Governor Walz Criticized for Delaying National Guard During Riots

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has publicly criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for his delayed response to the civil unrest that erupted in May 2020 following George Floyd's death. In an August 2020 interview with the Star Tribune, Frey expressed frustration over Walz's hesitance to deploy the National Guard, despite multiple urgent requests from the mayor's office. Frey recounted a call he made to Walz on May 27, 2020, during which he explicitly requested the National Guard's assistance as violence escalated in the city. Text messages and emails obtained by the Star Tribune support Frey's claims, revealing that he communicated the need for National Guard support as early as 6:28 p.m. on May 27. Despite the urgency of the situation, the governor's response was to "consider" the request. The Minnesota Senate’s Joint Transportation and Judiciary and Public Safety Committee later echoed Frey's concerns, alleging that Walz "failed to act" as the unrest spiraled out of control. The Senate report indicated that a formal request for 600 National Guard members was made at 9:11 p.m. on May 27, but only 100 guardsmen were dispatched late the following evening. The mayor's office reiterated the need for additional support the next morning, highlighting the ongoing violence and injuries sustained by both protesters and first responders. The report criticized Walz for jeopardizing the safety of law enforcement by sharing sensitive information with his daughter during the crisis.