Black Voters Want Better Policing, Not Posturing by Progressives. New York Times Article by Nekima Levy Armstrong.
November 9, 2021
Black Voters Want Better Policing, Not Posturing by Progressives by Dr. Nekima Levy Armstrong
(Featured in the New York Times)
MINNEAPOLIS — This city always prided itself for being a progressive place where everyone could thrive. At least, that was true for white people. Black residents all too often faced persistent racism and inequality — in education, homeownership, income and employment — and in the way the police treated us.
For years, the Minneapolis police have persistently abused Black residents, even children. Several years ago I saw a white officer confront a Black boy who looked to be about 10, grab him by his shirt and slam him against the hood of a police car. I confronted the officer and notified the white police chief at the time. The chief shrugged as if there was nothing he could do.
It took the police murder of George Floyd last year, and an uprising by outraged residents, to finally call attention to the brutality and injustice Black people face every day here and around the country.
Those of us who had long fought for a reckoning over police abuse in Minneapolis expected to see a critical examination of the practices, laws, policies, contractual requirements and spending that undergird policing. We expected a well-thought-out, evidence-based, comprehensive plan to remake our police department.
Instead, what we got was progressive posturing of a kind seen throughout the country and a missed opportunity to bring about real change and racial justice.
This was made plain last week when voters rejected a proposal to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety. While many white progressives embraced the ballot measure as a sign of progress, many Black residents like me raised concerns that the plan lacked specificity and could reduce public safety in the Black community without increasing police accountability. The city’s largest Black neighborhoods voted it down, while support was greater in areas where more white liberals lived.
The measure would have removed from the City Charter a requirement for a minimum number of police officers per resident and enacted “a comprehensive public health approach” to public safety “which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary.” (Emphasis added.) It would have also diluted the mayor’s power over the police by having the chief executive and the City Council share control, and would not have required the head of the proposed new department to have any law enforcement experience.
The proposal would have almost certainly created a cascade of unintended consequences that would have harmed Black residents by reducing the number of police officers and the quality of oversight without creating an effective alternative.
Supporters of the measure held no public hearings about it and made little effort to listen to Black residents’ concerns or the opinions of experts. The main issue that many Black people were worried about — the significant increase in gun violence, carjackings and homicides here in the past year or so — was largely ignored.
“Nothing about us without us,” opponents of the measure said, demanding a role in decision-making to make sure that any solution accounted for both Black people’s complex and troubling relationship with the police as well as the disproportionate damage crime and violence do to our communities.
Black voters were especially wary because the City Council members who pushed the measure had done little to rein in the Minneapolis Police Department over the years. The pledge that nine of them made to dismantle the department shortly after Mr. Floyd was killed was more about “looking” progressive to national and international audiences than about transforming policing in ways that most Black residents wanted.
The months of protests around the country and around the world motivated by George Floyd’s killing were intense and electrifying. But the aftermath of those protests help tell the real story. Far too many progressives took the route of proposing quick fixes, like simply cutting police funding, to address complex, longstanding challenges to policing. As election results in Minneapolis, New York City and elsewhere have shown, that’s not what the majority of Black people want.
What many Black people are demanding is a system that is effective, cost-efficient, non-militarized and transparent. We want officials to be accountable for who is hired, how they are disciplined and how they treat us. We want police leaders to admit that racism, white supremacy and misogyny are endemic in many police forces and we want them to commit to radically shift police culture.
For that to happen, there must be a re-examination of the purposes, practices, expenditures and almost unfettered power and discretion of the police. To responsibly reduce spending, elected officials must conduct a real cost/benefit analysis of hiring numerous officers to focus on low-level crime, traffic stops (as in the cases of Daunte Wright and Philando Castile), and small quantities of cannabis, to name a few. This would ultimately mean eliminating or reducing low-level traffic stops, repealing criminal laws and ordinances that do not improve public safety, and making a commitment to end the war on drugs.
Police departments must establish an early-warning system to flag problem officers and a robust disciplinary system when officers violate the law and people’s rights. Instead of continuing to allow police departments to investigate themselves when officers kill people, states should establish a special prosecutor’s office to investigate claims and bring charges when appropriate.
