Protests Echo Across the Twin Cities; Communities Gather to Heal

Feven Gerezgiher reports:

Protests echoed across the Twin Cities metro area this weekend, calling for justice for victims of police brutality and for a de-escalation of the law enforcement initiative called Operation Safety Net.

On Friday night, state troopers, National Guard, and local police arrested more than 100 protestors outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department. In the process, they also arrested medics, and physically assaulted reporters, drawing widespread criticism.

Amidst the chaos, however, people were able to find some solace. On Saturday, artists and healers hosted a community event at the memorial for Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center. Minneapolis resident Maiya Hartman said it’s been an emotionally exhausting week.

“I feel really tired but I am really grateful to be in this space today where I can once again be reminded of the fact that there is hope and there is really community and we are here to look out for each other,” said Hartman.  “At the end of the day, that’s what’s going to find us liberation.”

St Paul resident Davu Seru said he is also hopeful… because he has to be.

“I remember ’91, I remember L.A. [when the police beat Rodney King]. So to some degree, I’m familiar with what it looks like when the system fails people too many times, particularly when it seems rather obvious what the right thing to do is. And because of procedure, we get stuck in the same cycle of denial and don’t do what’s right.”

Seru says the right thing to do would be to convict Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

The jury will begin deliberating its verdict after closing arguments.

Meanwhile, the funeral for Daunte Wright is scheduled for this Thursday.

Photo Credit: Chioma Uwagwu