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A United Nations panel examining issues of racial justice and equity — created in part in response to the murder of George Floyd — was in Minneapolis Tuesday, to hear from community members affected by systemic racism in policing and prisons.

Two experts from the United Nations Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement (EMLER) were at the Twin Cities Urban League Headquarters in North Minneapolis as part of a fact-gathering tour across the country.

“This is a part of an investigation to see what is happening in the US,” said Salimah Hankins, the director of the U.N. Anti-Racism Coalition, one of the organizations that coordinated the visit. “And Minnesota felt like … a key place in that fight, because of what's happening with the police, and because this mechanism came as an outgrowth of the killing of George Floyd. So it felt like it made sense to have a full circle moment to come back here.”

Among those who spoke were Myon Burrell, who was given a life sentence at 16-years-old for a first-degree murder he said he didn't commit. That sentence was later commuted. 

Others were the mothers of Philando Castile and Amir Locke, both Black men killed by law enforcement in the Twin Cities. They're hoping the U.N. can advocate for an abolition of solitary confinement in Minnesota's criminal justice system and the end of qualified immunity for police officers.

More than a dozen Black Minnesotans, either who have been incarcerated, had a family member incarcerated or have lost a loved one to police brutality testified in front of the panel. 

“You are probably wondering, why is there an empty chair right here? Because that's where Amir should be sitting,” said Karen Wells, mother of Amir Locke. “When I eat at the dinner table now, there's an empty chair. All of the families now have an empty chair.”

Amity Dimock, whose son was shot and killed by Brooklyn Center police four years ago, also spoke. She felt it was important to be at the event despite some skepticism.

“I don't actually think they really have any power,” said Dimock. “The U.S. also sits on these committees. Sometimes we do stuff like this to be able to have it documented and to be able to show the level of interest.”

The panel was organized by U.N. Anti-Racism Coalition, Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, Atlas of Blackness and other community-based organizations.

The goal is to compile the testimony into a final report later this year. That report will inform recommendations to tackle some of these issues that experts say disproportionately impact people of African descent across the world.

U.N.’s EMLER will make their last stop in New York Wednesday to meet with more community members, government officials and law enforcement leaders.

Nicole Ki

Author

Two experts from the United Nations Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in the context of Law Enforcement (EMLER) were at the Twin Cities Urban League Headquarters in North Minneapolis as part of a fact-gathering tour across the country.


U.N. Panel hears Minnesotans' stories of systemic racism in policing and prisons

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Ben Hovland | MPR News

A man wearing a black and white checkered head scarf sits during a panel

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U.N. Panel hears Minnesotans' stories of systemic racism in policing and prisons

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