Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's response to the unrest in May 2020, following the death of George Floyd. Frey claimed that the governor hesitated to send the National Guard as the city faced turmoil.
During an interview in August 2020, Frey revealed that despite multiple urgent requests for National Guard assistance, the resources were not granted until after the city had to abandon a besieged police precinct. Texts and emails obtained supported Frey's account, showing his efforts to secure National Guard support.
Minnesota Governor Walz, who has been in office since 2019, faced renewed scrutiny for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the riots in Minneapolis. The timeline revealed that Frey's initial call to Walz for National Guard deployment came after a plea from Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo.
The Minnesota Senate committee later criticized Walz for delays in deploying the National Guard, alleging that his inaction exacerbated the situation. Despite claims of a lack of specificity in Frey's requests, the mayor's office continued to push for assistance due to the escalating unrest.
Walz eventually activated the National Guard, but only a limited number of soldiers were on the ground by the evening of May 28. The governor's daughter, Hope Walz, faced backlash for sharing confidential information about the National Guard's movements on social media, potentially compromising security efforts.
Following the events, Walz held a press conference blaming Frey for the city's response to the unrest. In contrast, Frey maintained that he had been transparent and cooperative throughout the crisis, doing everything possible to address the challenges faced by Minneapolis.
