Another Black Life Taken

A CRY FOR ANSWERS AND JUSTICE MET WITH OPPRESSION AND BRUTALIZATION

On Sunday, the 11th of April, another Black man was shot and killed by a police officer. His name was Daunte Wright, and he was the father to a two-year-old boy; Daunte was still a kid at 20 years old. Daunte was pulled over for having expired plates and air fresheners hanging from his rearview mirror. Daunte called his mother to ask about the car's insurance, which was the last time she heard his son's voice. Daunte then was taken out of the vehicle to be arrested because he had a warrant for his arrest, but the warrant was because he didn't show up for a zoom court date that he didn't know about because the notice for the hearing was sent to the wrong address. As Daunte was getting handcuffed, he shimmied free and got back into the car. One officer was trying to restrain me when another officer came over, drew her gun, and shot Daunte. Daunte then drove off, crashed down the road, and died from his wounds. Within 1/2 an hour, people had gathered at Brooklyn Park to demand justice and answers for the shooting. Daunte's body lay on the ground for hours as the national guard and police stood guarding the area against the community gathering there.

Monica Wright, Daunte’s Sister sits on the ground mourning the loss of her brother at a Vigil put on by the Wright family a few days after Kim Potter killed Daunte.

Vigil for Daunte Wright // Daunte’s Family speaks about him as a son, a young father, and a young man.

The officer that killed Daunte, Kim Potter, was a 26 vet of the police force and a training officer, meaning she was an officer longer than Daunte was alive. In the official statement by police, the officer "mistaken her handgun for a taser." The officer resigned the next day, but on Wednesday, the 14th, she was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter.

By nightfall on Sunday (the 11th of April), People had gathered at the Brooklyn Center Police Department, demanding that the footage be released and that a commanding officer talk to them about what happened. The people gathered met them with riot police, flash bangs, tear gas, and rubber bullets.

Since Sunday, the community has held space outside the BCPD most of each day. Starting Monday each night, a curfew has been put in place around Brooklyn Center to deter protesters from gathering. Despite this, hundreds have gathered every single night. After the first night of protesting (Sunday), fences and concrete barricades were installed around the department. Outside the evening protests/direct actions, organizers and activists have been writing up legislation and holding press releases. There have been vigils and marches put on around the city. Sunday, The family of Daunte held a vigil in his honor. Hundreds gathered to pay their respect to Daunte and his family and show solidarity against police violence and the killing of Black people. The vigil was somber as Daunte's mother, grandfather, and big brother shared about him. Clergy from around the twin cities also came, and several shared prayers, short speeches, and benedictions. People Brought flowers and candles to lay the memorial built for Daunte on the site of his killing.

Following this, potentially 1000-plus people showed up to the BCPD to protest, despite the curfew being in place at 7 pm. The night quickly turned violent as police announced that it was an "unlawful assembly" and everyone must go home and started shooting flash bangs, tear gas, and rubber bullets at protesters. These actions caused protesters to throw water bottles and things like fruit over the fence at police, and even some people picked up tear gas canisters and attempted to throw them back at the police.

People continue to gather each night, and the protesters are met with brutal force. And despite the city council banning the use of tear gas and rubber bullets, the police have continued to use them on protesters. Tear gas has also entered the apartment building and home next to and across the streets where families live. Kids watch from windows as the "crowd deterrents' 'are fired and explored within feet of their homes. The projectiles started flying at protesters some nights without any call to disperse and hours before curfews were set in place or on nights where there was no curfew put in place.

I've witnessed many protests and marches in the past few days. A lot is unfolding here. Yes, some people have decided to loot some shops and public property, but protesters have stayed peaceful overall. During the direct actions at the BCPD, people who have started throwing water have been called out by others there. One BIPOC member started yelling, saying, "if you are white and throwing shit, you are not an ally. Go home!" several other chants like "stop throwing shit" echoed through the crowd gathered over the night. Items like apples, oranges, water bottles, pudding cups, eggs, and cans of soup have been thrown at the riot police. Each night, the violence started with police shooting flash bangs or spraying pepper spray. One night a few businesses and a bus stop had the glass broken, this happened after the chemical warfare, and rubber bullets flew. There hasn't been a night yet where a commanding officer comes out to talk to the people or help de-escalate the situation. Brute, military force has been used over and over again.

MORE CONTEXT AND CONTINUED THOUGHTS MONTHS LATER (NOV 2021)

Yesterday, Nov 29th, 2021, the Jury Selection in the Trial of Kim Potter, the police officer who killed Daunte, is now underway. The Trial is forcing me to relive those few weeks, reflect, and provide more insight into my experience there.

The citizens of Minneapolis were faced not with answers after yet again a horrific and utterly avoidable killing of a black man by police. Instead, the city of Minneapolis was met with new layers of pain and trauma through rubber bullets, pepper spray, tear gas, flashbangs, riot gear, and clubs. The Trial of Derek Chauvin was still going on, and the twin cities and much of the country were ( and still are) trying to heal from the public execution of George Floyd.

