Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Wednesday that he did not agree with fellow progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) who called for “no more policing, incarceration, and militarization” following the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright, a Black man, in Minnesota, The Hill writes.
Appearing on CNN’s “The Situation Room,” Sanders said, “No I don’t,” when asked by host Wolf Blitzer if he agreed with Tlaib’s statement.
“I think that what we need to do is to understand that there needs to be major, major police reform all across this country,” Sanders said. “We are tired of seeing the same thing, week after week and year after year. We do not want to see innocent African Americans shot in cold blood.”
A day after Wright was fatally shot, Tlaib wrote on Twitter, “I am done with those who condone government funded murder. No more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It can’t be reformed.”
Other Democratic lawmakers have taken similar stances to Sanders. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said on Tuesday that the U.S. has “got to have police officers.”
“I think she’s expressing her frustrations and what she hears from her constituents,” Clyburn said when asked about Tlaib’s statement. “And I can understand that.”
Former President Obama released a statement on Tuesday calling for the U.S. to “reimagine policing.”
“It’s important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country,” Obama said
Kim Potter, the former officer who shot Wright, on Wednesday was charged with second-degree manslaughter. Under state law, Potter faces up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 in fines. She was later released on $100,000 bail.
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