The following letter was sent to Mayor Betsy Hodges on the afternoon of Friday, September 26th and has since been updated to include additional signers.
Dear Mayor Hodges,
We write today to request that your office take seriously the concerns that are being raised by community members throughout Minneapolis and the greater Twin Cities' Metro area about the abusive police practices of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) that have been occurring for years. As you know, last week nearly two hundred residents of the Twin Cities gathered at Sabathani Community center with an expectation to engage in a "listening session" with Chief Harteau. As you are aware, Chief Harteau withdrew from the event just hours before it was set to begin and made comments to the media that we find to be offensive regarding expectations of physical violence and unruly confrontations that would pose a threat to public safety. These speculations, on the part of the Chief, reinforced stereotypes of the very communities she was purportedly gathering to "listen" to, and who are in fact, the community members most likely to be targeted by police.
The gathering was peaceful and comments from the community served to highlight the depth of the concerns that community members have about their safety on the streets and the ongoing negative interactions between law enforcement and the community. Young people from the community shared stories of arrests for things like spitting on the sidewalk or "walking while black." The conduct of some members of MPD is unacceptable in a community that prides itself on having strong, progressive values.
Although several requests have been made by multiple community members to have you and Chief Harteau issue a public apology, this has not yet occurred. We find that disheartening. Many of us voted you into office because we felt that you would not continue with "business as usual," but would work to unify the community and change the status quo. Your silence on the concerns that have been raised and your failure to engage the community on these issues speaks volumes, and will make it difficult to regain public trust.
We remain concerned about the short and long term impacts of failing to address community concerns regarding police/community relations in a timely manner. Following are some actions that you can take as a way to begin to heal the rift between the Chief, your office, and many concerned community members.
●First, we would ask that a public apology be issued by you and/or the Chief for missing the community listening session and her derogatory and alarmist media remarks that perpetuated negative racial stereotypes.
●Second, we would ask that drastic steps be taken to address the culture within MPD that leads to negative police/community relations.
●Third, we would ask for an audit of MPD by a credible, third-party entity to review departmental structure, the effectiveness of internal affairs and the civilian review process, along with departmental policies.
●Fourth, we would request quarterly progress reports to the community on issues such as increasing diversity within MPD, the rates of low-level arrests, the number and types of police misconduct complaints, and the number of police misconduct lawsuits being settled along with dollar amounts.
●Fifth, we would request an opportunity for community input on policies surrounding the use of body cameras by MPD. Although many of us support the use of body cameras, we are well aware of the fact that many jurisdictions that use body cameras continue to face allegations of police misconduct and brutality due to cameras being turned off during optimal times, storage of data, and interpretation of said data.
In essence, we would like to see MPD be transformed into a department that respects the human dignity of all persons and works to foster positive relationships with the community. We believe that public safety is negatively impacted when residents fear the police department or have lost trust due to a lack of accountability. We urge you to demonstrate bold and courageous leadership on these issues and to set the tone for the type of conduct that is expected in the city of Minneapolis. This can only happen after steps are taken to address the concerns that have been repeatedly raised over the last week and an apology has been issued.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to a timely response.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nancy Heitzeg St. Catherine University
Prof. Nekima Levy-Pounds University of St. Thomas Law School
Dr. Rose Brewer University of Minnesota
Scott Gray President & CEO, Minneapolis Urban League
Jeffry D. Martin, Esq. President, St Paul Branch NAACP, First VP, MN/Dakotas Conf., NAACP
Vina Kay Interim Exec. Director./Dir. of Research& Policy, Org. Apprenticeship Project
Nick Muhammad Concerned citizen, Community organizer
Rev. Dennis Edwards Senior Pastor, The Sanctuary Covenant Church, Minneapolis
Dane Smith President, Growth & Justice
Toki Wright Concerned community member
Jason M. Sole Metropolitan State University, School of Law Enforcement & Crim. Justice
Rev. Michael A. Hotz Associate Pastor of Care and Outreach, The Sanctuary Covenant Church
Rev. Dan Collison Senior Pastor, First Covenant Church of Minneapolis
Chris Stewart Concerned community member
Dua Saleh President, NAACP St. Paul Youth Branch
James Trice Founder and CEO of The Public Policy Project
Lissa Jones Host, Urban Agenda Public Affairs Show
Elizabeth A. Oppenheimer Concerned community member
Chaka Mkali Director of Organizing and Community Building at Hope Community
Mark Robinson Executive Director, E.M.P.O.W.E.R.
