U.S : about Jamar CLARK's case.

Eye-witnesses say Minneapolis Police fatally shot 24-year-old Jamar Clark "execution style."

Join local activists in demanding police release all video of the shooting :

TAKE ACTION

Dear friend,

Minnesota officials have released the names of the police who fatally shot Jamar Clark in the head: Officer Mark Ringgenberg and Officer Dustin Schwarze. Both officers have been sued in the past for violence, false arrests and threats.¹

One week after Jamar's killing and local officials are still refusing to release various videos they have of the killing. For the past week, community members have camped out at the 4th precinct police station — facing pepper spray, arrest and rubber bullets — to demand justice for Jamar.² And their courageous action is having an impact. This weekend, Minnesota Governor Dayton publicly called for a federal investigation into the violation of protesters' civil rights and release of all video relating to Jamar's killing.³

Will you join more than 70,000 ColorOfChange members in demanding the release all videos? We need a groundswell of voices to ensure state and federal officials release the tapes.

The reality is, Jamar’s killing hit a nerve for thousands of Black youth in Minneapolis, a city like so many others where systemic anti-Black police violence is rampant. Minneapolis police are 6 times more likely to stop and arrest Black teens than white teens for low level issues, such as “curfew violations.”⁴ From 2006 to 2012, Minneapolis paid out $14 million for police misconduct, but leadership almost never disciplined officers. In 2014, there was an average of 1.2 complaints against each Minneapolis police officer.⁵

Law enforcement are claiming that Jamar reached for the officer's gun, despite dozens of children, teens and adults who witnessed the shooting and say Jamar was shot in the head while in handcuffs. This weekend, activists unearthed cell phone video of the incident that shows Jamar with his hands behind his back immediately after he was shot, disproving police testimony.⁶ In order to help this suffering community heal, local officials need to release all video evidence, expose the truth, and begin the hard work of moving forward.

Instead of arresting courageous youth organizers, Mayor Hodges and Chief Harteau should be doing everything in their power to end the culture of secrecy and impunity that drives anti-Black policing, starting with supporting the release of all video.

Thank you

Scott

References

1. "Protesters, police have tense night outside 4th Precinct HQ," Star Tribune 11-19-2015http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5534?t=4&akid=5085.1942551.-IPfDS

2. See reference 1.

3. "Statement from Governor Mark Dayton on the Situation in North Minneapolis," Governor Dayton 11-21-2015http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5548?t=6&akid=5085.1942551.-IPfDS

4. "Patterns of Racial Bias and Overcriminalization Show Urgent Need for Reform: Blacks and Native Americans Disproportionately Affected," ACLU 05-28-2015 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5535?t=8&akid=5085.1942551.-IPfDS

5. "How Did Jamar Clark Die?" The Atlantic 11-18-2015 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5536?t=10&akid=5085.1942551.-IPfDS

6. "Jamar Clark in Handcuffs After Being Shot by Police," Black Lives Matter Minneapolis 11-21-2015http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5549?t=12&akid=5085.1942551.-IPfDS

ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.