Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice

What happens when you bring together a group of young women of color to cover one of the most racially charged trials in our country’s history? Really. Good. Journalism. In this special, we’re looking back at Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice, a journalism project of KMOJ Radio in Minneapolis, Ampers Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities and the Minnesota Humanities Center. You’ll meet the young reporters who made the project a success and hear their thoughts on the future of journalism.

In May of 2020 the horrifying video of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd’s neck rocketed around the world, inciting anger and outrage. KMOJ Radio’s station manager, Freddie Bell, could hear the deep pain and anger of listeners calling into his morning show. His community was in crisis. Demonstrators flooded the streets crying for justice and destructive fires lit up the night skies - but KMOJ didn’t have the resources needed to report on what was happening right in their community. Bell knew he had to change that. 

He took his idea to Ampers, a non-profit organization that provides support and programming to 18 public radio stations across the state. With help from the Minnesota Center for the Humanities and several other generous funders, they created “Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice.” The goal of the ten month project: to hire young reporters from diverse backgrounds to cover the murder trial of Derek Chauvin and the many racial and social justice issues unearthed in the wake of George Floyd’s killing in May of 2020. Daily updates would air on KMOJ, other Ampers radio stations and across social media platforms.
 

Ampers assembled this temporary newsroom, hiring a team of five young freelance reporters: Samantha Hoanglong, Chioma Uwagwu, Tiffany Bui, Safiya Mohamed and Feven Gerezgiher. It also brought on board some seasoned professionals to lead the project, including Georgia Fort and Marianne Combs. The Racial Reckoning newsroom quickly got up and running and began filing daily two-minute radio reports. By the end of the project, more than 3-dozen radio stations nationwide aired elements of Racial Reckoning, with some reports reaching more than a million people. The project also included a weekly podcast called Bearing Witness, and weekly updates translated into Spanish, Hmong and Somali in order to reach Minnesota’s largest immigrant communities.

Voices of Change is a production of Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities, with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund

After three days of deliberation a jury found former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter guilty of two counts of manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright. 

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Feven Gerezgiher reports:

After three days of deliberation, on Thursday a jury found former Brooklyn Center police officer Kimberly Potter guilty of two counts of manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright. 

Judge Chu rejected the defense’s request to allow Potter home for the holidays while she awaits sentencing. 

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison gave an impassioned speech after the trial reflecting on Wright’s lost future, and recognizing public safety officers.

“We hold you in high regard,” he said, “and we also hold you to high standards.”

Outside the courthouse, a crowd gathered around Wright’s brother Damik.

“This is the start of a new life for everybody, not just for us but for everybody here,” he said. “Change is coming!”

Minneapolis resident Jessamine McGee says the news meant the world to them.

“Man, I’m very happy about the verdict. I feel like it was well-deserved,” said McGee. “Any other outcome would have been like mockery to this whole country and what it’s supposed to stand for.”

Supporters danced along to music by Brass Solidarity, a musical project “birthed of protest” following a verdict in the Derek Chauvin case.

At a distance from the crowd, Sam Richards from the Pine Ridge reservation drummed and prayed for peace and healing for the Wright family.

Potter’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 18th. 

As jury deliberation continues in the Kim Potter trial, many are evaluating the state of racial justice in Minnesota. We talk to former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Mary Moriarty. 

Chioma Uwagwu reports:

As jury deliberation continues in the Kim Potter trial, many are evaluating the state of racial justice in Minnesota. Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter is charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. Potter says she mistakenly drew her gun instead of her taser.

Former Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Mary Moriarty says that, in her 31 years of work, many of her clients would tell their stories of police brutality but the lack of video evidence left them with no justice. She says the murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin changed that.

“I think many more people were surprised at the boldness of Chauvin’s behavior - knowing he was being videoed, having all these people standing there -  and so the community pretty much exploded,” said Moriarty. “I look back on it now, and I still think there's an opportunity, but I see that in danger of slipping away because now we're getting a lot of focus on violent crime.”

Homicides are at a near all-time high in Minneapolis. Moriarty says the rise in crime needs to be addressed, but so do racial disparities in public safety.

“Let's look at systemic racism which I do believe many people don't understand,” she said. “It's the racial disparities that we really avoid addressing because it would make us have to do some really hard work and really look at ourselves and how we have contributed to these disparities.”

Moriarty is running for the position of Hennepin County Attorney. The county’s current attorney Mike Freeman has announced that he will retire at the end of his term. 

Kim Potter's crying in court is more than an expression of remorse; it’s part of a history of white women weaponizing their tears against people of color.

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Tiffany Bui reports:

The jury in the trial of Kim Potter is deciding whether she is guilty of manslaughter for killing Daunte Wright. The 12 jurors have spent over 14 hours in deliberations. Late Wednesday afternoon, the jury asked the judge what happens if they can’t come to conesus.  

On Friday, Potter took the stand as a witness in her own defense. She was visibly distraught, at times sobbing, when questioned about specific parts of the incident. She recalled her fellow officer’s face while they struggled with Wright.

“He had a look of fear on his face. It was nothing like I’d ever seen before,” Potter testified.

Bianet Castellanos, chair of the American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota, said Potter crying is more than an expression of remorse; it’s part of a history of white women weaponizing their tears against people of color. 