Police departments should analyze data to decide where officers are needed most and even where other resources, like mental health professionals, should be assigned. Receiving input and oversight from the public are important components to shifting police culture, as well as listening to Black people and taking our concerns seriously.
Black lives need to be valued not just when unjustly taken by the police, but when we are alive and demanding our right to be heard, to breathe, to live in safe neighborhoods and to enjoy the full benefits of our status as American citizens.
That all takes hard work, not just rhetoric, political posturing, and empty promises.
Dr. Nekima Levy Armstrong is a civil-rights lawyer and the founder of the Racial Justice Network and executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation.
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
RJN Demands Answers on Employment Status of MPD Officer Brian Cummings & an End to Dangerous Police Chases in MN
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2021
Local Civil Rights Group Demands Answers on Employment Status of MPD Officer Brian Cummings and an End to Dangerous Police Chases in Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN— On Friday, October 22, Brian Cummings was charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide for killing Leneal Frazier, an innocent Black man driving through North Minneapolis on July 6, 2021. Two days after Mr. Frazier was killed, the Racial Justice Network demanded that Brian Cummings be fired and charged for killing Mr. Frazier. Then, on July 31, we sent a follow-up letter to Mayor Jacob Frey again demanding that Brian Cummings be fired. To date, Frey has never responded. Yesterday, we inquired with the city of Minneapolis to determine if Brian Cummings was still employed by MPD. The City has refused to answer the question. So we ask yet again: Is Brian Cummings still a Minneapolis Police Officer?
“It has been over 110 days since Brian Cummings recklessly drove through North Minneapolis at a speed of 100 mph killing Mr. Frazier, an innocent Black man, and we still can’t confirm if Mayor Jacob Frey has fired him,” said Racial Justice Network member Sonja Western. “If Brian Cummings has not been fired, he needs to be fired immediately.”
Since October 2020, there have been at least four examples of high-speed police chases resulting in seven deaths. Here is a brief summary:
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September 5, 2021, a high-speed chase initiated by the Eden Prairie Police Department resulted in the death of a 19 year old.
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September 3, 2021, two teenagers, ages 14 and 15, were killed as a result of a high-speed chase initiated by North St. Paul police.
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July 6, 2021, Leneal Frazier was an innocent motorist killed during a high-speed chase by Minneapolis police.
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October 2020, three teenagers were killed during a high speed chase in North Minneapolis.
None of the officers, outside of Brian Cummings, have ever been charged in these deaths. The Racial Justice Network calls on local county prosecutors to hold those officers accountable for their actions.
Given the frequency of these senseless deaths, we are demanding Governor Tim Walz and the State Legislature pass legislation banning high-speed chases in Minnesota. Currently, each jurisdiction has its own policy and in some instances, there is no transparency in the pursuit policy, such as in Ramsey County. State-wide action is necessary to end these dangerous law enforcement practices.
“These are senseless deaths that can and should be prevented. When officers continue to initiate high-speed chases in residential areas, they are showing a blatant disregard for human life,” said Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network. “Minnesotans must demand that Governor Tim Walz and the Legislature end this practice state-wide.”
The Racial Justice Network reiterates its calls for Brian Cummings to be fired if he is still employed by MPD. We also demand prosecution of all officers whose reckless behavior leads to stolen lives. Finally, we also demand that Governor Tim Walz and the Legislature end high-speed pursuits state-wide.
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
Virtual Minneapolis Mayoral Forum Sep. 22
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Racial Justice Network to Hold Virtual Mayoral Forum on Wednesday, September 22
Forum will focus on Racial Justice topics with an emphasis on Criminal Justice
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Racial Justice Network (RJN), a local grassroots organization fighting for racial justice, is holding a series of virtual candidate forums focusing on the upcoming Minneapolis Elections.
