Dear DFL Environmental Caucus member,

There is tension in the air as we await a verdict in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin. There is also righteous anger over the wrongful death of Duante Wright, along with far too many Minnesotans, disproportionately people of color, at the hand of law enforcement officers.

We believe that every Minnesotan, regardless of background, zip code, or way of life, has the right to openly criticize how our private and public institutions work, and to speak out against oppressive activities of law enforcement officers and agencies. We support the right of Indigenous communities to stand in protest against the assault on their lands and cultural heritage. We support the rights of members of the press to observe and report on activities without fear of harassment, injury, or oppression by police. Recent police activities connected to protests in and near Brooklyn Center, Minnesota are greatly concerning.

We call on our leaders in government and law enforcement, including Governor Walz, Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Public Safety John Harrington, Col. Matt Langer, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol, and Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson, to take action to stop dangerous, and oppressive activities being carried out by any or all police or National Guard forces that have been deployed. We stand with the people of the affected communities in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Center, and nearby communities.

We stand together as Democrats to ask for meaningful and swift reform of policing and public safety practices. We support the passage of comprehensive police reform bills now in the Minnesota State Legislature, including the Omnibus Public Safety Bill (HF 1078) and the bill to End the Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Deaths by Police (HF 717, SF 2021). We also support HF 593/SF 1489 to Outlaw White Supremacy in MN Law Enforcement.

Veda Kanitz, Chair, and members of the
DFL Environmental Caucus Executive Committee