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This week at the LRC, we are starting something new - a weekly roundup blog post! From here on out we’ll have a blog entry every week, which will include: highlights from our social media, articles we’ve been mentioned in, and other items to keep you all up to date on our work at the Legal Rights Center.
This Week In Our Social Media: Congratulations To MPD Commander Gio Veliz For Being Selected As An NIJ LEADS Scholar! The LRC Supports ACLU-MN and Fish & Richardson Suing On Behalf Of Injured George Floyd Protestors Recommendations For Protecting Incarcerated Youth and Adults From The Justice Roundtable The LRC in the News: Legal Rights Center Works With Minneapolis Community To Reimagine Public Safety Community Strategy Lead and Restorative Facilitator Malaika Hankins discusses George Floyd, Cornelius Frederick, community safety, and long-term youth justice efforts. Full interview is linked. Thank You To Our Amazing Donors! This month we really wanted to say thanks to those who have donated to the LRC this month - especially those we haven’t been able to thank through other avenues. Our fight for justice has much forward work to do, and we thank you for joining with us! That's all for this week! Follow us on Twitter (@LegalRightsCtr), Facebook, and Instagram (@mplslegalrightscenter) to stay up to date on the news we share and work we do.  Photo by Clay Banks Sparked by George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent global uprising, some of the unjust and discriminatory practices of the police have been illuminated. News stories such as that of Amy Cooper in Central Park, are finally holding the public’s attention. These stories demonstrate the unchecked power that the police (or threat of the police) can wield against Black people, even when they are doing nothing wrong. Here is a story from one of our attorneys in such a case:
"Recently, I had a case in which my client was sitting in his vehicle, minding his own business, not offending any law. Nearby, an officer was doing traffic duty at one of the parking garages during rush hour. A person complained to the officer that my client was violating a traffic law and the officer went over to my client. Within 12 seconds of approaching my client the officer was attempting to physically pull him out of the vehicle. During the altercation, my client remained calm - as calm as someone can be when they think an officer is about to kill them. After this unjust encounter, my client was charged with Obstructing Legal Process. Thankfully the case was dismissed by the prosecution after the defense filed a motion to dismiss. However, this is yet another case where a Black man was not doing anything wrong and had an interaction with a police officer which ended in him receiving charges."  Are you a youth (age 14-24) or family member who has had experience with the juvenile justice system? The Legal Rights Center, in partnership with the Minnesota Coalition for Youth Justice and National Juvenile Justice Network, is launching a 2020-21 Youth Justice Organizing Fellowship. We’re looking for 10 people to join this paid fellowship to empower their communities and advocate for statewide and local change in the juvenile justice system.
What makes you the right person for the fellowship?
What’s the fellowship experience?
If you’re interested in joining the fellowship, please call, text, or email Malaika Hankins, Community Strategy Lead at the Legal Rights Center (mhankins@legalrightscenter.org, 612-460-1836). |
LRC StaffLRC staff include attorneys and advocates from a range of background and lived experiences. Archives
September 2020
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The Legal Rights Center
1611 Park Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404 office@legalrightscenter.org P: 612-337-0030 F: 612-337-0797 |
The Legal Rights Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit financially supported by: the State of Minnesota, foundations, local law firms, corporations and individuals. Clients are never charged for our services.
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