Minneapolis City Council announces support of disbanding police department

Nine of Minneapolis's 12-member City Council appeared at a rally Sunday with activists and vowed to "dismantle" the city's police department. 

This aggressive stance comes in the wake of George Floyd's death two weeks ago after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on Floyd's neck during an arrest.

"It is clear that our system of policing is no keeping our communities safe," Council President Lisa Bender said at the rally. "Our efforts at incremental reform have failed, period."

Last week, the state of Minnesota opened a civil rights investigation into the police department, which has been accused in the past of maintaining a racist and callous culture. Already, the department has agreed to ban chokeholds and neck restraints.

On Saturday, Mayor Jacob Frey told a group of protesters that had gathered outside his home that he does not support "the full abolition of the police department," a statement that was met with boos from the crowd.

Despite his objections, Frey does not have veto power over the actions of the city council.