It was hard to believe, but I was not surprised to watch firsthand what unfolded in the following days and weeks. Extreme force and warfare were used on protesters outside the police precinct demanding answers and justice for Daunte. Things became violent every single night, as stated above. There were a few times the police didn't show up, for whatever reason, or just a few National Guard members stood around behind the fence. These few nights, protesters ended the evening singing, chanting, dancing, and cleaning up the streets before dismissing themselves. Police are supposed to de-escalate situations and protect/serve the community but here and on many other occasions in Minneapolis (from my personal experiences that I witnessed ), the police escalated peaceful protests into violence by shooting flashbangs, teargas, and rubber bullets into the large crowds of people.

During the weeks of protests at the Brooklyn Center Press press became a target of violence as well. This action did not surprise me either, as I've seen members of the press time and time again targeted, blocked from documenting, and harassed by police during protests. I was targeted as well. About a week into the protests at the Brooklyn Center, about 30-plus members of the press were rounded up (watch the Livestream of this night here https://www.instagram.com/p/CNwRh1bpEIi/) one night as police took to the streets pushing back protesters from the fence barricades. Many of us were forced to the ground, and some were pepper-sprayed for trying to document the unfolding chaos, despite clearly having press credentials visible. There was a Black journalist beside me on the ground, and an officer walked by and kicked him/his gear. We were then escorted down the road and eventually rounded up, and then they forced us to take out our IDs and take photos of our faces. They were creating some databases to survey us. These actions of harassing/intimidating and preventing journalists from documenting were illegal.

A few nights before this, a commanding officer pulled me to the ground while I tried to video police smashing into a window of a car that had two people in it. This car got stuck on the curb after it attempted to leave the parking lot that police were pushing people out of. I immediately stated, "I'm press, I press," and held my credentials in the air. After a few words of exchange, while having his hand on my arm, he eventually escorted me through the line of riot police where other members of the press were at. He told me that the press was allowed to be out and didn't have to abide by curfew rules but had to obey dispersal orders. I left and went back to my van, where I decompressed, and then after an hour or so, when everyone was gone, I went back out in front of the police precinct to take a few photos of the aftermath of rubber bullets and flash-bang canisters. There was also a group of three people just standing outside their apartments. Moments later, 4-5 officers approached them, saying, "hey, we just want to talk to you guys." As soon as they got close enough, they rushed them, stating, "you're under arrest for breaking curfew" ( two ran off), but one was detained, and then they turned to me, who was photographing this, and announced that I was under arrest as well. I showed my credentials again and let them know I was a journalist, but they said that didn't matter. I let them know that an officer had stated we were allowed to be out there earlier that night. "You shouldn't listen to them." one said, and then they started putting my hands in zip-ties. I tried to photograph this, but they took my camera. They walked me behind the fence walls and interrogated me for about 30 minutes as it was raining/snowing. They were asking things like, "what are they planning?!" "Who are you? I don't recognize your outlet" "You aren't a journalist; why do you have water bottles in your backpack?" I kept letting them know I was allowed to be out here and I was doing my job. Luckily the officer who told me I could be out here walked by. "Hey, that officer said I could be out." They didn't know what to do with me, and eventually, an even high-ranking officer found out I was a member of the press and forced them to let me go. The same officer who took me to the ground earlier that night escorted me out and said, "what are you doing? You are being stupid. You better not come back tomorrow. If you do…." he then just said gave me a look. I'll personally arrest you." I responded, " Well, sir, I'm just doing my job, and I'll see you later. "Have a good night."

I share my personal experience while out on the streets to help people get a glimpse and understand what is happening on the streets. The stories that you won't see shared on cable news or Facebook posts. In this racial reckoning movement for Black lives, activists face endless attacks. This isn't anything new; it's been happening since the civil rights movement and even farther back to the founding of this nation. Black voices and lives continue to be demonized, dehumanized, criminalized, and oppressed for simply asking for their lives to matter, for police to be held accountable, and to be seen and treated as equals. These acts of demonizing protestors and Black people, in general, come mainly from media outlets and political parties. Yes, the individual is responsible for these things, but these large media outlets and politicians spread the propaganda, and the masses that watch and trust them believe everything they say. I began to see this firsthand in 2016 at Standing Rock when what I experienced was very different from what people and media were sharing and spreading. Sadly this has only intensified over the past 5ish years and continues to see twisted truths and straight lies spread about our country's past, present-day racism, and the movement of Black lives. These lies have created a deep divide between people, families, political parties, and co-workers all over the country. It has also caused the brutalization of protesters and the press alike. I've become the target of attacks from the Proud Boys and police alike for just showing up with a camera to ask questions and document unfolding events.

the community took to the streets and demanded answers for the death of Daunte Wright. These are some of the stories and observations that I shared over on instagram as it unfolded:

Tear gas, rubber bullets, and Flash-bangs used against protester.

DAy 1

Offical orginied march and protest

DAy 3

Another night of violence against protesters as sides clash.

DAy 2

JON STEGENGAApril 30, 2021Comment