DOJ hosts community meetings in Minneapolis following MPD probe
MINNEAPOLIS -- The U.S. Department of Justice is in Minneapolis this week, hosting meetings as they work on a plan to keep the community at the forefront of changes regarding the Minneapolis Police Department.
The DOJ is hosting these community meetings with the main purpose of listening. They want to hear from the people who live and work in Minneapolis to share their suggestions to create real change.
Earlier this month, a two-year DOJ investigation sparked after the murder of George Floyd found the City of Minneapolis and its police department have engaged in practices that deprive residents -- specifically Black and Native American residents -- of their rights.
According to the DOJ, the investigation determined four core findings: that the Minneapolis Police Department uses excessive force, including "unjustified deadly force," unlawfully discriminates against People of Color, deprives people of their First Amendment rights, and discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.
The city and MPD have also committed to negotiating a legally-binding consent decree, under the oversight of an independent body with the goal of building community trust and complying with federal law. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, who has experience operating a department under a consent decree from his time in Newark, vowed transparency throughout the process.
Thursday morning's meeting, held in the basement of New Beginnings Baptist Ministries, was led by the Unity Community Mediation Team.
"We really want this to be a platform where we don't do a lot of talking, but we do a lot of listening," said Ethan Trinh, an investigator with the DOJ civil rights division.
The DOJ heard suggestions from Black, Latino, Somali, and Native American Minnesotans.
"We want change in our community. We're here for our children, for our future, so they don't have to live the way we did," said Vin Dionne, a member of the American Indian Movement who showed up to share his thoughts with the DOJ.
"Now it's time for you to recognize as human beings, taxpayers and Americans," said Spike Moss, a board member of UCMT.
The most common suggestion heard: Improving police recruitment.
"We need officers that care about our community, that spend time in our community, that build trust with our community," Rachel Dionne Thunder of the American Indian Movement said. "We need officers that are from our own communities, that are from Minneapolis, not from somewhere else where they bring warrior-style training and bring that mentality here to this city."
Every neighbor who showed up to speak has one common goal -- a safer city for all. They encourage more voices to share how that vision can be achieved.
"Courageous people change things for the better every day, it's just time for all us collectively to be courageous and ask for the right change," said Thomas Berry, a community activist.
It was one of five meetings the DOJ has held where they met with different community groups. Their last meeting is later Thursday with the American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center.
You can still offer your suggestions via email or phone. Both are checked regularly.
EMAIL: community.minneapolis@usdoj.gov
PHONE: 866-432-0268