Minneapolis, MN – On May 10, over 50 people gathered for a rally and march on the five-year anniversary of the murder of Terrance Franklin by the Minneapolis Police Department. The event was called by Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar (TCC4J) and was endorsed by Terrance’s family.

Terrance Franklin, who was also known as Mookie, was murdered by cops Lucas Peterson and Michael Meath on May 10, 2013, in south Minneapolis because he was Black. Franklin was unarmed, and had not committed a crime, yet MPD sent an excessive amount of patrols and cops, including a helicopter looking for him. MPD chased Franklin into the basement of a home in the Uptown neighborhood.

His murderers, Minneapolis police officers Michael Meath and Lucas Peterson, have 19 excessive force complaints combined – no discipline on any of them. Lucas Peterson has had 13 excessive force complaints against him since he joined MPD in 2000, costing over $700,000 in settlements. Peterson murdered another Black person, Christopher Burns, on Nov. 1, 2002. Peterson was also on the defunct Metro Gang Strike Force (MGSF) in 2006 and was one of the officers investigated in 2009 when the state shut down the MGSF for corruption including improper searches, seizing property without authorization (often kept for personal use or sold), and injuries to people who were not suspects. The MGSF cost the state $3 million in settlements with victims of their misconduct.

Terrance Franklin was contained in a small basement, and MPD sent a police dog and five cops, and instead of apprehending him alive, they were heard (and video taped by a witness) calling Franklin racial slurs and declaring its too late and then shot him with ten bullets, seven in his head, and in his armpit indicating his hands were up. Later that night, after the MPD murdered Terrance in cold blood, they then hit and killed a motorist when they ran a red light.

Three mayors, two police chiefs, two police federation presidents, and numerous city council members later, there is still no justice for Terrance Franklin. The media, police, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, and city officials have denied Terrance Franklin justice through smears, judicial maneuvers and cover-ups. This is a testament that the system had denied Franklin justice.

The demonstration began at 5 p.m. and speeches at 6 p.m. This was followed by a march which blocked major traffic arteries of south Minneapolis for almost an hour. Many family members and friends spoke and led chants.

Sam Sanchez, an organizer for TCC4J, rallied the crowd, stating, “The fight for Mookie was one that taught many prior to the Black Lives Matters movement how important it was to fight against police crimes. Many involved in the movement first started in the fight for #Justice4TerranceFranklin. This fight resonated with people of all nationalities. Mookie’s murder was pre-meditation and it was racially motivated. First the police used racial slurs and then said, ‘it’s too late to raise your hands now!’ There is video evidence! Later that evening, the police killed a motorist when they ran a red a light no-reason.”

Sanchez continued, “To this date, five years later, this is still no justice! Why? Because the system has protected itself. The police, to the mayor, to the County Attorney Mike Freeman. This is why we need community control of the police. We the people need the power! This is about self-determination in our communities. Black, brown, indigenous communities and all workers including white workers are targets of police terror. Now even rich white women in ruling class neighborhoods aren’t safe. They killed Justine Damond. No one is exempt for the police who enforce the rule of the rich elite!”

The rally and march concluded at 7:30 p.m.

#MinneapolisMN #PoliceBrutality #TerranceFranklin

Minneapolis, MN – Thousands of people gathered here, July 15, in the Peoples Plaza in front of the Hennepin County Government Center, to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, Terrance Franklin and all victims of police brutality.

The rally was called in the wake of the not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman. It highlighted racism and injustice in Minneapolis. Community members spoke out about issues including the Minneapolis Police Department’s shooting of Terrance Franklin in a South Minneapolis House in May. Franklin was unarmed and shot seven times in the back and head after fleeing Minneapolis police. The mother of Franklin's five-year-old son, Ashley Martin, thanked the crowd for their support of Franklin and reminded them, “We're not going to stop until we get justice!” Protesters demanded an independent investigation of the incident and prosecution of the police officers involved in Franklin’s shooting.

Other community members took time to speak about excessive force used by Minneapolis police and the ongoing criminalization of oppressed nationality youth. This point was highlighted by the large number of children and youth at the rally, some holding signs saying, “Am I next?”

Speakers also talked about the need for jobs and better education for the Black community. Many praised the people of Eqypt who have taken the streets to demand change and reminded the crowd that we need to do the same. “Change can not happen through voting or the justice system in the U.S.,” said University of Minnesota Students for Democratic Society member Stephanie Taylor, “we need stand up and fight back.”

Amber Jones, President of the Black Student Union at the University of Minnesota stated, “We’re talking about fundamental issues about our justice system. Black youths are being criminalized. We need to stay connected to [the Trayvon Martin] case to make change in our society.”

The rally concluded with a march across downtown Minneapolis in which protesters took to the streets spanning over five and half city blocks. Bystanders and pedestrians, some of whom joined in the march, applauded and cheered as protesters came by chanting, “No justice, no peace.” The three demands of the rally were that federal charges be brought against George Zimmerman; for an independent review and prosecution of Minneapolis police in the case of Terrance Franklin; and an end to racism in the legal system.

#MinneapolisMN #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #TerranceFranklin

Minneapolis, MN – Several thousand people rallied and marched in downtown here, July 15, to express outrage at the not guilty verdict given to George Zimmerman for his cold-blooded murder of African American youth Trayvon Martin.

The rally started in People’s Plaza (Hennepin County Government Plaza) with speakers from several African American organizations, movements and churches. The crowd swelled as thousands of people marched through downtown Minneapolis, passing through the busy Nicollet Mall and then shutting down all northbound lanes on Hennepin Avenue.

The speakers demanded justice for Trayvon Martin, expressing outrage that George Zimmerman could walk free after stalking and killing Martin. Protesters also demanded justice for Terrance “Mookie” Franklin, a 22-year old African American man who was killed by the police in a South Minneapolis home on May 10.

A powerful movement for justice for Terrance Franklin has emerged in Minneapolis, demanding that an independent investigation be carried out since the police will not say what happened and that police be prosecuted for killing him. Many speakers tied these two cases together, making the point that what happened to Trayvon Martin is not something that just happens in Florida or in the South, but that there are many similar cases of legal lynching of African American youth here in Minnesota too.

#MinneapolisMN #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #TerranceFranklin

Minneapolis, MN – Hundreds of people marched through the streets of downtown Minneapolis on May 31 to demand justice for Terrance “Mookie” Franklin, a 22-year-old African American man killed by the police in a South Minneapolis home on May 10.

Led by Terrance Franklin’s family and friends, the protesters gathered at Hennepin County Government Plaza and then marched through busy downtown streets, tying up traffic during the evening rush hour. They demanded that the police be prosecuted for killing Franklin, who was unarmed, and that an independent investigation be carried out. Franklin was shot multiple times – in the back of his head and in his back – in the basement of a house on 27th Street and Bryant Avenue South.

The family and supporters of Terrance Franklin vowed to continue organizing until they get justice.

To keep up-to-date on the struggle for justice for Terrance Franklin, go to https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForTerranceFranklin

#MinneapolisMN #PoliceBrutality #AfricanAmerican #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #Antiracism #TerranceFranklin #MinneapolisPoliceDepartment