Cities around the United States are turning toward their local leaders for guidance when it comes to coronavirus outbreaks and the economic turmoil it’s caused.
The American public is also widely demanding accountability for decades of police brutality and systemic racism. And some mayors are in the hot seat as their constituents demand they either make changes to policing or resign from office.
The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, experienced heavy criticism and even a so-called “walk of shame” as local voters booed him away from a demonstration following his refusal to dismantle the police department. In Seattle, some are demanding the resignation of mayor Jenny Durkan after the city’s police used aggressive tactics against protesters.
Atlanta’s Keisha Lance Bottoms is in the spotlight as she responds to the police shooting of Rayshard Brooks. Mayor Lance Bottoms is among several Black women leading cities during a pandemic and calls for an end to police brutality and systemic racism against Black people.
We talk to several mayors across America about how they’re dealing with protests, police reform, the coronavirus and more.
Copyright 2020 WAMU 88.5