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Georgia Democratic governor hopeful Stacey Abrams said Georgia sheriffs supported her opponent, Republican government Brian Kemp, because they want to “be able to get black people off the streets.”
Abrams made the comment as she and Kemp argued over whether she wanted to “punish the police” during their final debate Sunday night in Atlanta.
“The law enforcement men and women know who will be with them and stand behind them and continue to support them. And that’s me,” Kemp said on the debate stage on Sunday evening. “And that’s why we have the approval of 107 sheriffs in this state.”
Abrams has not fully joined the ‘defund the police’ movement, but previously said in an interview that she supported the ‘vision underlying that cry’.
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Stacey Abrams (pictured) said Georgia sheriffs supported her opponent, Republican government Brian Kemp, because they want to “be able to get black people off the streets”
Stacey Abrams (right) made the comments as she and her rival, Republican Governor Brian Kemp (left) faced each other in a final pre-election debate Sunday night in Atlanta, Georgia.
That has given Kemp fodder to go after Abrams, and he stays ahead of the Democrat with just eight days left before Election Day.
“I’m not a member of the ‘good ol’ boys’ club. So no. I don’t have 107 sheriffs who want to be able to take black people off the streets, who want to be able to go without accountability,” Abrams said. “I don’t believe every sheriff will want that, but I do know we need a governor who believes in defending both law enforcement and the people of Georgia.”
Abrams then pointed out that she has two brothers – one who has committed crimes and the other who is a social worker.
“My brother who commits crimes should be held accountable, but my other brother should never be arrested for driving while he is black,” she argued. “And yet he is in this Georgia.”
Georgia Republican head of government Brian Kemp (left) has been able to use the left-wing “defund the police” movement to go after Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams (right) as she previously said she supports the “vision underlying depends on the cry’
Republican administration Brian Kemp (left) shakes hands with Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams (right) Sunday night in Atlanta. Kemp and Abrams also faced each other in 2018, when she came within two points to win in what was previously a solid red condition
She said that as governor, she would “hold law enforcement accountable, but also be supportive.”
Abrams specifically called on local law enforcement to be supported as local officers were not getting pay increases using COVID funds in Georgia.
Republicans were quick to pick up on Abrams’ joke.
“This kind of despicable, sinister, outrageous anti-police rhetoric puts our police officers at risk at a time when deadly criminal violence against our law enforcement officers is exploding,” tweeted former Trump White House official Stephen Miller. “Biden and Dems must immediately reject Abrams’ very dangerous rhetoric.”
The RNC Research account shared the clip, labeling it a “smear” from law enforcement.
“Stacey Abrams is going completely progressive and accusing the police in Georgia of racism in general,” wrote conservative pundit Erick Erickson.
Republicans across the country have been able to skillfully use the far-left cry to “downgrade the police” against Democrats during this mid-cycle—despite national Democrats, including President Joe Biden, condemning the move and showing support for the police.
On Friday, former President Barack Obama clashed with Abrams and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock in Atlanta, arguing that it is Democrats who have “serious answers to serious problems.”
“Violent crime has increased over the past seven years, not just in the last two years, not only in liberal states, but also in conservative, rural states,” Obama said. “That’s a serious problem.”
But then he asked, “Who will fight to protect you and your family?”
“The Republican politicians who want to flood our streets with more guns? Who actually voted against more resources for our police forces?’ Obama mused.
Abrams and Kemp also ran into each other in 2018, and Abrams came in within two points of Kemp in a state that had previously been red.
In 2020, Georgia went blue for Biden, and two Democrats — Warnock and Senator Jon Ossoff — handed control of the Senate to Democrats in the early days of 2021.
Georgia could once again decide the fate of the Senate, with Warnock in a tight race with Republican Herschel Walker, whose campaign has survived a series of scandals, with the candidates essentially equal.