Why did police and the Walz administration *not* stop protesters from toppling the statue of Christopher Columbus at the State Capitol? That’s one question on Senate Republicans’ minds at this morning’s (10am) hearing about government’s handling of civil disobedience after George Floyd’s death. “They cannot just go out and destroy public property — particularly historic property, at a Capitol — just because they don’t like it,” says Senator Carla Nelson — although the Rochester Republican acknowledges the historical record on Columbus should be changed as protesters demand.
Democratic Representative Rena Moran from Saint Paul responds Republicans should spend more time on police reforms. She says, “GOP members focus on the damages of property rather than the murders of their black and brown constituents by police.” Moran says Republicans haven’t responded to Democrats’ counteroffer, even as Governor Tim Walz prepares to call the legislature back into special session next week.