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Dear neighbors,
George Floyd should be alive today. It’s been just over a week since Mr. Floyd was killed, and in that time, thousands of people have come together to march and call for justice. While violence and destruction have drawn attention away from peaceful protests, it’s been heartening to see Minnesotans cleaning up and delivering food and supplies to impacted communities.
Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin has been taken into custody and charged, and Attorney General Keith Ellison has been appointed to lead the prosecution. This is a good first step, but much more needs to be done to address persistent inequalities in our state.
Today, the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus shared legislative responses to the murder of George Floyd, including measures to reform the investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions, increase police accountability and transparency, and more. You can view a full list of the proposed reforms here. I will stand by my colleagues in calling for police and criminal justice reform to be a top priority in future legislative sessions.
I will continue to be in close contact with local officials and community members in the days ahead. While what our community is experiencing is relatively small compared to what’s going on in other cities, I know that many residents are uneasy. Here’s a helpful guide for who to call with concerns:
Finally, I’d like to congratulate the class of 2020! While our graduates didn’t have a traditional senior year, I’m confident that they’ll be well-prepared to go on to the next steps of their lives with a unique understanding of the world. I wish you all the best.
This window design was painted by Jaclee Slaba.
Please continue to contact me with questions, feedback, and suggestions.
Sincerely,
Rick Hansen
State Representative
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