On Wednesday, September 22 at 6:30pm, RJN will host seven mayoral candidates including the incumbent, Mayor Jacob Frey. Other confirmed participants are:
Kate Knuth
Sheila Nezhad
A.J. Awed
Clint Connor
Jerrell Perry
Paul E. Johnson
The question and answer portion of the forum will focus on racial justice topics in Minneapolis. A particular focus will be on the candidates’ plan for an equitable public safety system.
“The upcoming city elections will be consequential in determining the next steps towards racial justice in the City of Minneapolis”, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, founder of the Racial Justice Network, attorney, and forum moderator. “It is important for all of us to engage in this election and become informed on each candidate’s platform for bringing justice and equity to Minneapolis. This forum will provide a unique opportunity to learn about these candidates and their plans.”
The virtual forum will be broadcast live on the Racial Justice Network’s Facebook page and will remain there for future viewing by Minneapolis residents.
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. https://racialjusticenetwork.
Silence From Minneapolis City Leaders In Response To Community Stress, Trauma, And Violence
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2021
Silence From Minneapolis City Leaders In Response To Community Stress, Trauma, And Violence
Minneapolis, MN— In just the last four days, the northside community of Minneapolis has experienced a terrifying amount of gunfire at all times of the day and night, in highly populated neighborhoods, near parks and outdoor pools; leaving children and families running for cover outside and inside of their homes. The names of the five people who were fatally shot have not been released; our condolences to the impacted families. To date, city leaders have not made any statements about actions they can and will take to address the immediate needs of the people impacted by this recent rise in community violence.
To fully understand the magnitude of community violence experienced during the last four days, view the City of Minneapolis’ Shots Fired Map. According to the Shots Fired Map, during August 7th – 10th, 2021:
- 17 shooting incidents were reported, including 5 fatal shooting incidents; 5 people died from gunshot wounds and 12 people survived;
- 14 of the shooting incidents occurred in north Minneapolis, 4 fatal incidents;
- 2 shooting incidents occurred in south Minneapolis, 1 fatal incident;
- 1 shooting incident occurred in downtown Minneapolis, 0 fatal incidents;
- 97 incidents of gunfire were detected in north Minneapolis and 6 incidents in south Minneapolis by the City’s shotspotter’s devices.
Note: A shotspotter incident does not equal the number of bullets detected; many bullets could be fired and detected in a single incident.
As some may recall, on June 17th, 2020, the mayor and city council declared racism a public health emergency in Minneapolis and published a Resolution with ten actions to address systemic racism in the city, acknowledging the “severe impact racism has on the well-being of residents and overall the city,” with promises of funding, resources and staff to address the harm caused by racism and white supremacy, including the following action: “Develop a comprehensive rapid response protocol to immediate needs and long-term work to address systemic inequities.This includes activating the Office of Emergency Management and Incident Command System, the Health Department, the Division of Race & Equity, and other public facing departments to respond to community stress and trauma.”.
Right now, city leaders need to hold themselves accountable to the promises they made to the community over a year ago to provide resources, including financial resources “to respond to the community stress and trauma.” Emergency resources are needed for mental health, chemical health, medical health, housing and basic needs. We at Racial Justice Network want city leaders to share their “comprehensive rapid response protocol” to address the urgent, and immediate needs for our children, youth, and families living in north Minneapolis. This is a public health crisis that must be addressed with a greater sense of urgency.
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
Follow-up to the RJN's Demand for Brian Cummings to be Fired
JULY 30, 2021
Mayor Jacob Frey
Minneapolis City Hall
350 Fifth St. S., Room 331
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Chief Medaria Arradondo
Minneapolis City Hall
350 Fifth St. S., Room 130
Minneapolis, MN 55415
City Attorney Jim Rowader
Minneapolis City Hall
350 Fifth St. S., Room 210
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Penned from–
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Racial Justice Network
In follow-up to the Racial Justice Network’s Demand for Brian Cummings to be Fired
Dear Mayor Frey, Chief Arradondo, and City Attorney Rowader:
On July 8, the Racial Justice Network released a press statement in response to the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) killing of Leneal Frazier, an innocent Black man, on July 6 during a high-speed police pursuit in North Minneapolis. In our press statement, we called for the immediate firing of Brian Cummings for his dangerous, reckless behavior. We have yet to receive a response; and this letter is a follow up to our demand.
