04/12/2021
Solidarity!
For all the establishment’s promises of police reform, look at what keeps happening. Another Black man was stopped by police for no reason. And for no clear reason, he was shot and killed.
Socialist Alternative stands in solidarity with the movement demanding justice for Daunte Wright and for the end of police brutality and systemic racism. Routine traffic stops should never be a death sentence. This brutal murder, coinciding with the trial of Derek Chauvin, comes at a time when Minneapolis is still fighting for justice for George Floyd.
A few hundred gathered at the scene of the murder, where Daunte’s mother spoke to the crowd. After brief confrontations with police, the community successfully forced the police out of the area and a peaceful vigil was held. When the group marched to the Brooklyn Center police precinct, they were met with the violence of flash-bangs, tear gas, and rubber bullets.
Last summer, working-class youth of color led mass protests after the murder of George Floyd. Without that movement, Chauvin might not be on trial now. The Minneapolis establishment backed away from their promises of reform which only left the space open for another senseless murder. We can have no trust in our elected officials to win justice for Daunte Wright. To sustain the struggle and win justice for all victims of police violence, we need an organized multi-racial working class movement. Indict the officer immediately. We need a community oversight board with real teeth, including the power to fire any officer with a history of racism or violence. Defund the police by 50%, tax big corporations and the rich to fund housing, jobs, and education.
