In her Tuesday debate with former President Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris denied accusations that she supported the "defund the police" movement during the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death.

Trump challenged Harris on her past comments and actions, specifically pointing to her promotion of a bail fund that assisted protesters during that period, as Fox News reports.

During the on-stage clash, Trump accused Harris of being a strong supporter of defunding police departments, an accusation she vehemently rejected.

"That’s not true," Harris responded, shaking her head. Trump persisted, referencing Harris’s June 2020 promotion of the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which was created to help bail out protesters, many of whom were demanding reductions in police budgets.

Trump Presses Harris on Bail Fund Promotion

Trump did not back down, highlighting Harris’s support for the fund that helped release individuals involved in the protests. He claimed that the fund contributed to bailing out individuals accused of serious crimes, including violent offenses.

“She went out in Minnesota and wanted to let criminals that killed people, that burned down Minneapolis, she went out and raised money to get them out of jail,” Trump said, accusing Harris of actions that many found controversial at the time.

Harris had initially promoted the fund on Twitter on June 1, 2020, urging people to contribute financially to help bail out protesters who were arrested during the demonstrations.

However, a subsequent investigation revealed that only a small portion of the more than $41 million raised by the fund went to assist those involved in the George Floyd protests. A significant amount was reportedly spent on bailing out individuals with more serious charges, including an alleged knife murderer and a convicted rapist.

Harris’s Shifting Stance on Police Funding

While Harris denied backing the defund the police movement during the debate, her previous comments from 2020 paint a more complex picture. In an interview on the radio show Ebro in the Morning! on June 9, 2020, she spoke positively about reallocating police funding to support community services. She argued that true public safety comes from investing in education, healthcare, and social services, rather than increasing police presence in neighborhoods.

Harris pointed out the stark contrast between affluent suburban communities, where public services are well-funded, and underfunded urban areas where police presence is more prominent. “For too long, the status quo thinking has been, you get more safety by putting more cops on the street. Well, that’s wrong,” Harris said during the interview, emphasizing that simply adding police officers does not lead to safer communities.

Violent Protests and the National Crime Surge

The debate between Harris and Trump came at a time when the 2020 protests and riots were still fresh in the minds of many Americans. The nationwide protests following George Floyd’s death, which demanded police reforms and, in some cases, defunding of police departments, were followed by a significant rise in violent crime across the United States. Insurance claims from the riots were estimated to reach between $1 billion and $2 billion, and the country saw nearly a 30% increase in murders that year.

The spike in violence also led to a mass exodus of police officers, with many either quitting, retiring, or transferring to different departments. This left many cities struggling to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the protests.

Harris's Role in 2020 Protests Scrutinized

Harris’s role during the 2020 protests has come under renewed scrutiny, especially in light of her current political position as vice president. Despite her denials during the debate, her promotion of the Minnesota Freedom Fund and comments supporting the reevaluation of police budgets continue to raise questions about her stance on law enforcement.

Trump, during the debate, accused Harris of flip-flopping on her policies, pointing out that she once embraced the movement to defund the police but later distanced herself from it. "She gave all that stuff up, very wrongly, very horribly. And everybody’s laughing at it," Trump claimed.

Harris has consistently pushed back on these allegations, reiterating her belief that the United States needs to reimagine public safety. She has called for reforms that prioritize community investment over increased police militarization, a position she reiterated during her June 2020 radio interview.

Conclusion

Vice President Kamala Harris’s denial of support for defunding the police during a debate with Donald Trump has reignited discussions about her involvement in the 2020 protests.

Although she has rejected claims of supporting the movement, her previous promotion of a bail fund and public comments on reallocating police budgets have fueled continued scrutiny.

The debate marked a significant moment in the race, as Trump pressed Harris on her past actions and statements, while Harris attempted to distance herself from the controversial defund the police movement.

The discussion highlights the broader national conversation about public safety, police reform, and the impact of the 2020 protests on crime and law enforcement.