Readers Write: Recent unrest in Minneapolis and Kenosha, the police, protecting businesses

A system of public safety doesn't work if it can't be trusted. With countless Black people killed at the hands of police without consequence or change, the Minneapolis Police Department hasn't earned the trust of the community it's supposed to serve. The unrest downtown is a consequence of that broken trust, and the onus is on our institutions to restore trust by treating people with respect and dignity ("Downtown Minneapolis cleans up after night of looting; Guard arrives; curfew set," StarTribune.com, Aug. 27). But the Police Department only has one tactic, and that's to meet civil unrest with increased force. When Gov. Tim Walz calls for healing, he ignores this. If "violence is never the answer" excludes police violence, it becomes meaningless. Healing begins with abolition.

I am fed up with hearing/seeing members of my community breaking, trashing and destroying our city. Stop it, now! If you are standing up for Black Lives Matter or making a statement about social justice for all, then you are doing our cause a disservice. You are rioting and destroying what we all hold dear. You cannot complain about food deserts when you are the ones destroying the businesses that provide you food. You cannot complain about institutional racism when you destroy the institutions that are trying to provide you with what you need to live a successful life.

I hear folks say, "We are so fed up, this is the way we show our anger." I say, no! This is the way you destroy our home. Knock it off! We all need self-control. Stop destroying the very businesses that help us live. It is time for you to focus your anger on more productive forms of revolt. Stop destroying our city.

It costs taxpayers — that's you and me — more and more money to fix what you have destroyed. It takes more and more police to help you get yourself under control. Please see that looting and destroying private and public property is only an act of violence. It does nothing to help solve the problems of this city, this community, this society. Knock it off!

I was waiting for, and surprised not to see, a chorus of "amens" from every corner of Minneapolis in support of the righteous (in the best sense of the word) commentary by Sondra and Don Samuels ("Why we Northside neighbors are suing Mpls.," Opinion Exchange, Aug. 25). So I feel compelled to chime in with mine from the sidelines of a near-in suburb. The Samuelses have devoted much of their lives, and risked the security and safety of their family, leading and contributing to just, robust and responsible solutions to the needs of the Northside community and the city as a whole. In their balanced and wise commentary, they do not support disbanding the police, recognizing the need to protect the community from heinous criminal acts as well as lawless police behavior, while also promoting fairness and justice for Black citizens and a relationship of mutual respect, support and accountability between the community and the police. Isn't that what we all want? Is that an "amen" I hear?

President Donald Trump and other Republicans are beating the law-and-order drum and telling us that if we elect Joe Biden we will be living with civil unrest like that in Minneapolis; Portland, Ore.; and Kenosha, Wis. ("Kenosha writes another sad chapter," editorial, Aug. 27.) Would somebody please remind him (and them) that he is the president and we are living with civil unrest? It's the result of years of neglect and a president who foments discord and hatred, encourages white supremacy and refuses to listen to anyone's viewpoint if it does not affirm his own.

Biden's got to get off his butt. He can't run a virtual campaign. Yesterday, he put out a meek video disclaiming the violence in Kenosha. He's got to go to Kenosha. He's got to get to Minneapolis. Biden will not win unless he clearly demonstrates that he will enforce law and order as a precondition for any society to build a culture of freedom and justice. Democracy has a hard edge, and I believe Biden understands that. But he's got to do something about it or Trump will take him to the cleaners. Again, Biden cannot run a virtual campaign. He's got to get out and act.

What would be the outcome if Black men were walking past the police in a protest carrying loaded assault rifles? Words of support from the police? A refreshing bottle of water on a hot night? Is there a more clear picture of white privilege than the public display and use of military-style weapons, especially during civil disobedience?

On May 25, four Minneapolis police officers publicly killed George Floyd in front of the world. Days later, and after experiencing an onslaught of tear gas and rubber bullets by MPD officers for peacefully protesting, thousands of Black and brown protesters and our allies descended upon the Third Precinct and burned it down.

The destruction of the Third Precinct was a historic indication of our community's deep disgust with our racist and murderous police state. For decades, Minneapolis residents attempted to work with political and business leaders to reform this institution, even as the police terrorized our communities, killed our loved ones with impunity and placed our neighbors in prisons and detention centers.

The public death of Floyd cemented our community's understanding that our police force is beyond reform. This realization reinvigorated a historical and global civil rights movement, and uplifted our local movement to defund the MPD.

As a result of these protests, in June, nine City Council members publicly promised to transform and abolish our racist police department via an extensive community engagement process. Two months later, with no public movement on that process, the council is voting on whether to devote more than $4 million in public resources toward renting a temporary Third Precinct.

There has been no public hearing about the new precinct, local business owners were not consulted, the racial equity impact statement for the project was left nearly blank, and there were few community meetings, one hosted by one council member less than 48 hours before the vote.

Four million dollars could positively impact the lives of our unhoused communities currently in crisis, expand access to quality mental health services, or fund our underfunded public schools. Ultimately, that decision must belong to the community.

This moment presents the opportunity to reimagine policing in a way that demilitarizes the MPD, centers healing and uplifts community-generated solutions. A vote to reopen the Third Precinct is a vote to return to the status quo that resulted in Floyd's death.

The Minneapolis ordinance banning exterior security shutters is one more instance of policies that make our city unfriendly to business ("After riots, a push for window protection," Aug. 25). While appreciating the concern with "visual blight" and the impression that an area is "unsafe," security shutters are a nonlethal form of security that discourage crime, and the costs are incurred by business owners. A broken window that is boarded up after a break-in is just as visually negative as a security shutter. A break-in requires a police response, which financially impacts the city. Police resources are expended responding to crimes that could have been prevented. There is the potential of physical harm to responding officers and/or perpetrators.

Is it more important to give the impression that an area is "safe" or to allow businesses to take measures that actually increase safety?

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