A recent poll by CDL Life shows that as much as 79 percent of truckers say they won’t deliver to cities with disbanded or defunded police departments.
In light of current events, cities across the U.S. are considering defunding and even disband their police departments as a result of the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American, was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, MN, on May 25, 2020, during an arrest.
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Minneapolis City Considers Disbanding the City’s Police Department
After the incident involving the death of George Floyd, The Minneapolis City Council reportedly started planning to disband the city’s police department.
Forbes, in their article “The Movement To Defund Or Disband Police: Here’s What You Need To Know Now”, published on Jun 9, 2020, wrote the following:
“According to the Associated Press, on Sunday, a majority of the members of the Minneapolis City Council declared that they support disbanding the city’s police department. Lisa Bender, the city council president, said, “It is clear that our system of policing is not keeping our communities safe. Our efforts at incremental reform have failed, period.” Bender added that the city council is committed to terminating Minneapolis’ relationship with the police force.”
POTUS’ Response
The President of the United States, Trump, had these responses to the pushes to disband and defund police departments:
PRESIDENT TRUMP:
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 8, 2020
“We won’t be defunding our police.”
“We won’t be dismantling our police.”
“We won’t be disbanding our police.”
“We won’t be ending our police force.” pic.twitter.com/UG6g1yl0Ve
LAW & ORDER, NOT DEFUND AND ABOLISH THE POLICE. The Radical Left Democrats have gone Crazy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2020
The CDL Life Poll
Truckers have been fighting the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic by delivering essential supplies to stores and medical facilities since the beginning of 2020. The consequences of these deliveries stopping will be devastating.
When asked why, the majority of truckers said they were fearful of what could happen if police departments get defunded or are disbanded. This should come as no surprise, as trucking is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. In 2018, trucking was officially reported as the most dangerous job in the country.
CDL Life’s poll was taken by about 1,300 respondents as of writing this article. 79% of them said they won’t deliver to cities that disband or defund their police departments. The poll took place within the CDL Life app.
CDL Life has posted some of the truckers’ responses as well:
“…if something was to happen and you have to take matters into your own hands, and then you risk being prosecuted for protecting yourself.”, said one responder.
Another responder wrote: “This is not an area you need to act fearless and think you you’d look like a fool for saying no…Imagine what kind of fool you look like for driving into a hot spot and putting your life in danger.”
It is obvious that truckers are facing prejudice dainly, and as one of the responders wrote, “I will not deliver to an area with a disbanded police department. My life matter and I do this for my family. We are already at the mercy of these towns and cities with laws and hate against us for parking, getting a meal or even using a restroom.”
“Simple. We may not like it all the time, but laws and order is necessary.” was the statement of a responder.
Some truckers have even started to take action preemptively, as did the following responder: “For my own safety and security of my customers’ loads, I have already informed my dispatcher that I will refuse all loads to cities that have defunded their police departments.”
