In a video shared on Twitter Wednesday night, Abbott is calling for people to sign the pledge against defunding the police.
"Some cities in Texas want to defund and dismantle police departments in our state," he said. "This reckless action invites crime into our communities and it threatens the safety of all Texans, including our law enforcement officers and their families."
Some want to defund our police — but we can’t allow it.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 9, 2020
I’m calling on every Texan & every candidate for public office to join me in signing a pledge AGAINST defunding police tomorrow at 2 PM CT.
Download the pledge at https://t.co/XSAg8PLKH2 & share using #TexasBacksTheBlue pic.twitter.com/C25910tLSO
Abbott will also propose "broad strokes" for legislation related to police funding that he hopes the legislature will take up in the 2021 session.
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Gov. Abbott has previously said the state might consider a takeover of the Austin Police Department after the city council removed a third of the department's budget.
SEE ALSO: Houston increases police budget as Dallas, Austin officials consider decreases
Calls for "defunding" police departments have gained momentum since the death of Houstonian George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police.
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