Though nothing that can bring back the Black lives lost to police brutality, thousands upon thousands have rallied across the world to ensure that change can pave the way for improvement. Since the tragic death of George Floyd, which arrived in quick succession after those of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, among others, the streets have been lined with protestors standing up for the Black Lives Matter movement.
While in some places it has lead to heightened tension between police and civilians, other places have embraced the idea of change -- in Minneapolis, the City Council recently announced plans to "disband" the police force, explaining their decision following a City Council meeting. Council Member Jeremiah Ellison announced the decision on June 4th, writing "We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. And when we’re done, we’re not simply gonna glue it back together. We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response. It’s really past due."
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With the City Council believing that the Minneapolis Police Force has been failing to adequately protect the city, with City Council members citing a fifty-six percent murder solve rate in 2019, and a twenty-two percent rape solve rate in 2018 among other statistics. The inaction, paired with growing discontent with the all-too-often violent nature of American police tactics, has led to Minneapolis' decision to look toward alternative solutions. As presented, one potential option is to allocate police budget funds toward social services like education and public housing.
While it's likely that changes of this magnitude will take time, that hasn't stopped J. Cole from recognizing the impact of the movement. In a rare Tweet, the Dreamville rapper deemed the movement "Powerful powerful," sharing an article about the disbanding process. It should be noted that Cole was actively protesting in the streets of North Carolina, showing up as a man of the people and inspiring confidence in his fans. Clearly, he's pleased with some of the changes set to be implemented, and we can only hope that further moves are taken to ensure an end to systemic racism within the police force.
Minneapolis City Council Members Plan To Disband Police Department
A veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council commits to disbanding the police department.
The Minneapolis City Council is reportedly moving to disband the city’s police department, a majority of members announced, Sunday.
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“We’re here because we hear you. We are here today because George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis Police. We are here because here in Minneapolis and in cities across the United States it is clear that our existing system of policing and public safety is not keeping our communities safe,” Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said Sunday. “Our efforts at incremental reform have failed. Period.”
Council Member Jeremiah Ellison announced his commitment earlier this week on Twitter: “We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. And when we’re done, we’re not simply gonna glue it back together. We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response.
“It’s really past due,” he added.
Council Member Steve Fletcher penned an essay for TIME, in which he stated his call to disband the police.
“Now is the time for us to put all of these ideas into practice, and we know that community members have a lot more. The whole world is watching. We can declare policing as we know it a thing of the past, and create a compassionate, non-violent future,” he wrote.
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Prince Estate Shares Handwritten Note On Intolerance & New "Baltimore" Video
Prince's 2015 track "Baltimore" receives a new music video on the artist's birthday.
The Prince estate has re-released the artist's track "Baltimore" in response to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and everyone else who has been a victim of police brutality. The re-release includes a new music video uploaded to YouTube.
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"Baltimore" was originally released in 2015 after the death of Freddie Gray. In the track, Prince sings:
Does anybody hear us pray
For Michael Brown or Freddie Gray?
Peace is more than the absence of war
Are we gonna see another bloody day?
We’re tired of the crying and people dying
Let’s take all the guns away.
Prince would have turned 62-years-old, Sunday. In honor of his birthday, his estate wrote on Twitter, "Prince dedicated his life to speaking out against injustice, advocating for black excellence, and spreading the message of 'Love 4 One Another.' In this note that he kept in his personal archives, he wrote a message that still resonates today."
"Nothing more ugly in the whole wide world than INTOLERANCE (between) Black, white, red, yellow, boy or girl, INTOLERANCE," the note reads.
Check out the new music video for "Baltimore" below, featuring images from protests throughout the city and news headlines following the deaths of black citizens at the hands of the police.
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Minneapolis Mayor Booed For Refusing To Commit To Defunding Police
A crowd booed Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as he refused to commit to defunding police.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey refused to support the defunding of police during a public appearance, Saturday, and was met with a sea of boos from the audience.
Stephen Maturen / Getty Images
"I do have to take responsibility here. I've been coming to grips with my own brokenness in this situation, my own failures, my own shortcomings," he told the crowd. "And I know there needs to be deep-seated, structural reform in terms of how the department operates. The systemic racist system needs to be revamped. The police union needs to be put in its place."
