Reaction to death of Minnesota woman by federal agents

The loss of life of a 37-year old female motorist in Minneapolis today is certainly tragic, traumatizing to her loved ones and neighbors, and distressing to decent people across the country. But her death is even more than that. It is irrefutable evidence of the unnecessary aggression and chaos in American streets caused by this administration’s claimed efforts to deport hardened criminals. As we have seen in Chicago in recent months, day after day, good people and upstanding citizens are ensnared in violence and chaos caused by federal agents in the streets. The constitution is thrown out the window, masked agents harm and detain community members and everyday people who were exercising First Amendment rights, or even just passersby who got caught in the middle of a mess.

While details of today’s incident are still emerging, unless this woman was a wanted criminal sought by agents for deportation, this confrontation and loss of life is utterly senseless.

Our office has seen up close the unnecessary and excessive use of force on the streets of Minnesota, including our cases involving the deaths of George Floyd and Daunte Wright. We demand better, as a community and a country.