Anthony Newby Executive Director, Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC)
Neely Heubach Minneapolis resident and concerned community member
Kenya McKnight Minneapolis resident and Business owner
Chris Brooks Faculty | Youth & Urban Studies, North Central University
N. Jeanne Burns Concerned community member
William C. Jottings Concerned community member
Matthew Barthelemy Concerned community member
Henry Jimenez Youth worker, Community organizer
Jamie Utt Concerned community member
Charles Samuelson Executive Director American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLU-MN)
Cynthia Assam Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas Law School
Ngeri Azuewah Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas Law School
Rachel Sebasky Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas Law School
Justine Hicks Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas Law School
Jacob Ray Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas Law School
Muna Hassan Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas Law School
Marcus Harcus Concerned community member
Taylor Shevey Concerned community member
Stephen Maitreya Wolfe Concerned community member
Nathaniel Khaliq Concerned community member
Shelley Martin Concerned Mpls Resident, Community Organizer
Nelima Sitati Munene Concerned Community member
Ann Mongoven Concerned Community member
Thomas Hooks Concerned Community member
Sarah Goodspeed Concerned Community member
Tami Schimnoski Concerned Community member
Ruby Simmons Partake or Flake
Kate Willis Concerned Community member
Matthew Berg Concerned Community member
Mike Griffin Concerned Community member
Kristy Pierce Concerned Community member
Vaughn Larry Concerned Community member
Donna Evans Concerned Community activist/organizer
Rev Meg Riley Senior Minister, Church of the Larger Fellowship
La Juana Whitmore Owner, Black Twin Cities, Member, MN Cultural & Ethnic Comm. Leadership Coun.
Shaun Laden Concerned Community Member
Amber Gay Concerned Community Member
Dwane Martin Concerned Community Member
Peter Thomas, Community Artist, Concerned Community Member
Dr. Bryan K. Cole Parent, Educator, former Minneapolis Resident
Tim Harlan-Marks Concerned Community Member
Karen Monahan Community organizer
David Miller Concerned Community Member
Cathy Jones People of Color Union Member, Concerned community Member
Dave Snyder Concerned community member
Anne Winkler-Morey Community faculty Metro state university
Claire Bergren Community Organizer- Harrison Neighborhood Association
Jobi Adams Concerned community member and Youth
Rebeka Ndosi Concerned community member
Chamise Anderson Certified Student Attorney, University of St. Thomas School of Law
Melvin Whitfield Carter, Jr. Concerned community member
Azucena Ortega Concerned community member
Eliot Howard Concerned community member
Zachariah Y. Oluwa Bankole JD/MBA student and concerned community member
Anika Ward Concerned community member
Roya Damsaz Concerned community member
Julie Plaut Concerned community member
Amy Van Steenwyk Co-founder of the Mennonite Worker
Ann Galloway Concerned Citizen
Daniel Dean Concerned Community Member
Muneer Karcher-Ramos Concerned Father
Molly Glasgow Northside Community Reinvestment Coalition
Oliver Schminkey Concerned citizen
Aaron Rennaker Concerned Community Member
Katie Huynh Concerned citizen
Ashley Horan Exec. Director, The Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance
Angel Smith-EL Concerned citizen of 4 African American young men
Kyla Sisson Concerned community member
Miranda Posthumus Concerned Community Member
William W Smith IV Youth Advocate
Bridget Siljander Concerned community member
Kate Sattler Concerned Community Member
Ann Haines Concerned Community Member
Evelyn M. Blum Concrned Community Member and Voter
David Boehnke Concerned Community Member
Mike Wedl Concerned Minneapolis Resident and Community Leader
Lauren Huiting Concerned Community Member
David Miller Concerned Community Member
Nick Campbell North Minneapolis Resident
Stephanie DeFrance Public School Teacher
Marjaan Sirdar Concerned community member
Niko Georgiades Youth Worker, Concerned Community Member
Chrissie Mahaffy Concerned community Member
Brian Mahaffy Concerned community Member
Dick Donovan Concerned community Member
Tessa Wetjen Concerned community member
Vanessa Messersmith Concerned community member
Leah C Palmer Former MPD employee
Jennifer Lock Concerned Community Member
Liane Gale Co-Chair, Green Party of Minnesota
Michael kraft Concerned community member
Josh Hardy Concerned Community Member
Steve Loop Concerned Community Member
Danyale Green Concerned Community Member/Organizer
Sonia Nunez-Gibbs Educator
Tony Nunez Concerned community member