Attempting to weed out platitudes from actions, a protester prompted Frey with a question: "Will you commit to defunding the Minneapolis Police Department?" she asked. "We don't want people with guns toting around in our community shooting us down. It is a yes or a no. Will you defund the Minneapolis Police Department? It's important we hear this, 'cause if y'all don't know, he's up for re-election next year. And if he says 'no,' guess what the fuck we're going to do next year?"
Frey wouldn't commit to defunding: "I do not support the full abolition at the police department," he said, as he was met with boos.
Check out video of the incident below.
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Two Charged Ex-Minneapolis Officers Blame Derek Chauvin For George Floyd’s Death
Two of the former Minneapolis officers recently charged in the death of George Floyd are putting the sole blame on Derek Chauvin, who is facing charges of second degree murder.
J Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane, two of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in the killing of George Floyd, are casting sole blame on Derek Chauvin for the 46-year-old Black man’s death on their watch. On Thursday (June 4th), all three officers charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter made their first court appearance in the case. Both Kueng and Lane’s attorneys are rejecting the accusations that their client played any critical role in the killing of Floyd, who died after former officer Chauvin knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he stopped breathing.
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“What is my client supposed to do but follow what the [senior] officer says?” Lane’s attorney, Earl Gray, argued in court. “The strength of this case, your honor, in my opinion is extremely weak.”
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images
Video shows Lane, a rookie officer who was working his fourth day as a full-time officer on the day of Floyd’s death, restraining Floyd’s legs as Chauvin choked him with his knee. Keung, working his third shift ever as a full-time officer, kept a firm grip of Floyd’s back as he pleaded for mercy.
“What was [Lane] supposed to do…go up to Mr. Chauvin and grab him and throw him off?” asked Gray. He argued that there was no evidence to charge his client. Kueng’s attorney, Thomas Plunkett, attempted to make a similar argument. “At all times Mr. Kueng and Mr. Lane turned their attention to that 19-year veteran,” Plunkett noted. “[Kueng] was trying — they were trying to communicate that this situation needs to change direction.”
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Getty Images
According to charging documents, Lane had asked Chauvin twice if they should roll Floyd onto his side, but he was shut down. At one point, Kueng took Floyd’s pulse but “couldn’t find one,” according to the criminal complaint.
“We recognize the statements that this defendant made,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, the prosecutor on this case, regarding Lane, “but beyond that, [he] did nothing but hold the victim down [and] started CPR too late.”
Chauvin is facing charges second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter charges. His bail has been set at $1 million, and he is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case on Monday, June 8th.
Minneapolis Mayor Overcome With Emotion During George Floyd Service
Mayor Jacob Frey was seen sobbing in front of George Floyd’s casket.
George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis last week and in the aftermath of his death, there have been protests all across the United States. These protests have mostly been peaceful although on occasion there have been some riots and even the occasional looted store. Regardless of the methods of protest, it is clear that the people want justice and they want to see a concrete end to police brutality all across the nation.
Today, there was a memorial service for Floyd in Minneapolis and Mayor Jacob Frey was there to pay his respects. In an emotional moment, Frey approached Floyd’s casket and knelt to say a prayer. While doing so, Frey stopped and began to sob as he was overcome with emotion during the moment.
There was a large gathering of people for the service including celebrities like T.I., Kevin Hart, and even Ludacris. Floyd’s death has touched a lot of people and it is a stark reminder of the inequality in this country. Not to mention, Floyd was seen as a leader in his community and many wanted to pay their respects to a man who was unjustly taken way too soon.
Hopefully, the protests all across the country lead to some real change.
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George Floyd Memorial: T.I., Kevin Hart, Ludacris, & More Attend
George Floyd's memorial in Minneapolis is live now, with Kevin Hart, T.I., Ludacris, Tiffany Haddish, Tyrese Gibson, and more in attendance.
There will be several memorial services and public viewings held for George Floyd, the 46-year-old who was murdered by police on Memorial Day. As protests continue to take place across the country, the family of George Floyd and their legal representative, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, are in attendance as the first service begins in Minneapolis.
George Floyd is in a golden casket flanked by flowers. The now-iconic mural at his arrest site is also shown on the stage.
Several celebrities are in attendance to hear the Floyd family speak, including T.I., Ludacris, Kevin Hart, Tyrese Gibson, Regina Hall, Tyler Perry, Tiffany Haddish, and more. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is also joined by Martin Luther King III, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and other civil rights leaders.
