Democrat presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden has drawn a line in the sand with law enforcement, saying “yes, absolutely,” he will divert funds from police because some have “become the enemy.”

Biden made the comments in an interview with Ady Barkan for a Now This exclusive. “To make [black lives matter], we need to redirect money away from police departments into mental health care, affordable housing, good jobs [and] restorative justice,” Barkan tweeted. “I asked Joe Biden what he thinks about this approach.”

Biden’s answer references police departments that use military surplus equipment in dealing with dangerous situations.

Though nuanced with his response in targeting military-grade levels of police protection, Biden’s startling response shows the line separating him and anti-police extremists in his party no longer exists. “Surplus military equipment for law enforcement, they don’t need that!” Biden exclaims. “The last thing you need is an up-armored Humvee coming into a neighborhood, it’s like the military invading.”

“They don’t know anybody. They become the enemy,” he continued. “They’re supposed to be protecting these people.” The reporter then cuts Biden off and asks: “Do we agree that we can redirect some of the funding?” Biden replies, “Yes, absolutely!”

Biden’s sentiments echo those of the Squad who have called police departments a “cancer,” or have called for law enforcement and prisons to be “abandoned.” Just one day earlier, Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) introduced legislation brought forth by a group seeking to do away with police, prisons, and any form of punishment for lawbreakers.

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Following his call to defund the police, Biden then tackled prisons. “One of the things we also need to be doing,” the former vice president insisted, “is fundamentally changing the way…we deal with our prison system.” He added, “It should be a rehabilitation system, not a punishment system.” Bear in mind, he made these comments in the wake of rioting, looting, and tragic murders taking place across the country because criminals feel emboldened, with no repercussions for their actions. Biden clearly is adapting a position previously only held by party extremists. This is your new norm in the Democratic Party.

This piece originally appeared in ThePoliticalInsider.com and is used by permission. 

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