Jazmin Danielson Community Leader
Avra Anagnostis Wake Up 612
Cari Tan Educator Concerned Community Member
Mrs. Maryann Robinson Concerned Child Education Advocate
Brian K. Smith Institute on Culture and Policy
Mary Webb-Hampton Concerned community member, Wake up 612
Stephanie Gasca Concerned Community Member
Roya Damsaz Concerned community member
Michael W. Jonak Attorney and Concerned Citizen
Jon P. Frasz TAMN
Roya Damsaz Concerned Community Member
Kissy Coakley Victims Advocate & Justice 4 All Leader
Dan Kauppi Lawyer, Minneapolis resident
Robert Smith III Doctoral Student, University of Minnesota
Carrie Anne Johnson Parent & Life-long South Minneapolis Resident
Amber Jones U of M Student, Concerned Community Member
Eric Highers Concerned Community Member
Lars Mackenzie Graduate Student, University of Minnesota
Maria Laden Concerned Community Member
James Christenson Concerned Community Member
Vanessa Messersmith Concerned community member
Joseph Maher ONE LOVE
Mike Griffin Concerned Community Member
Christena Cleveland Ph.D., Associate Professor of Reconciliation Studies, Bethel University
C. John Hildebrand Concerned Community Member
Mark Van Steenwyk Pastor, the Mennonite Worker
Brita Higgins Concerned Community Member
Brandi Olson Jordan neighborhood resident and concerned community member
Pamela Y. Cook, Esq Chaplain Intern, Redeemer Lutheran Church & Redeemer Center for Life
Chelsea Forbrook MPS teacher
Holly Slattery Concerned Community Member
Alanna Morris-Van Tassel Concerned Community Member
Steve Clemens Minneapolis resident
Charity Kroeker Concerned Community Member
Jack O'Leary Concerned Community Member
Raymond Calubayan Concerned Community Member
Bethany Theobald Concerned Community Member
Terry W. Hokenson Board Member, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Nancy Nair Concerned Community Member
Russ Barclay Concerned Community Member
Jamie Buss Concerned Community Member
Dawn Pivec Concerned Community Member
Lora Pedersen Concerned Community member
Corliss Zawistowski Concerned Community member
Marcia Foutch Concerned Community Member
Linda L Richards Brain Injury Specialist in rehab, for persons with traumatic brain injury
Ryan Peterson Concerned Community Member
G Zachariah White, PsyD Licensed Psychologist
Orin Rubin Concerned community member
Matthew Masurka Musician, Concerned Community Member
Jennifer Arnold Community organizer
Nathan Michielson University of Minnesota Student
Morgan Bird Concerned Community Member
Peter William Atkins Concerned Community Member
Alexis Boxer Conservation Organizer, Sierra Club
Nick Espinosa Occupy Homes MN, United Neighborhood Alliance
Bobbi Dahlstrom Whittier resident
Rike Miggs Concerned Community Member
Cesar Atienzo Concerned Community Member
Alexandra Vagac Chair of the Board of Directors, MPIRG
Nicholas Cotta Student at University of Minnesota
Grayson Carr Community member
Dr. Sarah Humpage Liuzzi Economist, Concerned Community Member
Alyssa Ramsden MPIRG Board Director
Aaron Furuseth Concerned Community Member
Austin Zyvoloski Concerned Community Member
Stacia Martin Concerned Community Member
Anton Schieffer Concerned Community Member
Emily Lund Concerned community member
Adam Loomis Minneapolis resident, artist and activist
Guy Wagner Concerned Community Member
Zoe Prinds-Flash Photographer, Concerned Community Member
Abbi Dion University of Minnesota Graduate Student and Concerned Citizen
Eden Yosief Concerned Community Member
Sam Gould Concerned Community Member
Emerson Gutierrez Concerned Community Member
Phill Kelly Interim Executive Director, West Bank Community Coalition
Ryan Johnson Concerned Community Member
Nien Liu Concerned Community Member
Josh J. Kaplan Concerned Community Member
Greg Neis Concerned Community Member
Will Dockendorf Teacher
Mike Hoyt Concerned community member
Ruby Levine Concerned Community Member
Peter Pawlowski Concerned Community Member, PACIM Board Member
Noah Shavit-Lonstein University of Minnesota Student
Anya Cleaver Concerned Community Member
Louis Mielke Student, University of Minnesota-TC
Pahoua Yang Hoffman Concerned Community Member
Margaret Levin State Director, Sierra Club North Star Chapter
Matthew Saint-Germain Student, University of Minnesota and Business Owner, Freedom From
Brian Matthew Hart Concerned Community Member
Jonathan K. Davis Concerned Community Member
Angie Hanson-Huff Concerned Community Member
Adam Levy Concerned community member
Janey Winterbauer Musician, citizen of Minneapolis
Patricia Enger Actor
Rosalie Pierce Concerned community member
Kathy DeKrey Concerned Community Member
Sarah Peters Artist and arts administrator with Northern Lights.mn
Lars Hayne Concerned community member
Robyn Hendrix Concerned community member
