One of Joe Biden’s top Democratic supporters in 2020, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was recently announced as vice-president Kamala Harris’s pick for the 2024 election. However, an old interview clip of Walz’s wife Gwen discussing2020 Black Lives Matter riots has resurfaced online, drawing criticism to the governor’s response to the violence that occurred in Minneapolis.
In the interview, which was aired on KSTP-TV’s “5 Eyewitness News Nightcast” channel, Gwen Walz can be heard talking about the riots and her decision to leave her windows open so she could “smell the burning tires” during the chaos. She goes on to explain that she felt the smell of the burning tires was a “touchstone” moment of what was happening in the city.
But it wasn’t just Gwen Walz who seemed to have a unique reaction to the riots. As the violence and destruction unfolded, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was slow to send in the National Guard to address the situation, leading many to question his handling of the situation. In fact, he even argued against calling in the National Guard, stating that it would only further incite the rioters and that space was needed for protesters to express their outrage.
“I want to just be clear there’s philosophically an argument to be made that an armed presence on the ground in the midst of where we just had a police killing is seen as a catalyst,” Walz said at the time.
This decision to hold off on sending in the National Guard has been heavily criticized, especially in light of Gwen Walz’s statement about wanting to smell the burning tires during the riots. It seems contradictory to leave your windows open to take in the “touchstone” moment of the chaos, while also being hesitant to take action to stop it.
Moreover, during the violence, Gwen Walz’s daughter, Hope Walz, also made headlines for coordinating with rioters to inform them that the National Guard wouldn’t be activated one night. This further adds to the criticism of the Walz family’s response to the riots and their apparent lack of concern for the safety and well-being of their community.
Here is a bizarre clip from an interview with Gwen Walz stating that she left her windows open during the Minneapolis Riots so she could smell the burning tires.
Her daughter also coordinated with rioters to let them know that the National Guard would not be activated one night. pic.twitter.com/ityW100Z4y
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) August 6, 2024
As news of Gwen Walz’s comments and Governor Walz’s handling of the riots has resurfaced, many have expressed their disappointment and outrage. It’s concerning that a governor and his family would have such a nonchalant attitude towards such a destructive and violent event in their own city. The Walz family’s statements and actions during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots raise serious questions about their ability to lead and protect their constituents.