Statement on Police Killing of Amir Locke
A city that was marred by the public lynching of George Floyd less than two years ago has once again been thrust into the spotlight for what can only be described as unforgivable police practices. Amir Locke, 22, was not the subject of the MPD's warrant, had no prior police record, was in possession of a legal firearm, and is now the latest victim of what has become known as "police executions" across the country. Our communities cannot be asked to trust law enforcement on a consistent basis when the dead provide more answers than the living. Our communities cannot be asked to be patient as all the facts emerge, while law enforcement omits facts in the hopes of avoiding media backlash. (NAACP National Office).
The Rochester Branch of the NAACP is dedicated to ensuring a badge is never used a shield for accountability. It is also unacceptable for local law enforcement to justify keeping no-knock warrants in place because they haven’t been used in recent past. Amir Locke, a young black man sleeping on the coach lost his life because of this! We call on the City of Rochester’s Police Department and Olmsted County Sherri’s Office to immediately suspend all use of no-knock warrants, pending a determination by the Minnesota Board Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) as to whether the no knock procedure is an appropriate use of police power.
The Rochester Branch of the NAACP sends our thoughts, prayers, and comfort to the Amir Locke family.
NAACP Minnesota and Dakotas Area State Conference Statement
Rochester Branch of NAACP Statement
###
About the NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), an interracial American organization was created to work for the abolition of segregation and discrimination in housing, education, employment, voting, and transportation; to oppose racism; and to ensure African Americans their constitutional rights. The NAACP is the largest and most preeminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
The Rochester Branch of the NAACP established in 1965 continues to fight for social justice for all people. Its vision is to ensure a society where all people have equal rights, and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination, through equity and social justice.
