Hate Has No Place in MN Law Enforcement

This is an organizational Sign-On Letter. If your MN-based organization is in support, please sign below. This letter will be presented publicly to the MN POST Board. Phone numbers and emails will not be publicly posted.

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Our organization fully supports passing the rule change to ban MN Police Officers from having involvement in white supremacist and hate groups.  

Minnesotans agree that every Minnesotan deserves safety and protection, regardless of race, class or geography. Yet, Minnesota law currently allows licensed police officers - those who made an oath to serve and protect - to support, advocate for, and participate in white supremacist and hate groups. 

The Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board) is a state-level agency that sets the requirements and standards for licensing, training, and conduct of law enforcement officers. The POST Board has recently listened to the calls and cries from community as well as the recent public murder and harm cases of Black people and the recent investigative reports on some MN police departments that clearly display the need for major changes to statewide rules, regulations and guidelines of how police should conduct themselves for the safety and benefit of all. 

Banning the ability for licensed law enforcement to engage in hate groups is a needed and necessary change to build community trust and weed out officers who may join the force with ill-intent. Unfortunately, some members of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA also known as the ‘Police Federation’) have pushed back on this rule change. They would like for police officers to continue to be able to engaged in white supremacist and hate groups as they see fit. This is unacceptable.

We stand with the Minnesotans across race, place and background, as well as the members of the POST Board and other police officers who recognized that hate has no place in MN law enforcement. 

Signed:

African American Leadership Forum
NAACP Minneapolis
Urban League Twin Cites
ISAIAH
T.O.N.E U.P Inc
Survivors Lead
TakeAction Minnesota
Hugo Diversity Strong
Don’t Complain Activate
Plymouth Congregational Church Reimagining Community Safety Team
Samantha Teagan Art
Black Community Board
OutFront Minnesota
Until We Are All Free Movement
Tom Burns
Barbershops and Black Congregations Cooperative
Muslim Coalition
Indivisible MN03
Dreaming Sky Circles
Edina Indivisible
Big Hot Men LLC LLC
Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee
Indivisible Saint Paul
Falcon Heights Church, United Church of Christ
Seal Dwyer Counseling
r and r gardens
Running Water Entertainment
Lake Harriet United Methodist Church
Moms Demand Action Minnesota
Plymouth Area Indivisible
MN Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA)
Jewish Community Action
Tech for The People
Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia
Plymouth Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Legal Rights Center
SEIU Minnesota State Council
Tech for The People
Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia
Plymouth Diversity Equity and Inclusion