Greenville Reporter

In a Facebook post, Rep. John Bell (R-Greene) recently brought attention to the forty-seven Democratic members of the state House who signed a pledge that Republicans claim it means they want to defund law enforcement in North Carolina.

"This election could not be more important," Bell said in his Sept. 14 Facebook post, which shows an image of protesters holding signs stating "Black Lives Matter" and "Defund Police." 

Though the claims have some merit, a Fact Check article series from the News & Observer noted that Democrats signed a pledge from the Future Now organization. The group has a series of policies called "America's Goals" and model legislation. The model legislation does include reallocating some police funds to other government-based organizations and the organization has said it has not made any request to defund police. 

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) has been critical of Democrats signing the Future Fund Now pledge of "America's Goals" and related it to their desire to defund the police. 

“This radical pledge by House Democrats to defund police in North Carolina is a betrayal of the basic public trust to keep families safe, particularly in times of crisis, as crime rates rise in other areas led by the radical left,” Moore said in a Sept. 14 Civitas Institue article.