At the start of the ceremony, Floyd family attorney Ben Crump spoke on the reports that Floyd had tested positive for COVID-19, noting that he did not die from the coronavirus.
"Racism and police brutality killed Floyd," he said.
There is a live-stream currently happening of the memorial, where you can watch Rev. Al Sharpton, Ben Crump, and others speak about the impact that George Floyd has had on our world.
Watch the stream below. Rest in peace, Big Floyd.
George Floyd Murder: Store Owner Who Called Cops On Him Speaks Out
Mahmoud Abumayyaleh, the owner of Cup Foods which called the cops on George Floyd for allegedly trying to pay with a $20 bill, speaks out and condemns the police’s actions.
George Floyd was arrested outside of Cup Foods on Chicago Avenue and 38th Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He allegedly tried to buy a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. As a regular precaution, a store clerk called the police, who detained the 46-year-old man before forcefully pinning him onto the ground. Derek Chauvin, one of the since-fired officers, used his knee to apply pressure on Floyd’s neck and back, which cut off his airway and ended up killing him by asphyxia.
The owner of Cup Foods has taken to Facebook to speak about the incident, implementing some changes in his shop’s procedures and criticizing the cops who responded to the call.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
“We are deeply saddened and outraged by what happened to George Floyd in front of our store,” wrote Mahmoud Abumayyaleh. “There is no justification for the use of reckless force displayed by the police that murdered George Floyd. We support this protest and share in their anger.”
Abumayyaleh noted in the post that he will no longer involve the police in non-violent incidents like this.
“By simply following procedure we are putting our communities in danger. Until the police stop killing innocent people, we will handle incidents like this one using non-violent tactics that do not involve police,” he wrote. “We must stand together to fight against institutional racism.”
Minnesota Files Civil Rights Charge Against Minneapolis Police Department
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights will be launching an investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department.
We’ve seen a lot of movement in the wake of George Floyd‘s death. Protests have been sweeping, not only the United States, but Canada and Europe as well, in a show of support. We did see Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd, arrested rather quickly after the video of Floyd went viral. Now, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights is making another move, and charging the Minneapolis Police Department with civil rights charge.
Minnesota will launch an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department, stemming from the death of George Floyd, Gov. Tim Walz announced on Tuesday. The investigation will be lead by Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero, and will look into 10 years of police procedures and policies, to “determine if the MPD has engaged in systemic discriminatory practices towards people of color and ensure any such practices are stopped.”
Minneapolis protests gather in support of George Floyd, taking over the highway – Scott Olson/Getty Images
Walz said, “We are going to establish peace on the streets when we address the systemic issues.” Walz said they are also seeking to make an agreement with the city’s police, in order to enact some more immediate measures that would address systemic racism.
Lucero said, “George Floyd should be alive. He deserved to live a life full of dignity and joy. Community leaders have been asking for structural change for decades. They have fought for this and it is essential that we acknowledge the work and commitment of those who have paved the path to make today’s announcement possible.”
This is the first time the Human Rights Department has ever launched a systemic investigation into the largest police department in MN, Walz said.
Minneapolis Trucker Who Drove Into Protestors Released Without Charges
Truck driver Bogdan Vechirko has been released from police custody without any criminal charges after “unintentionally” driving his truck into a crowd of protestors on the 35W Bridge.
Truck driver Bogdan Vechirko was arrested after he rolled onto the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was used as a peaceful protest spot following the murder of George Floyd. His vehicle was moving so quickly that protestors were forced to run to either side of the bridge, fearing for their lives. Once the truck stopped moving, Bogdan was pulled out of the vehicle and people climbed on top of the truck. He was later arrested.
According to the Star Tribune, Bogdan has officially been released from jail without any criminal charges. Minnesota authorities say that he was not aiming for any protestors and was unaware that the I-35W interstate was closed.
Vechirko had been jailed since Sunday night under suspicion of assault. He reportedly did not breach any barriers put up but, according to State Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, the driver just barrelled forward and panicked.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Many of the protestors present at the display have claimed that Vechirko showed “a callous disregard for someone’s humanity.”
Vechirko’s wife has issued a video statement, asking for donations as they are not very financially wealthy. “Due to multiple requests, I am recording this video for those who care and want to help our family,” said Liudmila Vechirko, who is eight months pregnant. She added that their credit cards are frozen after all of her husband’s possessions were taken from the truck.
