in 2021, Ellison voiced support to replace police Department amid spike in violent crime

Amidst a spike of violent crime in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota, Keith Ellison remained vocal about the ballot referendum to defund and replace the police department. Take a look at how crime was rising at the time, according to The Center Square:

Ellison’s support for the ballot measure follows a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension report finding Minnesota set an all-time record of 185 homicides in 2020 – a 58% spike over 2019. Violent crime overall increased by 16%. 2020 broke the Gopher State’s all-time homicide record of 183 in 1995 when Minneapolis was dubbed “Murderapolis.”

Arson rose 53.7% over 2019, from 462 cases to 710 in 2020. Motor vehicle theft increased by nearly 20%, with 13,662 vehicles stolen — the highest since 2005 — compared to 11,410 in 2019. Other report highlights include:

31 officer-involved shooting incidents reported in 2020, an increase of six over 2019

A record 667 assaults on police officers in the line of duty in 2020 — a 62% increase over 2019

The value of property stolen in 2020 topped $216 million, a 54.5% increase over 2019

Take a look at Ellison’s record of calling to replace the police.