By Steven Rogers

The radical Democrats are hellbent on defunding the police. They try to wrap this notion in the banner of social justice, but their efforts are destined to destroy minority communities that cannot survive, much less thrive, without law and order.

The last thing that black workers and business owners hurt by the recent riots need is for clueless politicians to dismantle the police forces that law-abiding citizens depend on to protect private property and innocent lives. Yet that is exactly what many prominent Democrats are trying to accomplish by siding with the violent anarchists.

Progressive icon Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for instance, recently announced she supports “reduction of our NYPD budget and defunding a $6 billion NYPD budget that costs us books in the hands of our children and costs us very badly needed investment in NYCHA [New York City Housing Authority] and public housing.”

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, another radical lawmaker who is greatly beloved by the far-left, also recently proclaimed that she “will never stop saying not only do we need to disinvest from police but we need to completely dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department.”

Similar statements have also come from the likes of Rep. Val Demings, a Florida lawmaker being considered as Joe Biden’s potential running mate. Instead of condemning the unhinged push to deprive people of the protection afforded by law enforcement, Demings recently praised the Minneapolis City Council for its “very thoughtful” effort to defund the local police department.

Luckily for black communities in states such as Minnesota, President Trump will never abandon the rule of law.

“I stand before you as a friend and ally to every American seeking justice and peace,” he said in late May. “And I stand before you in firm opposition to anyone exploiting this tragedy to loot, rob, attack, and menace. Healing, not hatred; justice, not chaos are the mission at hand.”

A few days later, he issued a forceful call for state governments to take control of their streets, demanding that recalcitrant governors do everything in their power to safeguard local communities.

“If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” he vowed.

But while President Trump has followed through on his pledge to restore order to the streets, he also understands that National Guard troops cannot and should not serve as a permanent policing presence in American cities. State and local leaders have begun to regain control of their streets, ensure that local law enforcement is properly equipped to protect citizens from rampant crime and lawlessness. Defunding local police departments will yield the exact opposite outcome.

Thankfully, the victims of violent riots have an opportunity to hold the do-nothing Democrats accountable for their negligence in November. Minorities who are tired of being victimized by these riots, in particular, will have a chance to elect local and state lawmakers who are committed to upholding the rule of law.

By embracing the destructive demands of rioting anarchists, the Democrats are turning their backs on some of the most vulnerable communities in America — and that is precisely why they don’t deserve our votes this November.

Steven Rogers is a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer and a former member of the FBI National Joint Terrorism Task Force.