President Joe Biden directly took aim at progressives’ calls to ‘defund the police’ during his State of the Union remarks on Tuesday, earning a standing ovation from Republicans and sour looks from the progressive Squad.
He followed it by urging Congress to pass more gun control measures to ‘save lives.’
‘We should all agree: The answer is not to Defund the police. The answer is to FUND the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities,’ the president said.
The House chamber erupted in bipartisan applause, including standing ovations from top Republicans like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise.
Biden then touted his administration’s efforts to provide resources to both hire new police officers and equip them with body cameras and other measures that provide more accountability.
The president also acknowledged the toll of the violent crime wave gripping US cities by taking a moment to remember the two young NYPD officers who were slain when responding to a domestic violence call earlier this year.
‘I recently visited the New York City Police Department days after the funerals of Officer Wilbert Mora and his partner, Officer Jason Rivera. They were responding to a 9-1-1 call when a man shot and killed them with a stolen gun. Officer Mora was 27 years old. Officer Rivera was 22,’ Biden said.
‘I know what works: Investing in crime prevention and community policing, cops who’ll walk the beat, who’ll know the neighborhood, and who can restore trust and safety. So let’s not abandon our streets, or choose between safety and equal justice.
Republicans gave Biden a standing ovation when he vowed to fund the police during his speech
‘Let’s come together to protect our communities, restore trust, and hold law enforcement accountable. That’s why the Justice Department has required body cameras, banned chokeholds, and restricted no-knock warrants for its officers.
He also highlighted the $350 billion allocated for state and local governments in his American Rescue Plan to hire more police and invest in proven strategies like community violence interruption.’
Biden then addressed the gathered lawmakers directly when he called on them to pass a series of measures aimed at reducing gun violence in the US.
‘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?’ the president posed.
‘Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Repeal the liability shield that makes gun manufacturers the only industry in America that can’t be sued.’
He added: ‘These laws don’t infringe on the Second Amendment. They save lives.’
Meanwhile as Biden discussed his measures to better equip officers, progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan was seen grim-faced staring downwards.
Tlaib is meant to deliver the progressive response to the State of the Union after the president speaks.
Biden opened his first State of the Union on Tuesday evening by saying President Vladimir Putin is ‘more isolated than ever’ and told Russian oligarchs ‘we’re coming for you’ as Moscow continues its attack on Kyiv. Pictured behind the president are Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
Biden also announced during his remarks that the U.S. would be closing its airspace to all Russian flights and air craft
A violent crime wave has gripped the nation’s largest cities over the last year, as Democrats from blue strongholds continue to fuel calls to defund the police.
Crimes in San Francisco like larceny theft and rape have surged in the week leading to February 27 compared to the same period last year. Overall crime has spiked by 0.5 percent in the same time frame.
In New York City, overall major crimes spiked nearly 40 percent in January compared to the same time last year, according to the NYPD. The Big Apple reported 9,566 such incidents last month, nearly double the 6,905 major crimes at the beginning of 2021.
Grand larceny surged by 58.1 percent within that time frame. City-wide shootings increased by nearly a third.
The city has also recently been gripped by a slew of attacks by homeless people, particularly within its subway system — where many had been residing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Los Angeles, California saw overall violent crime including robberies go up 3.5 percent during that period, though homicides dropped nearly 17 percent, according to statistics reported by Fox 11 LA.
A recent Politico/Morning Consult poll found that 75 percent of Americans blamed ‘the defunding of police departments’ for violent crime ‘increasing in the United States.’
Mora (left and right) was taken off life support a week ago. Being an organ donor, in his death the 27-year-old helped save five lives
The attack is the latest in a string of stabbings and robberies that have occurred in the past week in New York City’s subway system, which serves more than 3 million people daily
Crimes in San Francisco like larceny theft and rape have surged this year in the week leading to February 27, the SFPD’s most recent data, as compared to last year. Overall crime has spiked by 0.5% in the same period
Nearly half — 49 percent — said defunding the police was a ‘major reason’ for the crime spike and 26 percent called it a ‘minor reason.’
Just a quarter said it was ‘not a reason’ at all.
Earlier on Tuesday, a White House official touted Biden’s commitment to reducing violent crime
when previewing the president’s speech, with an emphasis on his five-part strategy to combat gun violence.
The plan, rolled out in June of last year, involves stemming the flow of firearms used to commit violence, investing more funds in community violence interventions, expanding employment and other opportunities for young adults and teens, and breaking the cycle of re-offending by giving more support to formerly incarcerated Americans.
It also calls for more support to local law enforcement, including ‘federal tools and resources to address violent crime and put more cops on the beat,’ the White House official said.
During his Tuesday evening speech Biden also expressed US support for Ukraine as it’s invaded by Russia, announcing the country would close its airspace to Russian planes.
A suspect gets arrested at the 33rd St. subway station in New York City. Biden acknowledged violent crime in US cities when he took a moment during the State of the Union to highlight two slain NYPD officers
Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood was left reeling after a 71-year-old man was shot and killed this year
