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Dear neighbors,
I join our state and our community in anger and grief over the murder of George Floyd. I am heartbroken for his family and friends, our communities of color, and the city of Minneapolis.
Hundreds of thousands of people are participating in marches in Minnesota and across the nation. I fully support the rights of people to peacefully protest, and we have been witness to peaceful demonstrations around the state demanding justice.
While most of the protests are peaceful demonstrations, arson, looting, and destruction have occurred in the Twin Cities and other areas. Violence and proprty destruction are wrong, but it is important to remember that the pain and anger we’re seeing is the result of 400 years of systemic injustice. We must also recognize that some communities are reporting violence and vandalism unrelated to the protests. I am keeping my focus on grieving the loss of Mr. Floyd and addressing the persistent inequalities that led to his tragic death.
POCI Caucus Proposal
Yesterday, lawmakers from the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus unveiled a legislative agenda to ensure all Minnesotans can be safe in their communities. The bills in this package of legislation would:
- Reform the investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions,
- Increase police accountability and transparency,
- Raise standards of conduct and support officer excellence,
- Partner officers with the communities they serve, and
- Repair and build community trust and create community-centered public safety.
I encourage you to watch their press conference here and read the full list of proposals here.
I stand with my POCI Caucus colleagues in their call for justice and demand for change. These long overdue reforms will be a top priority in future legislative sessions, including the upcoming special session.
Support our Minneapolis Neighbors
Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who helped gather sorely-needed food and supplies for impacted Minneapolis communities! The Open Door generously hosted the event, and dozens of people volunteered to help over the weekend. In just two days, our community members donated enough food and supplies to provide immediate relief and replenish six partner organizations. This outpouring of generosity is a demonstration of the way that Minnesotans care about each other.
This is a great step to help our Minneapolis neighbors, but it won’t be our last. If you’re interested in other ways to help, the Star Tribune published a list of resources that you might find useful here.
Stay Safe MN
Many restaurants, bars, salons, and barbershops reopened Monday as we entered a new phase of the Stay Safe Plan. Restaurants and bars are now able to offer outdoor dining, and salons and barbershops can operate at 25 percent occupancy. However, concerns about COVID-19 remain. Please continue following public health practices to protect yourself, other customers, and employees and help make the gradual reopening process a success. More information about the various phases of the Stay Safe Plan is available here.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions, feedback, or suggestions. You can reach me via email at rep.laurie.halverson@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-4128.
Sincerely,
Laurie Halverson
State Representative
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