Sandy MaloneWashington, DC – President Joe Biden received a bipartisan standing ovation when he called to “fund the police” during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, but anti-police activists were not happy.
President Biden vowed on March 1 that his administration would tackle the escalating crime and gun violence problems in the United States, but pushed back against progressive Democrats’ calls to “defund the police.”
“Let’s not abandon our streets or choose between safety and equal justice,” the President said. “Let’s come together and protect our communities, restore trust and hold law enforcement accountable.”
“That’s why the Justice Department has required body cameras, banned choke holds, and restricted no-knock warrants for its officers,” President Biden continued. “That’s why the American Rescue Plan… provided $350 billion that cities, states, and counties can use to hire more police, invest in more proven strategies. Proven strategies like community violence interruption, trusted messengers, breaking the cycle of violence and trauma, giving young people some hope.”
Then he horrified anti-police activists with a strong call to fund law enforcement.
“We should all agree the answer is not to defund the police,” the President said. “It’s to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them!”
“Fund them with resources and training they need to protect our community,” he added.
POV: listening to Biden declare “the answer is not to defund the police, it’s to fund the police”#SOTU pic.twitter.com/ZegIneiCvU
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) March 2, 2022
Then President Biden asked Congress to pass his budget to “keep our neighborhoods safe” and promised to crack down on gun trafficking and ghost guns.
“I ask Congress to pass proven measures to reduce gun violence, pass universal background checks. Why should anyone on a terrorist list be able to purchase a weapon? Why?” he asked.
People on terrorist watch lists have no due process to be removed from the watch list and are not notified that they are on the list.
President Biden at #SOTU: "We should all agree, the answer is not to defund the police. It's to fund the police."
"Fund them with resources and training, resources and training they need they need to protect their communities." pic.twitter.com/2y6X5hdnuM
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 2, 2022
Despite the bipartisan applause, more than one Democrat voiced their displeasure with President Biden’s open call to fund law enforcement after two years of work by progressives to do just the opposite.
“With all due respect, Mr. President,” U.S. Representative Cori Bush (D-Missouri) tweeted. “You didn’t mention saving Black lives once in this speech.”
“All our country has done is given more funding to police,” Bush continued. “The result? 2021 set a record for fatal police shootings. Defund the police. Invest in our communities.”
Despite Bush’s statement, crime surged after police departments around the country were defunded.
The answer definitely ain’t to fund the police, Biden.
— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) March 2, 2022
Biden: Fund the police.
No, this is not a parody.
— Rekieta Media (@RekietaMedia) March 2, 2022
With the election just a few months away Biden wants to cure cancer, secure the border, end covid mandates, fund the police, and make things in America. Yup. The polls are that bad. #SOTU
— Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) March 2, 2022
Interestingly, the President did not mention racial issues in his speech or the push for “equity” that has been such a hallmark of his administration thus far, Politico reported.
Others mocked Vice President Kamala Harris for applauding President Biden’s call to “fund the police” after bailing out rioters.
Kamala Harris applauding "fund the police," when she was bailing out people who rioted while demanding we "defund the police."
Politics is all meaningless thearer. #SOTU2022
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) March 2, 2022
President Biden’s call to fund the police followed recent survey research by the Democratic Party that showed some voters in battleground states think that party has become “preachy” and “focused on culture wars,” according to Politico.
In February, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) specifically called out Bush and said defunding the police was not a Democratic Party line.
Holly Matkin
