The first paragraphs of this article are big news (I think?? IANAL): the FBI tried to shut MN out of the investigation of ICE’s murder of Renee Good, which almost certainly is the start of a cover-up. Minnesota initially threw up its hands and said “well that sucks.”
Today we learn that Minnesota and Hennepin County are still gathering evidence themselves, apparently independently of the FBI. My hope is that this is in pursuit of state charges, in defiance of the Trump-controlled FBI.
Please apply pressure to electeds, urging them to aggressively pursue state charges against ICE officers, in defiance of the FBI if necessary.
Many of them already want this. State AG is already taking steps to do this. Apply the pressure anyway; the pressure helps.
If you live in Minnesota:
https://mn.gov/governor/connect/contact-us/contact-form.jsp
https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/ContactUs.asp
If you live in Hennepin County:
https://www.hennepin.us/your-government/leadership/find-commissioner
If you live in Minneapolis:
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-council/find-my-ward/
https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/mayor/contact/
Re “apply the pressure anyway:” that’s advice I got from…Keith Ellison.
I was part of a citizen group pressuring him to vote for the ACA when he was in the House. He met with us, and gave us an impassioned speech about universal care and how the ACA was a good first step but insufficient, relating it to the less-remembered civil rights acts of the 1950s that laid the groundwork for the big one in 1964.
Somebody from the group finally asked him, “Why are we meeting with you? You’re already convinced!”
He replied (paraphrasing here): “I •need• your pressure. I need it even if I already agree. If you’re pressuring me, then I can get on the floor of the House and say ‘My constituents are beating down the doors of my office! This has tremendous support!’ I can tell my colleagues in private about how agitated voters are. If you apply pressure, I can pass that pressure forward. I need you to do it! •That• is why you’re meeting with me.”
And now Keith Ellison is MN Attorney General. He’s already started doing the right thing. Follow his advice, and apply that pressure!
Thank you. This is actually really helpful.
@inthehands This reminds me of the Wild Lily student protest movement, which led to the full democratization of Taiwan.
The protests culminated in the new Taiwanese President, Lee Teng-Hui, inviting some of the students to an audience.
To their shock, there were no negotiations. Lee already supported all four of their demands. He let the protests grow to show everyone that the people demanded them. Within a year, all four democratization demands were enacted.
I •think• the most important people for MN residents to call right now are MN Gov Walz and MN AG Ellison. Those numbers again:
Gov: (651) 201-3400
AG: (651) 296-3353
My points when I call:
- We don’t trust Trump’s FBI
- We want an independent MN-based investigation of the killing of Good
- Thank you for steps you’re already taking in this direction
- Do more, try harder
- Do so in outright defiance of the FBI if necessary
(To be clear, this is all just from Paul; if I get better guidance from more informed folks, I will share/update.)
