‘Defund the Police’ in Cities Faces Ire of State GOP Lawmakers

When calls for police reform led city leaders in Austin, Texas, to approve moving more than $150 million from their law enforcement budget to housing, violence prevention, and other programs last year, backlash from Republican state officials was swift.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said the funding shifts adopted by the city and others following the death of George Floyd after being pinned down by a Minneapolis police officer would invite “crime and chaos” into communities. Now, he’s banded with GOP legislators to punish Texas cities that follow Austin’s lead.

Jury selection is scheduled to continue today in the trial ...