretty upset about it," Omar declared.

A judge has also mandated the city of Minneapolis to hire more cops after a year of rampant looting, rioting, and violent crime in the wake of George Floyd's death.

A lawsuit against Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey for allowing the city's police department to fall below minimum staffing prevailed. The court is now ordering the city to restore the police force's dwindled numbers.