NAACP, Black Lives Matter Respond To MPD Chief's Warning
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We're still waiting to hear from the Hennepin County Attorney about whether there will be charges against two Minneapolis police officers for the death of Jamar Clark.
Clark died November 15th after police responded to a call about a woman being assaulted on Plymouth Avenue North.
The police union says Clark tried to grab an officer's gun.
Some witnesses say Clark was handcuffed when he was shot in the head.
Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau issued a warning ahead of the impending decision from County Attorney Mike Freeman.
Outrage is the word used by members of the Minneapolis NAACP over comments made by Harteau.
On Friday, members of several organizations stood together in solidarity to denounce what they say are the chief's expectation of retaliation and violence and warnings she posted on Facebook.
"We will not allow people to set fires on our streets or occupy and vandalize our buildings. The MPD has to and will strike a balance between first amendment rights with the safety of everyone," said Harteau.
In a statement released on social media, Harteau spoke on what she would not tolerate after the Hennepin County Attorney decides the fate of officers involved in Jamar Clark's death.
"This video was intended for the entire Minneapolis community. Not any particular groups or individuals," Harteau said.
The chief said her words were not meant to intimidate anyone, but inform the public of what they can expect from police.
"Just as Chief Janee Harteau said that they will not tolerate violence on the part of the community, we will not tolerate violence on the part of police officers against our community," said Minneapolis NAACP President Nekima Levy-Pounds.
Members of several organizations including the NAACP, Clergy United for Change and Black Lives Matter say the community took the chief's statements as a threat.
"Provoking the citizens, provoking our loved ones and our family members with threats that they were going to come and do something above and beyond what they did the last time to us," said Pastor Danny Givens.
Those who occupied the 4th Precinct building after Clark was shot and killed say there was no violence.
They say it was a time of community building and outreach to those who have been marginalized by the system.
Some say the chief's statements hit a fragile community hard.
"Chief Harteau is setting the stage to promote violence against us. Those words were terroristic threats. I don't take those words lightly," said Jason Sole.
"We are calling on Chief Harteau to exercise restraint against non-violent peaceful protesters in our community. We don't need to be tear gassed. We don't need to have guns pointed at us. We don't need to be hit with rubber bullets," said Levy-Pounds.
This group says they stand united and will never stop seeking justice for Jamar. They also made it clear that all protesters have been trained in non-violent direct action, and they reminded people that every occupation or action has been peaceful and will continue to be.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said in a statement Friday on Facebook that she took issue with how protesters were portrayed in MPD's video, and she made it known to Chief Harteau.
"I regret that some of the images in a video that the Minneapolis Police Department released yesterday do not reflect that the large majority of the people who protested at the Fourth Precinct last fall did so peacefully," Hodges said.
A rally is planned tomorrow at noon at the Hennepin County Government Center to demand prosecution of the officers involved in Clark's death.
The Minneapolis NAACP says every protester has been trained in non-violent direct action.
The group vows to continue to exercise first amendment rights of free speech, to take to the streets in a peaceful non-violent way and demand justice all while expecting to be treated with dignity and respect.