Frazier was a beloved father and the uncle of Darnella Frazier, the teen who courageously filmed the murder of George Floyd at the hands of MPD. The trauma and pain that Darnella and her family have been forced to experience is unimaginable. The officers’ history of alleged misconduct prior to these deadly encounters are very similar. Both Derek Chauvin and Brian Cummings had multiple complaints in which they were never held accountable for their misconduct. The enabling behavior by top city leadership empowers officers like Cummings to pursue an alleged carjacking suspect with the same cowboy attitude that we saw during the killing of Winston Smith by the North Star Task Force, or the killing of Jamar Clark or the killing of Terrance Franklin. The consistent outcome was no discipline in each of these cases. It is a troubling pattern of forgiveness toward officer misconduct that sends the message that reckless and dangerous behaviour will not lead to any real consequences. It also sends the message that Black lives do not matter within the city of Minneapolis.
In what industry or career field can an employee be granted so many second chances when they have shown such a clear pattern of incompetency to conduct their job at an acceptable level? Petty crimes, petty violations and infractions, and non-violent offenses often land the ordinary citizen in jail, but Brian Cummings can assault a mentally ill and accumulate 11 complaints and three lawsuits while continuing to collect paychecks. We demand simple accountability for police misconduct; consequences that serve to deter abhorrent behavior so families like the Fraziers can heal instead of reel from another death at the hands of Minneapolis Police. Would any other Minneapolis citizen working any other job be granted this much leniency for misconduct that resulted in such a severe outcome? No.
In 2019, MPD revised its pursuit policy to state that police may no longer initiate a pursuit or must terminate a pursuit in progress if it “poses an unreasonable risk to the officers, the public or passengers of the vehicle being pursued who may be unwilling participants.” Clearly this chase posed an unreasonable risk to the public since a Black man’s life was stolen in the process. Despite suspected carjacking pursuits being specifically risky, Officer Cummings engaged in a known dangerous pursuit against department policy.
Minneapolis became the epicenter for police reform after the murder of George Floyd, yet we have not seen any substantive change in the Minneapolis Police Department in the past 14 1/2 months. You have the power to change this pattern and you can start by firing Brian Cummings. Mayor Frey, Chief Arradondo, City Attorney Rowader, honor your commitment to justice, accountability and reform by firing Brian Cummings immediately for his reckless and dangerous behavior that resulted in the killing of Leneal Frazier.
Sincerely,
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the Racial Justice Network
Contact Mike Freeman to Demand Charges Against John Rieple for the Murder of Calvin Horton during the George Floyd Protests
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2021
Contact Mike Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney to Demand Charges Against John Rieple for the Murder of Calvin Horton during the George Floyd Protests
Minneapolis, MN— On the evening of May 27th, 2020 during protests for George Floyd, Calvin Horton was allegedly shot and killed by John Rieple while he was unarmed on the sidewalk outside of the former Cadillac Pawn and Jewelry store. Bystander video posted to Facebook shows Minneapolis police and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Deputies outside of the store shouting and motioning to a crowd of people on the sidewalk and street to move away from the area as the sound of gunfire is heard in the background, “There’s somebody in there with a rifle. Back up!”
As this was happening, bystanders, police and deputies were also attending to Calvin Horton who was shot in the back and had collapsed onto the sidewalk, unresponsive, a few feet away from the store; in front of a restaurant where they ended up moving him inside as John Rieple allegedly continued to fire rounds into the crowd. Tragically, Calvin Horton did not survive and died from gunshot wounds while waiting for EMS to arrive.
John Rieple was arrested on the scene and held for probable cause at the Hennepin County jail for 36 hours, and then released without murder charges. Six months later, Mike Freeman announced he would not bring murder charges against John Rieple, citing “lack of evidence.” The MPD detectives and Hennepin County prosecutors did not retrieve John Rieple’s rifle at the scene or the store surveillance video, and did not subpoena Rieple’s cloud service provider for copies of the surveillance video. In addition, they did not subpoena the cloud service providers of the surveillance cameras in the area of Bloomington Avenue and Lake Street, which had at least five visible cameras.
This Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 would have been Calvin Horton’s 45th birthday and we are asking the community to join us outside of the former Cadillac Pawn and Jewelry store to honor Calvin Horton in remembrance with his family. We are also asking the community to contact Mike Freeman’s office at 612-348-5550 and citizeninfo@hennepin.us to demand that he reopen Calvin Horton’s case, gather the surveillance video and bring murder charges against John Rieple. In the state of Minnesota, under statute 609.06, Authorized Use of Force, citizens have a duty to retreat and deadly force can only be used in cases of bodily harm, for physical attacks and not to protect property.
We believe there is enough evidence to bring charges against John Rieple, and that the City of Minneapolis has a duty to protect the community against vigilantes more concerned with protecting their insured property than the rights of unarmed protestors exercising their First Amendment rights after a brutal police killing.
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
Representative John Thompson has been UnfairlyTargeted due to his Outspokenness on Police Violence
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2021
Representative John Thompson has been UnfairlyTargeted due to his Outspokenness on Police Violence
Community Groups stand in solidarity with Representative John Thompson
Minneapolis, MN— On July 4, Representative John Thompson was pulled over for a missing front license plate. This is a common experience for Black men in St. Paul and around the state and country. Law enforcement “finds” a reason to target Black men for items that have nothing to do with public safety. These pretextual stops are an example of “Driving While Black” and an example of racial profiling. The data proves this is a rampant problem in St. Paul. Last year, 43% of all traffic stops were of Black drivers while only 16% of St. Paul’s population is Black. Such pretextual stops rarely yield any substantive impact to public safety and more often are a form of harassment that white people do not face at the same rates. These stops also have led to the police killing of Black men including Philando Castille in 2016, a close friend to Representative Thompson; and more recently to Daunte Wright, a young Black father killed by police in April of this year.
Representative Thompson is being unfairly targeted by his fellow legislators, Governor Walz, and the chair of the DFL party, Ken Martin, for this minor issue. These same individuals rarely use this same, aggressive energy towards their fellow white legislators when they were committed of DWIs, sexual harassment and domestic violence. They also rarely, if ever, hold police accountable when they use excessive force or kill a community member. These individuals also held a second legislative session since the murder of George Floyd without passing any meaningful police accountability bills. It is important to note that Representative Thompson used his voice and influence to push for these bills to get passed; to no avail.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) is using its platform to denigrate Representative Thompson, a Black man and politician, because of his outspokenness on police violence and his commitment to passing meaningful police accountability bills in the Minnesota State Legislature.
The media has also played a role in the vilifying of Representative Thompson. Media outlets rushed to judgement and did not take the opportunity to expose the racial disparities and long-standing patterns of racial profiling that Representative Thompson was speaking about. Instead, the media chose to be a mouthpiece for the St. Paul Police Department
“I am dismayed to see the attacks on one of our few Black male legislators”, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network. She continued, “This has gone into the realm of targeting and harassment of a Black elected official simply because he has been one of the most prominent and outspoken voices against police violence and police brutality.”
“The MPPOA needs to end their attacks on Representative Thompson immediately,” said Pete Gamades from the Racial Justice Network.” “If MPPOA would take this same aggressive stance against police officers who commit violence and terrorize Black and brown communities, the community would be in a far better place.”
We are demanding that this aggressive targeting of Representative John Thompson end. We call on Governor Tim Walz and the chair of the Minnesota DFL party, Ken Martin, to retract their negative, gaslighting statements and show support for one of the few Black elected officials within the Minnesota DFL party. Lastly, we call on St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell to acknowledge the glaring racial disparities in police stops by his department and commit to eliminating racial profiling and police abuse.
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
MPD kills another Black Man during high-speed chase
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2021
MPD kills another Black Man during high-speed chase
Community Groups demand officer Brian Cummings is fired immediately and that MPD follows its own policy to end high-risk pursuits
Minneapolis, MN— At around 12:30 AM on July 6th, Leneal Frazier, a Black man, was killed by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) during a high-speed chase. Frazier was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the police pursuit. Frazier was a father and the uncle of Darnella Frazier, the teen who courageously filmed the murder of George Floyd. The trauma and pain that Darnella and her family have been forced to experience is unimaginable.
