A Minneapolis activist who recently lost his 4-year-old granddaughter to gun violence is criticizing the push to defund the police. Like 81% of black Americans, K.G. Wilson opposes the idea that cities should decrease the number of police in their communities.

Fox News reported: “K.G. Wilson’s granddaughter, Aniya Allen, was shot in the head as she and her mother were believed to have been caught in the crossfire between rival gangs.”

Wilson is an anti-violence activist who, like many black activists nationwide, has worked with disadvantaged children to get them out of street life for almost two decades. During an interview with the Daily Mail, he said defunding the police “is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I can tell you this, if I was a criminal, I would support it,” he added. “I would love it.”

He told the Daily Mail that he had “warned and warned” that innocent children would start to be caught in the crossfire between dangerous criminals targeting one another. “I warned about this. When you hear about a shooting and people say there were children there and they could almost have hit kids, that’s letting you know what’s coming,” he said.

Aniya was shot on May 17 and died in the hospital the following day. “She is one of three children shot across three weeks in Minneapolis,” according to the Daily Mail.

Wilson recounted his experience learning of his granddaughter’s death. He said:

‘They said that she had passed, and people were sending their condolences, but I didn’t believe it or receive it until I went to the hospital and saw my family there.

‘And I was like, “Wow, this is real. They killed my baby.”‘

Wilson dismissed calls for defunding the police as a pet project for high-profile politicians and activists. He indicated that this sentiment is not shared by people on the ground.

The activist continued, pointing out how the idea of decreasing police is counterproductive to those who wish to have a safe community. “You’re not going to see me with those people over there. To bring change we have to focus on what’s happening right here. That’s what’s going on,” he said.

He added:

‘It’s time to speak the truth but everybody’s afraid to speak the truth. What happened on 38th Street? It’s not the same as what’s been going on in North Minneapolis [for years].

‘A black person who was killed by a white officer…that’s something different. I personally don’t think it was purposely done, but it was done and somebody needs to pay.

Wilson noted that the city needs “a movement right here for what’s going on here; black people hurting shooting and killing black people. People are afraid to tell the truth.”

The activist stated that a better solution would be to establish closer bonds between police and the communities they serve. During his nearly 20 years advocating for his community, Wilson has worked alongside law enforcement and has a positive relationship with the police.

“I’ve worked with them for years. The chief was an officer when I started. So, we’ve known it each other for years – my whole journey, probably his whole journey,” he explained.

Police Chief Medaria Arradondo echoed Wilson’s thoughts. “Minneapolis police officers will continue to rush into harm’s way to save lives however we need help from community leaders and residents to stand up and speak out denouncing loudly that they will not tolerate this violence as well,” he said.

According to a CBS Minnesota report, Minneapolis’ crime rate is trending upward at an alarming pace. “Recent data shows that the number people wounded by gunshots is up 250% from last year (Jan. 1 to Jan. 18),” the report explained.

This increase occurred amid calls for the city to defund its police. However, the rising crime rates have prompted at least some politicians to walk back this idea. (See: Minneapolis Mayor Comes to Striking Conclusion That Defunding the Police Increased Crime)

Still, the questions must be asked: How many people have lost their lives because of the hard leftists who demanded that the city defund its police department? How many of the city’s residents have suffered due to this foolish idea? Even further, will the people responsible for enabling violent criminals by decreasing police ever be held accountable?