DNC speaker Insha Rahman blasted for saying migrant crime and carjackings ‘don’t matter to many Americans’

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A Democratic National Committee strategy session on crime and safety turned contentious online after comments from Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice, drew sharp criticism.

Speaking at the DNC’s summer meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rahman told party members not to focus on migrant crime or carjackings, insisting those issues “don’t matter to that many Americans.”

Insha Rahman tells Democrats to reject tough on crime scare tactics

Framing President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown as a “political liability” rather than a public safety solution, Rahman urged Democrats to push back against Republican talking points.

“Trump is not about safety,” she said. “This is a political power grab, and he will do it however he can, whether that’s at the ballot box or taking over our cities.”

Rahman centered her comments on urging Democrats to resist Republican “tough on crime scare tactics.”

On Monday, Rahman urged Democrats to avoid what she called political “bait,” saying: “Don’t take the bait in talking about migrant crime or carjackings or the things that actually don’t matter to that many Americans, and then go to the policy proposals that we think work.”

Her remarks immediately went viral on social media, with critics accusing Democrats of dismissing serious crime concerns and pointing to Vera’s history of backing efforts to defund the police.

The Vera Institute, where Rahman serves as a senior official, has long positioned itself as a reform-focused organization with a mission to dismantle what it calls a “racist” criminal justice system.

In 2020, during nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd, the group issued a statement declaring: “We must dismantle the current culture of policing in the United States.” It also endorsed calls to “defund the police,” pledging to build on what it described as a “unique moment of public awareness, outrage, and calls to defund.”

Crime debate escalates amid Donald Trump crackdown push

Rahman’s appearance came just as Trump outlined new steps on crime, including mobilizing thousands of National Guard troops in Washington, DC, and signing an executive order to roll back cashless bail in the capital. He also floated sending federal law enforcement into cities like Chicago, framing his approach as a direct answer to rising violence.

In contrast, Rahman argued Democrats should emphasize safety through reform. “They want money and privilege and to give a handout to the bail bondsman,” she said of Republicans, “while we want to make sure safety, not wealth, determines who stays in jail and who goes home to their families.”

She warned Democrats not to allow Trump to claim credit for declining crime rates. “It’s going down in spite of him and because of Democratic leadership like mine,” Rahman said, urging party members to “lean all the way in” on the debate. “The reason crime is going down, our communities are becoming safer, is because of us,” she added.

On the question of defunding the police, Rahman suggested reframing the issue rather than avoiding it. “I’m not about scare tactics or slogans,” she told attendees. “We keep expecting police to solve every social problem. No one profession can do that. We’re spending too much and putting too much burden on them. It’s time to pry out some promising new solutions to lift the burden. It’s time for support and change, not blame.”

DNC speaker sparks backlash after remarks downplaying migrant crime and carjackings

Conservative voices were quick to seize on Rahman’s latest comments. “Who has given money to the George Soros-tied Vera Institute?” asked GOP strategist Steve Guest on X, before listing prominent donors. 

The Republican National Committee’s research arm also noted that, “This Democrat Speaker is a member of the Vera Institute of Justice which advocates for defunding the police.”

The Project for Immigration Reform posted on X, saying, “She makes over $300k in salary according to last year’s tax filings, and the Vera Institute brought in around $140 million in revenue.”

“And they wonder why they hover at 30% approval,” one user wrote. Another stated, “Do these idiot realize what they are saying?” while the other user stated, “Carjackings matter a lot, and so do all kinds of crime. What's the matter with this so-called "THINK TANK" woman?”

One wrote, “Deport her immediately !” Another summed it up: “Let them keep on talking! Never interrupt your enemies when they are busy destroying themselves.”

One penned, “Democrats just hate enforcing the law even though it is how we protect the public and keep communities safe.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online