UMN students demand Dem governor 'drop the charges' against arrested protesters
Students at the University of Minnesota gathered to demand school administration tell Gov Tim Walz to drop charges against post-election protesters.
Students called on the school to “stop deploying UMPD to help MPD arrest protesters."
University of Minnesota students gathered to demand that the school administration tell Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to drop charges against hundreds of post-election protesters.
“Admin should support it’s [sic] students and University workers by using their power and influence to tell Gov Walz to drop our charges,” the group wrote on their Facebook event page. “As Macalester’s president commits to paying for her arrested students’ citations, Joan Gabel sits in silence. We need action now!”
[RELATED: Students see spike in reported violent crime after University of Minnesota cuts ties with Minneapolis Police Department]
In addition, students asked the school to “end the deployment of UMPD to aid in MPD’s arrest of protesters” and called for “community control” of campus police.
The move comes after demonstrators were arrested for blocking an interstate highway for miles the day after the election. The Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar Facebook page says its mission is “fighting for justice and for police accountability.”
[RELATED: University of Minnesota to cut ties with Minneapolis Police Department, but students say it’s not enough]
According to WCCO-TV, organizers planned to demonstrate regardless of the election outcome. They used chants such as “Don’t let Trump steal the election,” and “A Biden win will not give the freedom we demand.”
Campus Reform reached out to both the University of Minnesota and the governor’s office but did not hear back in time for publication.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @JezzamineWolk
