by Rashard Zanders

Gone way too soon at the age of 46, a man's life was cruelly taken one year ago. His death became a spark that re-invigorated and galvanized activists old and young to take to the streets in a global call for justice that continues to build momentum a year after the tragedy.

Although it was Derek Chauvin and his three accomplices who murdered George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020, our entire criminal legal system was complicit. Had it not been for the courage of Darnella Frazier, the Black teen who used her cell phone to record the remorseless MPD officers, the official statement calling Mr. Floyd’s death a “medical incident after a police interaction” would have been treated as fact. 

George Floyd should be among the living today. And while the the movements for Black lives, legal system transformation, and social justice have spread globally, we must center all discussion of  Mr. Floyd's death in accurate language – it was a tragedy.

During Chauvin's trial, the Legal Rights Center's attorney's, restorative facilitators, advocates, investigators and staff have worked with other allies from communities most affected by systemic oppression in the cause for social justice. The Derek Chauvin murder trial was one of the most widely watched U.S. trials in history, with global citizenry able to observe the minutiae that  makes up a trial: from jury selection and opening statements, through cross examination, to closing arguments and the verdict. Sentencing still awaits. Nonetheless, the whole world was able to witness first hand the unraveling of the long held myth that in the United States, that Lady Justice is blind.

LRC will continue our community outreach, to expand our growing circle of partners in the cause for Black lives and social justice for all. We are planning another Perspectives on Justice panel to be held before Derek Chauvin’s sentencing, as well as a full calendar of events this summer (get excited for teach-ins, visioning sessions, and more!) to build community with those interested in being involved in legal system transformation. We will also be uplifting the stories of community members who have had direct experience with the criminal legal system, in support of a community vision of justice.

The invitation is ever-standing for educators, journalists, community leaders, and our neighbors to connect with us - let's build deeper partnerships and access our resources together.  

George Floyd's life mattered. The taking of his  life will never be forgotten. And our communities have shown yet again that we are capable of great feats of endurance. So the work continues.
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This week will be flush with events commemorating the tragedy, a watershed moment which compelled so many to join the movement for Black lives, bringing us to this present movement for social change. Other commemorative events include: 

• Events planned by the George Floyd Memorial Foundation - a rally in front of the Hennepin County Government center, panel discussions about translating protest into lasting policy changes, and a celebration of life in the Commons park.
• ​The George Floyd Angelversary and Fight 4 All, Monday May 24th, will be led by families who've lost loved ones to the police, at the Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard beginning at 5 pm. 
•  'Rise and Remember George Floyd Global Memorial Celebration' on the anniversary of Mr. Floyd's murder Tuesday, May 25, from 1 – 9 pm at 38th and Chicago Avenue S, in Minneapolis

The Legal Rights Center is hiring for four positions:

1. Community Education Lead (position description)
2. No Kids in MN Prisons Organizer (position description)
3. Youth Restorative Justice Initiative Lead (position description)
4. Restorative Facilitator (Attorney & Facilitator position description or Facilitator position description)

Please email a letter explaining your interest in the position and your resume to jobs@legalrightscenter.org. For questions or more information, please call Chelsea Schmitz at 612-677-2126 or email Malaika Eban (meban@legalrightscenter.org).
The Legal Rights Center was created by communities of color working in coalition; a diverse staff best meets the needs of our communities.

Do you have an interest in policy advocacy and the youth justice system? Our Youth: Education, Advocacy, and Restorative Services team is looking for summer volunteers to support our work. To apply, complete the following form. Projects:

Project 1: Policy Research & Coalition Sustainability Volunteer (5 hrs/week)
This volunteer will support the Community Strategy Lead in researching model youth justice policies and practices from across the country as well as researching sustainable funding sources for this work. The work completed by this volunteer will support the MN Coalition for Youth Justice. Volunteer should have excellent research and writing skills, and have creative ideas for how to best present information to multiple audiences and also have/be

• Interest in policy advocacy (specifically policies focused on the criminal legal system or youth/families) and nonprofit sustainability
• Interest in legislative advocacy
• Ability to research and compile data, case studies, and local grant opportunities
• Organized, detail oriented

Project 2: Expungement & Collateral Consequences Volunteer (5 hrs/week)
This volunteer will support an LRC juvenile defense attorney in refining our clinic model of supporting youth in expunging their juvenile records. Time will be spent researching what types of cases are most important to expunge and learning more about the chances of a successful expungement in various situations. The volunteer will also help develop written materials simply explaining the expungement process. In addition, we will create a list of prior youth clients at LRC to reach out to regarding expungement.  The volunteer will work directly with youth (with staff support) to explain the expungement process and offer assistance. Volunteer should have excellent research and communication skills, as well as basic knowledge about how to create visually interesting written materials and social media posts.  Other preferred qualifications:

• Interest in the juvenile and criminal justice system
• Interest in helping youth understand and navigate a complicated and lengthy process
• Ability to research, compile and track data 
• Organized, detail oriented

Project 3: Restitution Research Volunteer (5 hrs/week)
This volunteer will support an LRC juvenile defense attorney in learning more about programs that grant money to pay off restitution in other parts of the country. This effort is part of a larger national effort through the National Juvenile Defender Center to learn more about options for assisting low income people to pay off restitution. This volunteer will gather information about the possible opportunities and barriers to such a fund here in Minnesota for juveniles.  Volunteer should have excellent research and communication skills, as well as basic knowledge about how to create visually interesting written materials and social media posts. Other preferred qualifications:

• Interest in youth justice and criminal legal system
• Interest in helping imagine new ways to support juveniles to move past a prior adjudication without the burden of large restitution payments or damaged credit.  
• Ability to research, compile and track data .
• Organized, detail oriented.

The Legal Rights Center was created by communities of color working in coalition; a diverse staff best meets the needs of our communities.

The sole charge of 2nd Degree Manslaughter brought against former Officer Kim Potter for the killing of Daunte Wright demonstrates a significant failure by Washington County Attorney Pete Orput to pursue and seek justice for Mr. Wright on behalf of our communities, and a dereliction of their responsibility to hold police accountable.

The Legal Rights Center (“LRC”) condemns the charging decision by the Washington County Attorney’s Office, and strongly urges Governor Walz to take immediate action and direct Attorney General Keith Ellison to assume responsibility for the case going forward. An appropriate charging decision would, at the very least, mirror the charging decision made against former Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor who was charged with 2nd Deg. Murder, 3rd Deg. Murder and 2nd Deg.Manslaughter for shooting Justine Ruszczyk Damond.

A 2nd Degree Murder charge would better reflect what we all witnessed in the body-worn camera footage released on Monday, and would reflect the community’s belief that former officer Potter’s actions were not merely a mistake. 

We are also concerned with Washington County Attorney Pete Orput’s role in the prosecution of this case. Orput serves as legal counsel to the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, an unacceptable bias that should serve as an obvious conflict of interest. This case should not be prosecuted by a County Attorney who has no elected accountability to the residents of Hennepin County and who simultaneously advises the chiefs of police who have a vested interest in the outcome of the case that his office is now tasked with prosecuting. 
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There are also disturbing inconsistencies in the role that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (“HCAO”) has played in determining charges against law enforcement involved in the killing of our community members. Despite a June 2020 agreement to refer these cases to other offices for prosecution—the rationale cited for passing responsibility for this case to the Washington County Attorney—the HCAO made their own decisions not to charge police officers involved in the killings of Kobe Dimock-Heisler and Chiaser Vue. The inconsistency is glaring. The LRC demands that the exact terms of the agreement be made public, and that the rationale for which cases are referred and which cases remain at the HCAO be made public. 

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