Kamala Harris’ choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the Democratic vice presidential candidate has reignited discussions about his handling of a major crisis during his tenure. The city of Minneapolis and St. Paul were engulfed in protests after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in 2020, which triggered a nationwide reflection on racial discrimination and police misconduct. The governor’s response, or lack thereof, to the protests and their aftermath continues to face criticism from Republicans who argue he should have taken action sooner. Progressives also fault Walz for not being assertive enough in reforming the state’s police departments.
As the situation unfolded, Floyd was killed on Memorial Day in 2020, with bystander video footage of his final moments sparking outrage as he gasped, “I can’t breathe.” Initially, the protests were largely peaceful, but instances of vandalism and confrontations with law enforcement occurred. The situation escalated on May 27, leading the police chief to request assistance from the National Guard. Governor Walz, himself a former National Guard member, approved a limited deployment on May 28, with the bulk of the response still falling under local authorities’ jurisdiction.
Critics argue that the response was inadequate as the unrest intensified, culminating in protesters taking over and setting fire to the 3rd Precinct police station. In the days that followed, Gov. Walz declared a full mobilization of the National Guard on May 30, restoring calm. However, by then, over 1,500 businesses and structures had been damaged, totaling nearly $500 million in estimated costs.
Republican lawmakers in the Minnesota Senate conducted hearings, with a final report in October 2020 attributing the crisis to a lack of effective leadership at both state and local levels. They criticized Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for hesitating to confront the rioters promptly. Independent evaluations concurred, highlighting issues such as delayed activation of the National Guard and a lack of clear leadership early on.
Despite facing criticism and retrospective scrutiny, Gov. Walz defended his decisions, emphasizing the collaborative effort among various authorities during the crisis. Former President Donald Trump, who initially commended Walz’s actions, later sought to claim credit for deploying the National Guard himself, misrepresenting the facts.
In the aftermath of the protests, Walz pushed for significant police reform measures in subsequent years. While some activists have criticized him for not going far enough, others, including Attorney General Keith Ellison and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, have lauded his leadership during a challenging period. Walz’s efforts to address police accountability and implement reforms have drawn mixed reactions, reflecting the complexities of navigating such crises.
