Cut through petty politics.
Be armed with truth and solid information.
Black folks have various opinions about changing the City of Minneapolis Police Charter.
Here is a place to land for context and some insightful debate.
I have a bias and an opinion, the facts do not.
(07 - 20)
Work
This site is a compilation of various robust conversations and valuable information about this topic.
The purpose is a one-stop to get up to speed.
This site is centered around a Black experience in Minneapolis.
click the photos below for more info
MPD Budget
MPD vs. Black
Why do we fear change?
Why do we invest in violence and not violence prevention?
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Conversation Two
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Conversation Three
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Local Media
“When crime goes down, there’s not a call to reduce the number of police, because it’s viewed as effective,” said Bullock, a local filmmaker whose works touch on criminal justice issues. “But when crime ticks up, you have the opposite argument, saying well, we need to increase staffing because we don’t have enough officers to respond to calls.” - Heads they win, tails we lose. A vicious shitty cycle.
Current July 2020: Minneapolis Charter Commission, a commission appointed by a judge and not elected by the people, a commission with 1 current Black member, will decide whether we are able to make a vote on the charter change in this coming election November 2020.
“Wanting a future without cops does not mean they shouldn’t be held accountable until they are removed. Is that a weird?”
— Cacje Henderson
Important dates
List of important dates and important players and where you can contact them with your opinion.
Tuesday, July 21. 6pm
Public comment via call in - Considering the proposal to amend the City Charter to address the creation of a new Charter Department to provide for community safety and violence prevention, and the removal of the Police Department as a Charter Department, Article VII and Article VIII.
Wednesday, August 5.
The Charter Commission needs to act by its regular meeting August 5, in order to meet the statutory deadline for submitting ballot questions (Aug. 21). That would give the City Council one two-week cycle to complete all its work within that statutory timeline. In both cases, the Mayor also must act, the official acts must be published (to become legally effective), and then transmitted to the Hennepin County Auditor by the deadline.
MPLS, MN
What some white people are saying.
(select quotes from the public comments submitted online.)
I am curating an assumption that these are all comments from white people .
“One of the more asinine things I've ever read. Leave the police as is and start teaching morals in schools. Read Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, and Walter Williams and get over imposing identity politics on all of us.”
— Anonymous Public Comment
“I think it's not only foolish to attempt tp remove the police but it's unsafe. In fact, your not protecting thre community right now. Allowing Powderhorn Park to be a homeless shelter is increasing crime and is not what the taxpayers pay for. Also, the fact that you have police protection is hypocrisy. Minneapolis has to much danger with the police. I cannot imagine how bad it would be without.”
— Anonymous Public Comment
“You are all crazy! Reform, yes! More training, yes! Disband, dissolve or whatever other stupid ideas you have, NO!! The violence is already (and for a long time) out of control and that is with police officers. None of you are smart enough to understand what you are attempting to do! How about this council disband?”
— Anonymous Public Comment
Transparency
I am a Black man and a filmmaker residing in North Minneapolis. I consider myself an abolitionist. I did not start off thinking abolition of police was the answer. Before I believed in the possibility of reform. I was afraid to consider the possibilities of a future without police. My thoughts have evolved and changed with the more I came to learn. I will do my very best to share good quality well sourced information. You can decide for yourself.
About
This site is public service and public art.
I believe we should share as much info, share as many stories and have as much conversation as we can.
We do not need to agree. We are not a monolith. I hope we will all be informed.