SECOND TAKE
THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Charlotte takes a small but significant step
The US city responds to protests over George Floyd’s murder by removing the police’s budget for items such as teargas
The Charlotte city council (in North Carolina, US) took a significant step towards police reform this week. But it also was a small step, and it should be far from the only one officials take in this important national moment for the US.
With a 9-2 vote the council removed money (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article243378411.html)from next year’s police budget for chemical agents such as teargas. The move was a reaction to a deeply disturbing June 2 incident (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article243278326.html)in which police trapped — or “kettled” — demonstrators at an uptown George Floyd protest, then tear-gassed them. Video of the incident (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5H6QB0aElY) prompted outrage among state legislators and local officials, including mayor Vi Lyles...
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