Dominique B Energy Efficiency
Wil Sampson-Bernstrom Concerned Community Member
Ben Severns Community Educator
Juleana Enright Writer, Concerned Community Member
Dean Otto Concerned Community Member
Nicholas Clark Concerned community member
Lacey Prpic Hedtke Artist, concerned community member
Katie Hargrave Concerned Community Member
Shanai Matteson Collaborative Director, Works Progress Studio
Lara Avery Editor, Revolver
Erik Brandt Professor, Minneapolis College of Art + Design
Mark Borrello Concerned Community Member
Amanda Luker Boneshaker Books
Arwyn Birch Business owner
Randall K. Cohn Program Supervisor., Avenues for Homeless Youth; Law Student, William Mitchell
Josie Shardlow Concerned Mpls resident
Elisabeth Workman Poet, writer
Danielle Thompson Concerned Community Member
Lance W Conrad Local business owner, music community organizer
Christopher Caesar Concerned Community Member
Elizabeth Stewart Concerned Community Member
Regan Smith Concerned Community Member
Rachel Bean Concerned Community Member
Donna Buer Concerned Community Member
Bradley Coleman Johnson Concerned community member
Kyrra Rankine Concerned Community Member
Katherine Kazama Concerned community member
Jonathan Stensland, Concerned Neighbor
Cassie Warholm-Wohlenhaus Librarian, Hennepin County Library-Franklin
Kevin Van Meter PhD Student, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Melissa Hysing Concerned Community Member
Mamie Xiong Concerned community member
Evan S. Giffin Concerned community member
Sharon Goens-Bradley Healing Justice Program Director, American Friends Service Committee
Christian Erickson Minneapolis Resident and Business Owner
Rowena Ng University of Minnesota Graduate Student
Andrew Molle Concerned Community Member
Travis Workman Assistant Professor/University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Ashley Fairbanks Artist/Organizer, Concerned Community Member
Paul Corts Teacher of Color
Danielle Kasprzak Concerned Community Member
Colin Kloecker Co-Director, Works Progress Studio, Concerned Community Member
Yusuf Ahmad Concerned Community Member
Bryan Pyle Concerned Community Member
Susan Kikuchi Labor organizer
Nancy Helfrich Concerned Community Member
Paul Achmelzer Concerned community member
Jessica Mueller Director of Development and Marketing, Urban Homeworks
David Petersen Owner, David Petersen Gallery
Julie Graves Youth worker
Amy Mingo Concerned Community Member
Peter Simonson Executive Sous Chef Peoples Organic, Minneapolis homeowner
Pamela Isham Concerned community member
Kristen Murray Minneapolis resident
Samuel Bjorgum Concerned community member
Taryn Tessneer Concerned Community Member
Marque Jensen Writer, Teacher, and VP of Minne-Mex Construction
Arjun Kataria Graduate Student, Carlson School of Management
Cheryl Wilgren Concerned community member
Jesse Petersen Concerned community member
Melody L Hoffmann Professor, Concerned Community Member
Tom Grant Civilian
Rachel Young Concerned Community Member
Lori Stee Concerned Community Member
Paul Henry Concerned community member
Jennifer Barclay Mother, Minneapolis resident, Concerned community member
Maura Brown Minneapolis resident
Jenn Schreiter President, the Students' Cooperative
Kirsten R Hayman Resident, Ready for Better
caty royce Deeply Concerned community member
Eric Asboe Concerned Community Member
Karlyn Avery-Derksen Behavioral Health Nurse Clinician, Concerned Community Member
Dave Jeffries Anti-Racist Action
Victor Martinez New Generation Church
Emerson Beishline Attorney and Concerned Community Member
Francisco Segovia Center Director at Pillsbury-Waite House
Janet Lobberecht Concerned community member
Erik Ostrom Concerned community member
Gabriel Bozian Certified Student Attorney, William Mitchell College of Law
Sara Nelson University of Minnesota
Dr. Valentine Cadieux University of Minnesota and Concerned Community Member
Jade Lichtsinn LICSW, Resource Chemical and Mental Health
Sarah Valentine Concerned Community Member
Eleanor Stoltz Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools
Molly Phillips Concerned Community Member
Gudrun Lock Concerned community member
Bruce Braun Concerned Community Member
Brandon Kareef Church Onward, Concerned Community Member
A. Weiers Concerned community member
Mikel Herb Concerned community member
Dr. Kate Derickson University of Minnesota
Katrina Ann Haugen Concerned Community Member
Stephen Kung President, Urban Oasis LLC
Dylan Bradford-Kesti Program Organizer, Land Stewardship Project
Pia Payne Shannon Educator
Spencer Cox Concerned Community member
Lalit Batra University of Minnesota
Melinda Kernik Concerned Community Member
Ananya Chatterjea University of Minnesota
Paul Schulz Concerned Community Member