Press Release

In response to recent events, the Minnesota DFL Party Executive Committee recently passed a resolution condemning the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, members of the media, and Minnesotans exercising their First Amendment rights. Below is the text of that resolution: 

A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA

WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right of all Americans to freely assemble, speak, and petition their government; and

WHEREAS, the right of all Americans to peacefully assemble, demonstrate, and protest is sacrosanct and has been the driving force behind many of our nation’s greatest advancements in civil and human rights for people of color, women, the labor movement, and the LGBTQ community throughout our nation’s history; and

WHEREAS, a free and independent media is essential to American democracy and our nation’s civic discourse; and

WHEREAS, in the aftermath of Daunte Wright’s death at the hands of Brooklyn Center law enforcement, Minnesotans peacefully calling for justice for Mr. Wright and journalists covering those protests were frequently met with excessive force; and

WHEREAS, the use of excessive force by members of law enforcement against any of the aforementioned groups, be they peaceful assemblies of citizens or members of the media, is a threat to the advancement of civil and human rights, the existence of American democracy, and the health of our civic discourse.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED  The Executive Committee of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party strongly condemns the use of excessive force including less lethal munitions by law enforcement agencies against peaceful protesters and members of the media.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED The Executive Committee of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party strongly condemns actions by law enforcement that infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED The Executive Committee of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party encourages Governor Walz, Speaker Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and all elected officials to strongly support and push for reforms at the Minnesota Capitol and in state agencies that safeguard Americans’ First Amendment rights. 

Passed by the Minnesota DFL State Executive Committee, April 25, 2021.

The following members chose to add their individual names in further support of the resolution:

Ken Martin                                Marge Hoffa                             Shivanthi Sathanandan

DFL Chairman                          First Vice Chair                        Second Vice Chair

Ceri Everett                               Tyler Moroles

DFL Secretary                           State Party Treasurer

 

Adam Nicolai

Austin K Ballhagen

Brian Swancutt

Cathy Thom

Ceri Everett

Danielle Main

Del Jenkins

Emily Nygren

Greg Hansen

James Hepworth

Jeffrey Strand

Jen Guertin

Jennifer Cronin

Joy Nicolai

JP Barone

Jules Goldstein

Kate Peer

Katie Humphrey

Ken Wilson

Lori Sellner

Mark Liebow

Michael Bearfoot

Paul Schwarz

Pommella Wegmann

Susan Woehrle

Tom Melton

Veda Kanitz

Wayne Grimmer