Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong distanced herself from past rhetoric on policing, saying she no longer believes police exist to uphold white supremacy and rejecting calls to abolish law enforcement. “My views have only become stronger in that I’m serious about public safety. And I will not abolish the police,” Hong said on the Pod Save America Podcast Tuesday. “My views are that people are struggling right now and need basic needs met.”Hong said her focus is on addressing violent crime while ensuring police departments have adequate resources. “I want to focus on stopping violent crime and giving law enforcement the resources and the training that they need. But ensure that we are also holding accountable law enforcement that does not follow the law,” she said.
Hong’s comments mark a notable shift from positions she expressed in 2020, in a post on X, saying, “I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police,” after the shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
I support defunding the police as a first step towards abolishing the police.Jacob Blake is fighting for his life but he shouldn't have to be. We must also fight for his life and get justice for all those harmed by state-sanctioned violence.Black Lives Matter— Francesca Hong For Governor (@FrancescaHongWI) August 24, 2020
