Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2021
MPD Officers Use Excessive Force on Unhoused People and Activists
Minneapolis, MN– Nearly ten months following the brutal death of George Floyd as a result of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, it is clear that Minneapolis Police have not changed their violent approaches to interacting with community members. Earlier today, police officers attempted to shutdown a homeless encampment in North Minneapolis through the use of excessive force, rather than de-escalation. This included an officer violently and egregiously kneeling on someone’s neck during the encounter, which could have resulted in death or serious bodily injury. (See video: twitter.com/MnUrising/status/1372555429683855361)
Residents were given two days notice to leave the encampment and were not provided alternative solutions that meet their needs. It is seemingly easier for the City to spend millions of dollars to protect buildings in downtown Minneapolis, instead of offering sensible solutions to unhoused community members.
“We just want to be left alone. We aren’t causing anybody any problems. The neighbors love us and support us. There is no justification for having us evicted from our homes. The stress and mental anguish from being constantly threatened to be removed from our homes is like be punished for just living our lives, and this is torturing and adding more trauma. Not only, do we have problems that housed people have, but we also have to deal with an unfathomable amount of problems, including Covid, which the experts state that encampments are safer than shelters, which many don’t realize are unsafe.” said Nightwolf, resident of the Near North encampment.
“Time and time again Mayor Jacob Frey shows his lack of imagination in solving challenging issues. He reverts back to the same old solution: let the police solve it. We know the police don’t solve these challenges, they exacerbate them”, said Sonja Muus, Racial Justice Network member.
We demand that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Arrandono refrain from using violence and threats of violence against our unhoused community members, who are vulnerable and often grappling with mental illness and trauma. Instead, the City should use its available resources to provide solutions that address the unique needs of unhoused community members and respect the dignity of unhoused persons in our community.
The Racial Justice Network (RJN) is a multi-racial, grassroots organization, committed to fighting for racial justice and building bridges across racial, social, and economic lines. racialjusticenetwork.com
Recent Press Releases
Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman were wrong in deciding not to bring charges against Minneapolis police officer Mark Hanneman in the killing of Amir Locke
April 6, 2022
The circumstances that led to the killing of Amir Locke on February 2 should never have existed. The Attorney General and Hennepin County Attorney acknowledged this fact. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey…
Guilty verdicts against former officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane send a strong message for Police Accountability, yet additional work is still needed
February 25, 2022
These verdicts are a result of the multi-year long persistence of Black leaders and allies in our community who continue to demand justice.
PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY: COALITION OF BLACK WOMEN AND MOTHERS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE KILLING OF AMIR LOCKE
February 7, 2022
Residents of Minneapolis are demanding comprehensive answers on how and why this happened, given that the city recently updated its no-knock warrant policy in 2020.
MPD Kills Young Black Man; RJN Demands Murder Charges
February 4, 2022
Approximately thirty six hours after shooting and killing Amir Locke, a Black 22-year-old young man, Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) released body-worn camera footage depicting the moments…
Racial Justice Network Demands Justice for Amir Locke
February 2, 2022
In the early morning of February 2, 2022, members of the Minneapolis SWAT team shot and killed Amir Locke, a Black man, after busting into the apartment where he was sleeping.
Community is holding 2 events for Jessica Marshik missing since Dec 14
January 5, 2022
Community to host candlelight vigil and canvassing event to find Jessica Marshik, missing since December 14th, 2021.
Demanding Statewide Ban on High-Speed Chases by Law Enforcement Following Deaths of Multiple Teens in Recent Months
December 11, 2021
Multiple young lives have been unnecessarily taken this year due to high-speed police pursuits, which also threaten the safety of innocent bystanders in our community.
Calling for the Resignation of Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson
December 10, 2021
It is hypocritical for Hutchinson to have the power to incarcerate others, when he has violated the law and put himself and others in unnecessary danger.