Democrats Won Power in Four States. Will They Use It to Pass Bold Justice Reforms?
In Minnesota, Democrats used a newly won legislative trifecta to legalize marijuana, overhaul the pardons process, and limit no-knock warrants. But they also funneled hundreds of millions in new funding toward prisons and policing.
Cinnamon Janzer May 25, 2023
Riots Work: An interview with Alex Mingus
Police gave Alex Mingus an award for saving a shooting victim’s life. Mingus showed up wearing a shirt that said “Smash white supremacy”.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Nov 16, 2022
How St. Paul Became The Twin Cities’ Leader On Justice Reform
Although Minneapolis has garnered media attention since the George Floyd uprising, St. Paul may be the Twin City making the most strides toward transformative justice. But Sheriff Bob Fletcher’s actions may undo positive steps in Ramsey County.
Hibah Ansari, Anna Simonton Jan 11, 2022
Climate Justice Is Central to Kate Knuth’s Bid for Minneapolis Mayor
The former state legislator and resilience officer sees progressive economic policies as part and parcel of curbing climate change.
Cinnamon Janzer Jun 01, 2021
Report Sheds Light On The Pattern Of Over-Policing That Led Cops To Pull Over Daunte Wright
The criminal legal system “relies heavily on collecting money from the very people targeted by the system,” in the process incentivizing police to punish as many people as possible, the authors of the ACLU report write.
Samantha Schuyler Apr 21, 2021
After Daunte Wright’s Death, Advocates Press Leaders to Get Police Out of Traffic Enforcement
Cities across the country must rethink the role of law enforcement, as police continue to brutalize and kill Black men and women during traffic stops, advocates say.
Joshua Vaughn Apr 14, 2021
Minneapolis Activists Could Put Police Reform Directly on the Ballot
Yes 4 Minneapolis, a coalition of advocacy organizations, is on track to place a proposed charter amendment on November’s ballot that would fundamentally change policing and public safety in the city.
Joshua Vaughn Mar 26, 2021
How George Floyd’s Death Is Pushing Minneapolis to Rethink Public Safety
The police killing has accelerated a years-long effort by advocates and lawmakers to shift resources and money away from law enforcement.
Joshua Vaughn Feb 19, 2021
Esther Agbaje, Fighting For Affordable Housing And Prison Reform, Becomes Minnesota’s First Nigerian-American Legislator
“I have always had a focus on public service, always a desire to make sure that I’m using my skills and talents to help people and to make the community around me a little bit better,” she said.
Dawn R. Wolfe Nov 04, 2020
Athena Hollins Wins Seat In Minnesota State House, Pledging To Fight For Broad Police Reforms
Hollins’s ‘very personal’ decision to run was sparked in part by the Trump administration ‘catching everything on fire.’ Now she wants to advocate for subsidized child care, police reform, and more.
Dawn R. Wolfe Nov 04, 2020
Omar Fateh Wins Chance to Bring ‘People Power’ to Minnesota’s State Senate
Minnesotans, Fateh said, “should be able to access the folks that are representing us and make sure that they’re partnering with the community.”
Dawn R. Wolfe Nov 04, 2020
Omar Fateh is Running to Bring a ‘Working-Class Agenda’ to Minnesota’s State Senate
The current Democratic state senator, Jeff Hayden, lacks the progressive vision that Minnesotans seek, Fateh says.
Dawn R. Wolfe Oct 26, 2020
Esther Agbaje Wants to Solve ‘The Million Dollar Question’ of Racial Disparities Across Minnesota
If she wins at the ballot box in November, Agbaje would become the state’s first Nigerian American state legislator.
Dawn R. Wolfe Oct 16, 2020
Athena Hollins Takes On Public Safety, Housing, And Affordable Child Care In Her Run For The Minnesota House
When it comes to public safety, Hollins doesn’t want to stop with reallocating police funding. She’d like her state to track both proven and alleged instances of police misconduct.
Dawn R. Wolfe Oct 16, 2020
Defund the Police Now
More training, more equipment, and more officers will not stop police from killing Black people.
Justin Brooks Jun 01, 2020
Yes, Amy Klobuchar Is To Blame For Myon Burrell’s Unjust Conviction
Prosecutors in Hennepin County, Minnesota, used jailhouse informants and an unreliable gang expert, and ignored evidence of innocence to send a Black teenager to prison for life.
Kyle C. Barry Feb 19, 2020
The Struggle to Be Trans in Minnesota’s Sex Offender Program
Four transgender women say clinicians and staff deny them gender-affirming care and see their identity as in conflict with sex offender treatment.
Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard Jul 15, 2019
Spotlight: A City Council Says No To More Police
Last week, in a 4-3 vote on the 2019-20 budget, the City Council in Durham, North Carolina, voted against funding 18 new police officers. It voted instead to raise the wage for part-time city workers to just over $15 an hour. With that, the city joined jurisdictions around the country that are critically evaluating requests for increased […]
Vaidya Gullapalli Jun 10, 2019
A Prison Strike in Minnesota Actually Got Results
Most prison strikes are met with retaliation and abuse, but one recent work stoppage is starting to pay off.
Raven Rakia Jan 25, 2019
Immigrant Who Fled Gangs and Torture Challenges ICE Detainers
Attorneys for a Honduran woman are suing over the widespread jailhouse practice of honoring ICE requests to hold incarcerated immigrants for pickup.
Debbie Nathan Dec 03, 2018
In spite of policy change, Minneapolis body camera program falls short
The fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Justine Damond, a white Australian native, by police officer Mohamed Noor in July reignited a local debate about the use of body-mounted cameras. Noor and fellow officer Matthew Harrity didn’t have their body cameras on when Damand was killed, a revelation that spurred interim Police Chief Medaria Arradondo to […]
Rebecca McCray Sep 27, 2017