The dangerous, high-speed chase that resulted in Frazier’s death should have never happened. In 2019, MPD revised its pursuit policy to state that police may no longer initiate a pursuit or must terminate a pursuit in progress if it “poses an unreasonable risk to the officers, the public or passengers of the vehicle being pursued who may be unwilling participants.” Clearly this chase posed an unreasonable risk to the public since a Black man’s life was stolen in the process. We demand that MPD follow its own policy and put an immediate end to these dangerous high-speed pursuits.
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. In October, 2020, three Black teenagers were killed during a similar high-speed police pursuit. There was seemingly no accountability for the tragic deaths of these children.
When officers are not held accountable for their actions, it sends a signal that their behavior is acceptable, even when their actions lead to unnecessary fatalities. Brian Cummings, the officer who recklessly crashed his squad car into Leneal Frazier’s vehicle, has a long record of complaints with no discipline. This is eerily reminiscent of Derek Chauvin’s long track record of misconduct and abuse of civilians, with little to no discipline by MPD. One database indicates 11 complaints have been filed against Cummings and three separate lawsuits. One lawsuit, settled by the city of Minneapolis, alleged that Mr. Cummings used excessive force when tasing someone on a mental health call.
“Yet again, another Black man is killed by MPD. Whether it is with their vehicle, knee or gun, Black people are not safe from the violence of those who are supposed to protect and serve”, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network. She continued, “Our prayers are with the Frazier family as they have to endure compounding traumas inflicted on their family by MPD.”
“When will Mayor Jacob Frey take decisive action to end the violence of MPD?,” said Billie Jean Van Knight from the Racial Justice Network. The miniscule changes that Mayor Jacob Frey has put forward have not stopped police violence. The Mayor must go beyond catchphrases, platitudes and minor tweaks to our system of policing. Instead of fixing this system which routinely fails, underserves and abuses Black residents, he has continuously asked for more funding for police, which does not solve these problems.”
We are demanding that Mayor Jacob Frey and Chief Arradondo fire Brian Cummings immediately for unjustifiably killing Leneal Frazier. Cummings also needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for recklessly using his car as a weapon on a residential street. Finally, we demand a complete and thorough review of all MPD policies related to high-speed pursuits.
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
Letter to Gov Walz, Re: Winston Smith
JUNE 10, 2021
The Honorable Tim Walz
Governor of Minnesota
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55155
Penned from–
Members of the Racial Justice Network
In response to the violent and horrific death of a Black man and father, Winston Smith, who was killed last week by Sheriff’s Deputies from Hennepin and Ramsey Counties under the authority of the U.S. Marshals
Dear Governor Walz,
As the world watches Minnesota and our demands for genuine transformation, accountability, and transparency within our system of policing, we face yet another violent and horrific death of a Black man and father at the hands of law enforcement.
Winston Smith was killed last week by Sheriff’s Deputies from Hennepin and Ramsey Counties under the authority of the U.S. Marshals.
The public has received scant details about what happened and why and even those details have changed repeatedly over the last few days. Not only has the public been told that there is no body camera or dash camera footage available, which is unfathomable in 2021; but now we are being told by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) that the identities of the officers will not be revealed because they were supposedly acting undercover.
It appears that no one is accepting responsibility or taking accountability for the police killing of Winston Smith.
As Minnesota residents, we deserve better and we demand better. Since you became Governor, multiple people have been killed by police under very questionable circumstances. Yet, we have not seen the calls for more transparency, stronger policies to protect the public from unwarranted police violence, and a more robust disciplinary system be addressed by you or your administration with a sense of urgency.
We have made clear for many years that the BCA is not a credible or competent agency for investigating killings by police officers. In addition to their lack of credibility, the BCA has major conflicts of interest which should result in the agency’s immediate removal from investigating the police killing of Winston Smith.
