Our History

Our History: Stonewall means fight back!

Protesting Pride

The spark for 2017 protests of Pride locally was the acquittal of Jeronimo Yanez for the murder of Philando Castile. After community uproar about the police being allowed to march in the parade, TC Pride agreed that police would not be allowed – but then reversed course almost immediately and without consulting the affected community. The pride corporation threw the concerns of communities of color and anti-police brutality organizations under the bus in favor of pleasing the police. To some, this didn’t come as a surprise. The prior year, nonprofits and DFL leaders tied to the city’s top politicians quelled a protest at Pride in the wake of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shootings. Last year, on the first day of the Pride festival, MPD killed Thurman “June” Blevins, and again we took the streets in front of the TCPride parade to demand justice. Here are a few reports you can read on these actions:

2018

2017

Why Police Aren't Welcome at Pride

(Teen Vogue article from last year with great history from 1924 Chicago to 2018 Minneapolis & beyond)

TCC4J

The Twin Cities Coalition 4 Justice 4 Jamar (TCC4J) was formed after the murder of Jamar Clark by the Minneapolis Police Department on the night of November 15, 2015. After the 4th Precinct Occupation, there was a recognized need by local activists and community members to continue the work and gather people around the fight against police crimes.

We believe that the fight against police terror and crimes must have a multi-national working class approach which unites the Black Lives Matter movement and everyday working people in the community.

We stand in solidarity with all victims and families of police crimes and this is why we are campaigning for an All-Civilian Police Accountability Council which would control all aspects of Minneapolis policing from budgets, to the police rule-book, appointment of the chief, and hiring/firing/discipline practices and investigations of complaints.