Yesterday I lamented that government authorities in Minnesota seem to be reacting to the effects, rather than the underlying cause, of the social unrest we’re seeing in Brooklyn Center in response to the recent police killing of Daunte Wright and the social unrest many fear may erupt after the verdict comes down (perhaps as early as tomorrow) in the trial of former police officer Derek Chavin for the murder of George Floyd last year.
Earlier today Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (left) joined with Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul for a press conference, and I have to say I was impressed with what all three had to say.
All three acknowledged the systemic racism at the root of the social unrest we’re currently both witnessing and fearing, and which caused such upheaval and destruction last May in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
All three want to see systemic changes made.
And all three recognize that unless such changes are made in relation to the racial injustice that undergird and permeate our economic, political, healthcare, and criminal justice systems, we’re going to be, in the words of Gov. Walz, “right back here again. . . . And we cannot continue to live this way.”
NEXT: “Let This Be a Turning Point”
Related Off-site Links:
Chauvin Trial: Case Goes to the Jury; Deliberations Begin – Jon Collins, Brandt Williams, Riham Feshir and Matt Sepic (MPR News, April 19, 2021).
Lawmakers Tussle Over Public Safety Practices as Chauvin Verdict Nears – Brian Bakst (MPR News, April 18, 2021).
More Than 100 People Arrested on Sixth Night of Brooklyn Center Protests; Journalists Detained – MPR News and the Associated Press (April 17, 2021).
UPDATES: Investigation Shows Minneapolis Police Show Pattern of Violating Rights, Attorney General Merrick Garland Says – Steve Karnowski and Jim Salter (PBS NewsHour, June 16, 2023).
Department of Justice Finds Minneapolis Police Had a Pattern of “Unconstitutional Policing” – Martin Kaste and Don Gonyea (NPR News, June 17, 2023).
8 Takeaways From the Justice Department Probe of Minneapolis Police – MPR News (June 17, 2023).
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• The Problem Is Ultimately Bigger Than Individuals. It’s Systemic
• Mayor Melvin Carter: “The Anger Is Real, and I Share It With You”
• “And Still and All, It Continues”
• Bearing Witness
• “I Can’t Breathe”: The Murder of George Floyd
• He Called Mama. He Has Called Up Great Power
• Honoring George Floyd
• “New and Very Dangerous”: The Extreme Right-Wing Infiltration of the George Floyd Protests
• Emma Jordan-Simpson: “There Will Be No Peace Without Justice”
• Out and About – Spring 2020
• The Language of the Oppressor
• A Very Intentional First Day of the Year
All three acknowledged the systemic racism at the root of the social unrest we’re currently both witnessing and fearing, and which caused such upheaval and destruction last May in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
Right: St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minneapols Mayor Jacob Frey survey the damage in the aftermath of the social unrest and destruction of last May.
All three want to see systemic changes made.
And all three recognize that unless such changes are made in relation to the racial injustice that undergird and permeate our economic, political, healthcare, and criminal justice systems, we’re going to be, in the words of Gov. Walz, “right back here again. . . . And we cannot continue to live this way.”
Related Off-site Links:
Chauvin Trial: Case Goes to the Jury; Deliberations Begin – Jon Collins, Brandt Williams, Riham Feshir and Matt Sepic (MPR News, April 19, 2021).
Lawmakers Tussle Over Public Safety Practices as Chauvin Verdict Nears – Brian Bakst (MPR News, April 18, 2021).
More Than 100 People Arrested on Sixth Night of Brooklyn Center Protests; Journalists Detained – MPR News and the Associated Press (April 17, 2021).
UPDATES: Investigation Shows Minneapolis Police Show Pattern of Violating Rights, Attorney General Merrick Garland Says – Steve Karnowski and Jim Salter (PBS NewsHour, June 16, 2023).
Department of Justice Finds Minneapolis Police Had a Pattern of “Unconstitutional Policing” – Martin Kaste and Don Gonyea (NPR News, June 17, 2023).
8 Takeaways From the Justice Department Probe of Minneapolis Police – MPR News (June 17, 2023).
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• The Problem Is Ultimately Bigger Than Individuals. It’s Systemic
• Mayor Melvin Carter: “The Anger Is Real, and I Share It With You”
• “And Still and All, It Continues”
• Bearing Witness
• “I Can’t Breathe”: The Murder of George Floyd
• He Called Mama. He Has Called Up Great Power
• Honoring George Floyd
• “New and Very Dangerous”: The Extreme Right-Wing Infiltration of the George Floyd Protests
• Emma Jordan-Simpson: “There Will Be No Peace Without Justice”
• Out and About – Spring 2020
• The Language of the Oppressor
• A Very Intentional First Day of the Year
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