This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
Published on June 9, 2020, Representative Anthony Brown of Maryland highlighted the need for law and order within police departments, likening the current situation to the violence inflicted on civil rights protesters in the 1960s.
However, the issue has also exposed generational differences within the Democratic party, with some lawmakers opposing calls to defund the police.
Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio, noted that neighborhood meetings often feature disagreements between younger and older residents on the role of police in their communities.
These divisions have also played out in private conference calls among Democratic lawmakers, with Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina expressing concerns about the 'hijacking' of the movement by calls to defund the police.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, however, cautioned against actions that would 'demoralize or undercut' protest leaders.
Joe Biden has sought to navigate this complex issue, emphasizing the need for progress while avoiding inflammatory rhetoric.
Representative Colin Allred of Texas suggested that recalling past crises and the progress that emerged from them was a way to assure voters that better days are ahead.
