On the early morning of January 14, 2015, what likely began as a clumsy cop slipping on ice turned into belligerent gunfire by Saint Paul police officers, ending in the murder of a young Black man. The police department tried hard to keep the story out of the media, or they spewed lies about Marcus Golden and the incident. After Terrance Franklin and before Jamar Clark, the murder of Marcus Golden by the Saint Paul Police Department was one of the pivotal moments in the Minnesota fight against police terror.

Marcus Golden’s aunt, Monique Cullars-Doty, a leader in the Minnesota fight against police terror and for Black Liberation, emceed the vigil. She is a member of many groups, including the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar. She used the vigil to announce the “Golden Awards.” The awards will have categories such as “police federation president most likely to have a white hood in his closet.” The ‘winners’ will be announced February 14. The of #NoLove4Cops nominations can be posted at Bit.ly/goldenawards.

The Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar’s Jess Sundin, spoke, “The fact is, the story of what happened to Marcus didn’t make the news. But Monique took that moment and transformed the community for the long-haul and so now we all know Marcus Golden. What we learned from this example is, ‘Don’t ever forget!’ We thank for Monique for teaching us the powerful place that families can have in the movement. We can’t all be Monique, but everyone can find a place in the movement. At TCC4J, we are committed to making sure that all the names and all the stories are told.” She added, “Monique is always talking about, ‘We need legislation! We need new rules!’ This is why TCC4J is fighting for community control of the police. We need an end to police terror in our communities! Justice for Marcus Golden!”

At the vigil, the true story of Marcus Golden was told. There were many speeches and eulogies from community members, including Pastor Brian Herron, vocalist Bridgette from Sounds of Blackness and Loretta VanPelt of TCC4J. They honored the truths of a young Black worker who dedicated his life to serving his community and specifically his grandparents, providing them healthcare services and home upkeep. VanPelt ended the vigil by leading the Assata Shakur chant. Vigil attendees pledged to honor the memory of Marcus Golden, fight for justice, Black liberation, and community control of the police.

#SaintPaulMN #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #SaintPaulPoliceDepartment #Antiracism #MarcusGolden #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJusticeForJamar

Jess Sundin, of the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar (TCC4J), which is working for an all-civilian Minneapolis Police Accountability Council (MPAC), stated, “Police have no place directing medical personnel on the administering of medications, especially strong sedatives that risk people’s lives and cause memory loss. We know that several people were already restrained before they were given ketamine against their wishes, and that some stopped breathing or even had their hearts stop.”

Sundin continued, “This is an outrage, and justice demands more than a report by the city’s Office of Police Conduct Review, which has no power to discipline officers, even when it finds wrongdoing. This is why we demand community control of the police, and all-civilian board with the power to get rid of violent and abusive cops.”

#Minneapolis #MinneapolisMN #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #MinneapolisPoliceDepartment #PoliceCrimes #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJusticeForJamar #MinneapolisPoliceAccountabilityCouncilMPAC

#MinneapolisMN #PoliceBrutality #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJusticeForJamar #JustineDamond

St. Paul, MN – Dozens burst into the city council meeting here on Wednesday afternoon, March 22, to demand answers after the police killing of 29-year-old African American, Cordale Handy.

Two officers, Mikko Norman and Nathaniel Younce, have been placed on paid administrative leave and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has begun investigating the events that led up to Handy being shot to death at 2:30 a.m. March 15. Witness reports do not line up with the police account, which blames Handy for his own death. According to a statement by Black Lives Matter-Saint Paul, “They are framing this as a ‘domestic assault’ response call. That is a lie. We know that Mr. Handy was experiencing a medical emergency and that his girlfriend was trying to help calm him down.”

The Saint Paul City council meeting came to a halt this week, as community members concerned about the case entered the room. Danielle Swift asked, “How many of y’all know who Cordale Handy is? Anybody know?” Most people in the room raised their hands in a sign of support. She continued, “He was shot and killed by Saint Paul Police last week, one week ago today. I took a look at the agenda, and I didn’t see a mention there, not at all.”

Swift stepped up to the microphone to recite demands from an open letter to the council, co-signed by Black Lives Matter-Saint Paul, Blue Lies Matter, Communities United Against Police Brutality, Justice for Marcus Golden, Saint Paul for Justice, and Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar. In less than a minute, most of the council members got up and left the meeting, only three staying behind. Demands include: release of all video and audio evidence; an independent investigation not conducted by the BCA; an end to the smearing of Mr. Handy’s character; and an end to the practice of paid administrative leave for killer cops.

While council members claimed most of this was out of their hands, Council President Russ Stark agreed to the demand for a community meeting to address Handy’s case, and why the Saint Paul Police Department has become the most lethal department in the state. It was agreed the meeting would take place within two weeks at the High School for Recording Arts.

Several others spoke at microphone, including Kay Smith, wife of Jaffort Smith, and John Thompson, friend of Philando Castile. Smith and Castile were both murdered by local police in 2016. The cops that killed Jaffort Smith with 19 shots were let off by a grand jury, while Castile’s killer is awaiting trial for manslaughter.

Cordale Handy’s case, along with those of Jamar Clark and many others, will be on the agenda at a community forum hosted by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamar at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis. Speakers will include Frank Chapman, of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, members of Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) No More Deportations Campaign, Communities United Against Police Brutality, and the IWW General Defense Committee. The forum aims to bring together community members and activists to discuss strategies for confronting police crimes today.

#SaintPaulMN #PoliceBrutality #CordaleHandy #TwinCitiesCoalitionForJusticeForJamar