On April 11, during a traffic stop, Minneapolis police murdered yet another Black man in Brooklyn Center, MN. This is just 10 miles from where the trial of Derek Chauvin (the police officer who brutally tortured and murdered George Floyd) is taking place.
In solidarity with the Black community, we say their names: Daunte Wright. George Floyd.
Daunte Wright was a father, a friend, a brother, and so much more. He was only 20 years old, and was robbed of his life because of continual racially motivated police violence.
Kimberly A. Potter, a 26-year veteran of the department shot and killed Daunte Wright. An excuse stating she meant to use her taser is just another blatant example of how Minneapolis police officers refuse to take responsibility for their actions, and gaslight the Black community.
We recognize the injustice, and MURDER of Daunte Wright. Due to police footage, we find the police officers in both this murder, and the murder of George Floyd guilty.
ALLIES: HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO
Speak Up & Speak Out
Being silent is no longer an option. We need to speak up and hold people accountable, and speak out against senseless violence and murder. This means educating your friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances. The more people who are aware and can get involved to demand changes, the more power there is to make a difference.
This will force you to get out of your comfort zone. However, being anti-racist requires us to be uncomfortable.
Educate Yourself on Police Violence
8 Can't Wait: https://8cantwait.org/ A call for humane treatment when it comes to police officers and their policies. Specifically asking to ban chokeholds, warn before shooting, and other basic things that all police officers should be doing to reduce violence and prevent deaths
Nix the 6: https://nixthe6.org/ Educate yourself on police unions and how they operate. This asks for accountability and reduction of power to protect corrupt police officers and change the system
Campaign Zero: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision This campaign calls for the demilitarization of police forces. It also focuses on the importance of training, especially when it comes to implicit biases and mental health training
Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org/ This is a coalition that works for equal treatment and to end injustices towards Black people
5 Calls: https://5calls.org/ Find out who to contact and how to contact them regarding different topics. Research shows the importance of phone calls versus letters and just emails. It provides scripts, and contact information for those who have the power to make changes
Sign Petitions
Floyd Rights: https://www.floydrights.org/sign-the-petition
Justice for Ahmaud: https://www.runwithmaud.com/#petition
Justice for Breonna Taylor: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor
End Police Violence: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/end-police-violence-petition
Punish Police for Shooting Unarmed Citizens: https://www.change.org/p/us-senate-hands-up-act
Donate
IMPORTANT: Write to your legislators and tell them to end police violence (Template below)
WI State Senators: Ron Johnson & Tammy Baldwin
WI State Legislators: Find Yours HERE
I am writing to you in regards to the racial bias and police brutality that has continued to affect our country. Specifically, our surrounding communities.
As a member of the public, a supporter and believer that Black lives matter, I am asking that the following policies be brought into effect as soon as possible. This is in an effort to save lives, reduce police brutality, and racial discrimination, and better our community, state, and country, as we fight for justice in the wake of recent events.
Please see the following demands, and know that as a citizen I am asking for positive change, and feel that these transformative measures will make a major difference.
I am asking for the following:
Adopt evidence based policing. This is an organizational philosophy that advocates for the use of the best available scientific evidence about what strategies are effective to control crime and disorder (i.e., what “really works”)
Ban no knock raids. After the murder of Breonna Taylor in her home by police officers, the Louisville, KY metro council unanimously voted to pass an ordinance called "Breonna's Law", banning no-knock search warrants. I am asking that the same be passed for the State of Wisconsin (every city included)
Speak out against police brutality and violence and work with impacted communities to craft legislation that holds police accountable for their actions and improves the integrity of policing, such as establishing a mandatory duty for officers to report acts of brutality committed by other officers
Pledge to enact legislation to amend the Police Bill of Rights to remove provisions that impose barriers to accountability and that allow violent cops to continue wielding the power of the State
Immediately ban the following (8) practices: https://8cantwait.org/
BAN CHOKEHOLDS & STRANGLEHOLDS (Allowing officers to choke or strangle civilians results in the unnecessary death or serious injury of civilians. Both chokeholds and all other neck restraints must be banned in all cases)
REQUIRE DE-ESCALATION (Require officers to de-escalate situations, where possible, by communicating with subjects, maintaining distance, and otherwise eliminating the need to use force)
REQUIRE WARNING BEFORE SHOOTING (Require officers to give a verbal warning in all situations before using deadly force)
REQUIRES EXHAUST ALL ALTERNATIVES BEFORE SHOOTING (Require officers to exhaust all other alternatives, including non-force and less lethal force options, prior to resorting to deadly force)
DUTY TO INTERVENE (Require officers to intervene and stop excessive force used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor)
BAN SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES (Ban officers from shooting at moving vehicles in all cases, which is regarded as a particularly dangerous and ineffective tactic. While some departments may restrict shooting at vehicles to particular situations, these loopholes allow for police to continue killing in situations that are all too common. 62 people were killed by police last year in these situations. This must be categorically banned)
REQUIRE USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM (Establish a Force Continuum that restricts the most severe types of force to the most extreme situations and creates clear policy restrictions on the use of each police weapon and tactic)
REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING (Require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force against civilians. Comprehensive reporting includes requiring officers to report whenever they point a firearm at someone, in addition to all other types of force)
Help to vote for, and support Nix the Six. https://nixthe6.org/ Police unions have too much power in protecting corrupt officers. It is the duty of our leaders and our moral officers to do what is right, and demand change within them or dissolve them completely if they cannot be held accountable. I am asking for:
NO MORE - Police union contracts blocking accountability
NO MORE - Rehiring officers fired for misconduct
NO MORE - Police bill of rights laws
NO MORE - Police union influence over police budgets
NO MORE - Police unions buying political power
NO MORE - Negotiations without community representation
The importance of evidence based policing protocols, professional training on biased policing, unnecessary force and brutality, and higher standards for policing in general, cannot be stressed enough at this time. Please take a moment to read the research basis for more restrictive use of force standards, which I have attached for your convenience. https://tinyurl.com/yawq5wvo
It is vital that we are part of change and progression, instead of remaining silent in complacency, while corruption happens around us. As a representative, I am pleading with you to do the right thing. To stand up and be the voices of those unheard. To take a pledge to seek and demand justice. To do your part.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to seeing the progress that we can achieve as a state, together.
Sincerely,