Even though the death of George Floyd is three years behind us, the consequences of previous failures still embed themselves in Minneapolis’ society today.
A 2021 survey saw that 90 percent feel unsafe, and 70% say that friends and family are too scared to visit (CBS News).
A 40-year resident of Southern Minneapolis, T.J. Johnson, states that he no longer feels protected by the police and has applied for a gun permit.
Last Friday, the Department of Justice released a report concluding that the Minneapolis Police Department’s actions were unlawful and the department was plagued with misconduct. However, this is of little comfort to Minneapolis’s citizens, many of whom are already feel traumatized by the violence of their own protectors.
The report found that the city’s police officers had used excessive force, targeted mainly at people of color.
Mr. Johnson said his brother was part of the police force during his career, so he has mixed feelings towards the police. Johnson, a 64-year-old black man, said he was appalled as he watched the 46-year-old black man being choked to death as white police officers stood by.
Minneapolis policemen defend their position, stating that due to city statistics that show people of color being more involved in crimes, they are focusing on “crime not color.”
27-year-old Mook Thomas disagrees. After moving to Minneapolis with her husband and five children, she remembers her first encounter with Minneapolis police. As she and her husband drove home one night, they were pulled over for having a broken headlight, despite both being in good condition.
As Mrs. Thomas recalled, “He’s harassing us, telling us we don’t belong over here.”
Thomas has avoided the Minneapolis police and says she will keep it this way even if her life is in danger. If they ever try to pull her over again, she says, “I would keep going.”
Commander Wilks, one of six black female officers at the Minneapolis Police Department, now carries the burden of regaining public trust in the police.
She states, “It will be a while. An open wound takes time internally for it to heal.”
A 2021 survey saw that 90 percent feel unsafe, and 70% say that friends and family are too scared to visit (CBS News).
A 40-year resident of Southern Minneapolis, T.J. Johnson, states that he no longer feels protected by the police and has applied for a gun permit.
Last Friday, the Department of Justice released a report concluding that the Minneapolis Police Department’s actions were unlawful and the department was plagued with misconduct. However, this is of little comfort to Minneapolis’s citizens, many of whom are already feel traumatized by the violence of their own protectors.
The report found that the city’s police officers had used excessive force, targeted mainly at people of color.
Mr. Johnson said his brother was part of the police force during his career, so he has mixed feelings towards the police. Johnson, a 64-year-old black man, said he was appalled as he watched the 46-year-old black man being choked to death as white police officers stood by.
Minneapolis policemen defend their position, stating that due to city statistics that show people of color being more involved in crimes, they are focusing on “crime not color.”
27-year-old Mook Thomas disagrees. After moving to Minneapolis with her husband and five children, she remembers her first encounter with Minneapolis police. As she and her husband drove home one night, they were pulled over for having a broken headlight, despite both being in good condition.
As Mrs. Thomas recalled, “He’s harassing us, telling us we don’t belong over here.”
Thomas has avoided the Minneapolis police and says she will keep it this way even if her life is in danger. If they ever try to pull her over again, she says, “I would keep going.”
Commander Wilks, one of six black female officers at the Minneapolis Police Department, now carries the burden of regaining public trust in the police.
She states, “It will be a while. An open wound takes time internally for it to heal.”