Encampment at Minneapolis 4th Precinct bulldozed by police
Struggle to get justice for Jamar marches on
Minneapolis, MN – Hundreds descended upon City Hall on Thursday, Dec. 3, after eviction of an 18-day encampment set up to protest the killing of Jamar Clark outside the Fourth Precinct police station. 100 Minneapolis police raided the encampment at 3:45 a.m., arresting eight, then destroying the camp with bulldozers.
Supporters of Black Lives Matter Minneapolis filled the atrium of City Hall to protest of the mayor and city council's continued brutality against protesters who have endured a white supremacist terrorist attack, police violence and freezing temperatures to demand justice for Jamar Clark and Black people in Minnesota.
Speakers took a determined and positive stance, speaking to the accomplishments of the movement so far, and expressing determination to continue the fight. Jamar’s cousin, Alex Clark, who has been a critical on-the-ground leader throughout the occupation at the Fourth Precinct, spoke to the significance of this struggle, “The history that’s happening right here in Minneapolis, Minnesota, should be in text books across the world!”
Mica Grimm told the crowd, “We been outside for 18 days. We done been maced, we done been shot, we done been through a blizzard and we still here. Ok? We cannot be stopped, because on the path to justice, there is no getting tired!”
In an earlier statement, Grimm said, “We reiterate our demands: Release the tapes, appoint a special prosecutor with no grand jury for Jamar Clark's case, institute a safety plan to protect Minneapolis residents from continued police violence and address racial disparities plaguing our communities.”
The rally marched to nearby Wings Financial, a local bank that is second largest contributor to the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis. Demanding that Wings disinvest in the police, protesters wrote messages on the bank windows, including “Justice 4 Jamar.”
After returning to City Hall, demonstrators then set off to join a protest targeting Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis police federation. According to organizers, “Kroll has a long history of white supremacist activity and statements, ranging from wearing ‘White power’ badges on his jacket, being a member of a motorcycle club whose members openly display KKK and neo-Nazi symbols, describing Muslims as terrorists, physically threatening a Black city council member, and worse. He has been accused of multiple incidents of brutality against residents of our city, such as a 1995 case in which he was accused of kicking, beating, choking and using racial slurs against a 15-year-old boy.”
The police federation had been holding a fundraiser, but closed the event down early, upon hearing that the protest was headed their way. Protesters then marched to the police federation headquarters, where police had covered up their sign with a tarp and erected construction fence around their building.
The struggle for justice for Jamar Clark continues strong. A Northside Community Meeting on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Franklin Middle School will give the community and organizers a chance to determine next steps.