As you may know, Ramona Dohman, the current head of the U.S. Marshals for the District of Minnesota is the former boss of Drew Evans, the BCA Superintendent; stemming from her time as Commissioner of Public Safety for Minnesota.
Further, the Star Tribune recently reported that some BCA agents have been deputized by the U.S. Marshals to become members of their task force(s). Thus, we believe that it is impossible to expect a fair and impartial investigation. What we have seen thus far is evidence of a cover-up of the killing of Winston Smith.
We, the members of the Racial Justice Network, are calling for the following demands to be met:
- Immediately bar the BCA and all law enforcement agencies from participating in the US Marshal’s Northstar Task Force and any other federal task forces;
- Immediately remove the BCA from investigating the shooting of Winston Smith and request an independent federal investigation;
- Create an independent panel to review task force agency conduct and the memorandum(a) of agreement/understanding between Minnesota law enforcement agencies and federal law enforcement agencies. The independent panel should report findings and recommendations to the public; and there should be accountability for officers who engaged in civil rights and human rights violations of civilians;
- Hold Minnesota law enforcement officers who participated on the NorthStar Task Force that killed Winston Smith accountable under law. Their identities should also be released to the public, as well as any footage regarding this police killing;
- Pass meaningful police reform legislation and use your executive power and resources to establish an Independent Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute killings by law enforcement officers in the state of Minnesota.
The truth of what happened to Winston Smith and so many other individuals who have been killed by police in Minnesota, remains hidden beneath the thin blue line of injustice because of policy failures at the highest levels.
Governor Walz, the world is watching. We demand change. We demand a response from you and decisive action. We are not looking for lip service, politics as usual, or empty rhetoric. Even with all eyes on Minnesota, we continue to experience the same violent policing and adherence to qualified immunity that encourages lethal tactics and abuse of citizens. We demand change, not more empty promises.
Sincerely,
Racial Justice Network
Lack of Transparency in Federal Law Enforcement Task Force
Media Contact–
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2021
Lack of Transparency in Federal Law Enforcement Task Force
Community Groups ask who is in charge and what are the terms of the MOA in light of a recent killing of a Black man by police in Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN— On Thursday, June 3, a Black man was brutally shot and killed by local and federal law enforcement agencies in Minneapolis. Winston Smith was a father of three and a local comedian. Details surrounding the circumstances of his death have been scant and have changed frequently.
According to early reports, the law enforcement officers who shot Mr. Smith were operating under the “North Star Fugitive Task Force” led by the US Marshal Service. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has said there is no dash cam video or body worn camera footage of the incident because the US Marshal Service does not allow it. However, the Minnesota US Attorney’s Office confirmed this is not factually accurate. Law enforcement officers participating on Federal Task Forces are allowed to use body worn cameras.
There are so many questions that need answers; and the lack of transparency by law enforcement officials is incredibly alarming. For example:
Why was this Task Force allowed to operate without body worn cameras? Did Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo and Mayor Jacob Frey sign off on this decision?
What policies and procedures does this Task Force operate under and who is accountable for their actions?
What are the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between this Task Force and local government?
Why did this task force place everyone in unnecessary danger by trapping and ambushing Mr. Smith in a parking lot in a busy part of town?
Why is there a pattern of these dangerous apprehension tactics being used like in this case and in Dolal Idd’s case?
“The lack of transparency in the MOA allows all of these agencies to escape responsibility for lying, their faulty decision-making and devaluing of Black life”, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network. She continued, “We need real answers about what happened and why; who authorized this and why are they silent about it? Black people are not safe in this city.”
“We see white armed suspects apprehended without incident over and over again,” said Billie Jean Van Knight from the Racial Justice Network. “These aggressive tactics do not keep the community safe, but actively damage it.”
We are demanding that law enforcement officials and state and local political leaders such as Mayor Jacob Frey promptly answer these questions coming from the community. We also demand a complete and thorough review of all task forces working in the City of Minneapolis. This review needs to include a detailed action plan to end these aggressive tactics and to increase transparency and accountability in how the city is being policed.
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