In response to a piece published in E-City Beat last month detailing her many calls to defund the police, Great Falls mayoral candidate Jasmine Taylor posted a video on her candidate Facebook page claiming she was only doing what Black Lives Matter told her to do.
Here’s what Taylor said in her video about our criticism:
“What these folks are talking about actually occurred about five years ago. I did help organize a lot of Black Lives Matter protests here in Great Falls, and we did indeed use some messaging that the Black Lives Matter Community used…because it’s not our job to tone police black people.”
Taylor blaming BLM for her own words and opinions about law enforcement is cowardly and dishonest. Especially so since she assured the public, when she attempted to justify her refusal to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance, that she would never say anything she doesn’t believe.
Let’s review Taylor’s own words:
“Everything about our country’s policing system is shameful…I will say again, defund the police.” – Jasmine Taylor in a 2022 FB post. Not 5 years ago, her own words, not a BLM quote.
“There is no profession where any number of murderers can be tolerated. Police in America continue to brutalize, terrorize, and murder. It doesn’t matter if there are “good” police. A “good” officer does not negate a single murder. Ever. The good in no way outweighs the danger that police pose to all of us. The system of policing has continually shown us that it cannot be trusted. It is dangerous. It is deadly. We need protection FROM the police.” – Jasmine Taylor in a January 2023 post. Not 5 years ago, her own words, not a BLM quote.
“Defund the police. They don’t make us safer, and if you’re anything but White and Cis they make you even less safe. Defund the police. Defund the police.” – Jasmine Taylor in a 2021 post. Not 5 years ago, her own words, not a BLM quote.
“We MUST completely rebuild law enforcement in this country. You cannot reform a system this entombed in racism and white supremacy…Defund the police.” – Jasmine Taylor in a 2021 post. Not 5 years ago, her own words, not a BLM quote.
I wonder if the thousands of local law enforcement folks, their families, friends, and supporters are buying Taylors lame attempt during election season to blame BLM for her own despicable words and beliefs.
Certainly not.
Jasmine has her own Agenda and it is not our best one. We cannot change her outlook or statements but we can Vote for Cory Reeves. I will do so, I hope that others will join in on election Day. I will vote for Reeves not out of negativity from Taylor but because he is and will continue to do a great job for Great Falls.
Jerry,
Everyone has an agenda. Jasmine’s might not align with yours, but done say ours as if you are speaking for GF. Cory Reeves has an agenda too. Wouldn’t it be nice if they actually debated instead of Cory saying my record speaks for itself, that is a cop out.
We should expect the elected representatives of our community to actually let us know what they plan to do and where they stand instead of attacking their opponents. Let’s look to the positive aspects of the candidates instead of the negative.
Actually, seeing the warrantless arrests all over the country, seeing constitutional violations by ICE, seeing the Trump administration pursue a police state, seeing the fear, witnessing tanks on American Streets, seeing masked people kidnapping, seeing a concentration camp in the middle of a miserable swamp……Jasmine Taylor was a visionary, policing does need significant changes, and what is happening now needs to stop. Our representatives and senators need to defund ICE at the bare minimum.
Oh it needs change in this town. W the recent murder at Target, and drugs out of control…we need more police in great falls not less.
Ray,
How does more police fix the problem? The shooting at Target wasn’t “murder”. The individual is charged with negligent homicide, how are more police going to fix that? A police officer following each of us around to make sure we don’t break the law? As for the drug problem police can’t fix that, there is a direct correlation between mental illness and drug use. People that are addicted to drugs need services to treat them instead of the police arresting them. It’s cheaper to get them treatment and the likelihood of them relapsing is lower than us arresting, jailing, prosecuting and incarcerating people for some drug crimes.
You as a citizen and hopefully a good human being can help police the problem by trying to help these people instead of just wanting them arrested and out of sight. We can change our community if we become a community.
So when the law is actually enforced, it is viewed as wrong? I think you need to read the Constitution in its entirety. For example, Obama bombed places. Nothing about that. Trump does it and it is wrong. Really?? Get back to us after you read the Constitution and be ready for questions to prove you really read it.
Wait have you actually read the constitution? The difference is we were at war when bombs were dropped in the Bush and Obama eras. Trump did it on his own, that’s him declaring war, which according to the constitution he doesn’t have that power.
What connection does Jasmine with great falls? I will not vote for and will feel free to campaign against her. It will be a sad day for the city of Great Falls should she be elected.
I left Montana long ago, however I try to keep up, I have faith in Great Falls citizens to see through this person’s obvious attempt to in essence pull a race card by claiming “the black people made me do it”. As a POC, Montana was good to me and my family while I was raising my kids. You’ve got this.
Phillip,
You need to stop with only posting opinions that attack the side you don’t agree with. Why aren’t you talking about Cory’s proclamation on not making a proclamation for Pride day or whatever it is called. Why not ask Cory to explain why he didn’t just make a proclamation about how we are a community of individuals and we need to love and respect each other’s individual differences and learn to see each other as people.
Hey Anthony,
We print all the comments, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Now I need to watch that movie again. Thanks, Phil
Wait have you actually read the constitution? The difference is we were at war when bombs were dropped in the Bush and Obama eras. Trump did it on his own, that’s him declaring war, which according to the constitution he doesn’t have that power.