Black Lives Matter Responds To Harteau's Video
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Black Lives Matter Minneapolis has responded to the video released last week by city police in which Chief Janee Harteau warned that vandalism and violence will not be tolerated when a decision is announced in the Jamar Clark shooting case.
On Tuesday, the activist group responded with their own video, which painted the Minneapolis Police Department as having "a violent police culture that lacks accountability." It shows images of officers in riot gear outside the 4th Precinct during last November's occupation. The officers are seen pointing gas guns at protesters and spraying them with chemical irritant.
"Protecting the African-American community has never been the number one priority of the Minneapolis Police Department," said activist Nekima Levy-Pounds in the video.
The protesters are demanding that officers in the city refrain from using force against them and others who plan to demonstrate after County Attorney Mike Freeman shares his decision in the Clark case, which is expected to come down before the end of the month.
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Black Lives Matter also announced on Tuesday that on the day of the decision protesters and community members will meet at Elliot Park.
Earlier this month, the county attorney said that he alone – and not a grand jury – will be making the decision on whether or not officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze will face charges in Clark's death.
Clark, 24, was shot in the head on Nov. 15. Community members said that Clark was in handcuffs at the time of the shooting. Police have disputed that, however, saying that there was a struggle in which Clark tried to grab an officer's gun.
Following Clark's death, there were weeks of protest, including an 18-day occupation of the north Minneapolis police headquarters.
In last week's video from police, some demonstrators can be seen throwing objects and Molotov cocktails toward officers. Chief Harteau said that police will be working this week to balance First Amendment rights and keeping the public safe.