THE ice cream giant Ben & Jerry's has once again called to defund the police following the death of Daunte Wright in Minneapolis.
Wright, was "accidentally" shot and killed by former cop Kimberly Potter during a routine traffic stop just ten miles from where George Floyd was killed last summer.
Why is Ben & Jerry's defund the police trending?
On April 12, the ice cream makers tweeted, ""The murder of Daunte Wright is rooted in white supremacy and results from the intentional criminalization of Black and Brown communities.
"This system can’t be reformed," the Vermont-based ice cream giant added.
"It must be dismantled and a real system of public safety rebuilt from the ground up," Ben & Jerry’s argued, adding the hashtag #DefundThePolice.
Ben & Jerry's, a brand known for its progressive politics, has voiced support for racial justice activism in the past.
Is this the first time Ben & Jerry's calls for defunding the police?
In December 2020, the company collaborated with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, to create a non-dairy frozen dessert that honored "activism in pursuit of racial justice".
The income of Kaepernick, who is known for his protests against racial injustice in America, and Ben & Jerry's collaboration was said to go towards the "abolish the police" movement.
At the time, Kaepernick said he hoped it would elevate his demands to abolish and defund the police in the US after a slew of Black Lives Matter demonstrations protesting systemic brutality last year.
“I'm honored to partner with Ben & Jerry's on Change the Whirled," he said at the time, promoting the the caramel non-dairy sunflower butter base with fudge chips, graham cracker swirls and chocolate cookie swirls.
“Their commitment to challenging the anti-Black roots of policing in the United States demonstrates a material concern for the wellbeing of Black and Brown communities.
"My hope is that this partnership will amplify calls to defund and abolish the police and to invest in futures that can make us safer, healthier, and truly free.”
Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy touted the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback's involvement in a press release announcing the politicized caramel dessert.
“Colin Kaepernick and his Know Your Rights Camp is the perfect partner for Ben & Jerry’s to continue to advance our work on issues of racial justice,” McCarthy said.
“Ben & Jerry’s is proud to diversify our flavor portfolio by honoring Kaepernick with a full-time flavor.
"We deeply respect how Colin uses his voice to protest racism, white supremacy and police violence through the belief that ‘love is at the root of our resistance.
"We have tremendous hope in what we can accomplish together.”
Has the former police who shot Wright been arrested?
Potter has been arrested over the death of Wright and is facing 10 years in prison on a second-degree manslaughter charge.
Potter is set to be booked under a second-degree manslaughter charge after being taken into custody at 11.30am local time on Wednesday, April 14.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office will file charges later today.
The maximum sentence for the charge is a 10-year jail sentence and a $20,000 fine, Minnesota statutes state.
Bodycam footage from the fatal shooting reveals the moment Potter accidentally shot him while trying to use a Taser.
Speaking on April 12, Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said she had intended to use a Taser – not a handgun – and described the shooting as an "accidental discharge".
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott said the resignation of both Potter and Gannon came after the city council passed a resolution to dismiss the cops.
In a statement on April 13, Potter said: "I am tendering my resignation from the Brooklyn Center Police Department effective immediately.
"I have loved every minute of being a police officer and serving this community to the best of my ability, but I believe it is in the interest of the community, the department, and my fellow officers if I resign immediately."
Wright's parents have refused to accept that their son was killed by "mistake".
"I lost my son, he's never coming back," Wright's dad, Aubrey Wright, told ABC News.
"I can't accept that – a mistake, that doesn't even sound right.
"This officer has been on the force for 26 years. I can't accept that."
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