“Potter's tears showcase her fear, thus marking her as vulnerable, as a victim, even though she was one holding and firing the gun,” said Castellanos. “And so by claiming to be afraid, her fear excuses – if not justifies – her use of deadly force.”

Castellanos pointed to cases like Carolyn Bryant, the white woman who falsely accused Emmet Till of sexually assaulting her, spurring white men to lynch the young teen. The film The Birth of a Nation perpetuated the racist fear that white women were vulnerable to being raped by Black men. 

“Historically, white women have been idealized as these vessels of innocence that we have to protect. But again, protect against whom?” asked Castellanos. “Their vulnerability has been used as an excuse to control and punish black people.” 

The tears of Black women and other people of color aren’t afforded this same power, Castellanos said. 

“In the case of Kim Potter, her tears are critical in her defense case,” said Castellanos. “But then we think about Daunte Wright’s mother's tears and his family's tears. In most cases those tears don't get an action or a response.”

Castellanos said not all tears are weapons. She said some tears get ignored altogether. 

The state's prosecution and the defense made their closing arguments Monday.

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I’m Georgia Fort with the latest on the Kim Potter trial

A jury is deliberating the verdict in the Kim Potter trial. Closing arguments concluded Monday afternoon and the State rested its case.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump addressed the media as deliberations got underway, calling for Potter to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

“The case was made. The evidence is there. The state went point by point of making the case that she violated the policies of the police department,” he said.

During closing arguments Erin Eldridge, one of the prosecuting attorneys, told the jury that not only did Potter take Daunte’s life but she also jeopardized the lives of her colleagues.

“If anyone saved Sgt. Johnson's life, it was Daunte Wright when he took a bullet to the chest,” she said.

Eldridge also contested the defense’s main argument that Potter accidentally mistook her gun for her taser. 

“Human nature did not kill Daunte Wright - the defendant did,” said Eldridge. “The defendant told Dr. Miller ‘I don't make mistakes.’ Take that for what you will.”

Eldridge argued that even the use of a taser would have been negligent in this circumstance. 

In closing arguments, defense attorney Earl Gray told the jury that Daunte Wright, not Potter, was responsible for his death, because he failed to comply. 

“Her acts were all legal. Everything she did was legal - and then he tries to break away,” said Gray.

The jury began its deliberations in the early afternoon. Daunte Wright’s family and friends audibly gasped when Judge Regina Chu resumed the bench later in the afternoon, thinking the jury might have already come back with a verdict. In fact, the jury had paused its deliberations to ask when one of Potter’s interviews with the defense’s doctor took place. The prosecution had noted some of Potter’s answers in that interview didn’t match statements she made at other times. Judge Chu responded to the jury telling them they have all the evidence they need to decide the case.

Potter said she did not intend to use deadly force against Duante Wright. She stated she didn’t recall saying “I’m going to go to prison” immediately after the shooting. 

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Safiya Mohamed reports:  

Former Police Officer Kim Potter took the stand on Friday in her own defense. 

During her testimony, Potter repeatedly broke down and expressed remorse for her actions.

“I’m sorry it happened. I’m so sorry,” she cried.  

Through tears, Potter admitted that she did not intend to use deadly force against Duante Wright. While being questioned by Prosecutor Erin Eldridge, she stated that she didn’t recall saying “I’m going to go to prison” immediately after the shooting. 

“I didn’t wanna hurt anybody,” she sobbed. 

Prosecutor Eldridge asked Potter what actions she took following the shooting. Potter admitted she did not render aid to Wright. 

Psychologist Laurence Miller was also called to testify by the defense. He was asked by Potter’s attorney to explain an “action error,” and how that contributed to the shooting. 

“An action error is a sequence of responses in which an intended action has an unintended effect,” said Miller. “You intend to do one thing, think you're doing that thing, but do something else, and only realize later that the action that you intended was not the one you took.” 

Miller explained that stress is often what causes action errors. In Kim Potter’s case, she mistook her gun for her taser. 

“There's nothing wrong with that person's perception,” said Miller. “If you put the two objects in front of them, they can easily tell the difference. But the perception isn't working. It's offline.” 

Outside of the courthouse, the family of Daunte Wright and others pledged to continue fighting police brutality and pushing for legislative change. 

The prosecution and the defense are expected to make their closing arguments Monday, after which the jury will begin its deliberations.  

The state rested its case Thursday; the defense called on six witnesses. 

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Feven Gerezgiher reports:

The state rested its case in the trial of former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter on Thursday. The defense proceeded to present its first 6 witnesses.

Former police chief Timothy Gannon testified that Potter was justified in her use of force.

“When I viewed both camera angles and had all the data in front of me, I saw no violation,” said Gannon.

“Violation of what?” asked defense attorney Paul Engh.

“Of policy, procedure or law,” replied Gannon.

Gannon resigned after 27 years with the Brooklyn Center police force. He cited political pressure to fire Potter, who he testified is a long-time friend and colleague he admires. He said Potter was one of few senior officers willing to be a field training officer.

Policing expert Stephen Ijames said Potter was justified under the alternative taser policy he wrote for an international association. He said Potter could only judge public safety risks based on the arrest warrant she had on hand.

“Police aren’t clairvoyant. The best indicator of what happened tomorrow is what happened yesterday,” he said. 

Prosecutor Matthew Frank challenged Ijames’ familiarity with the more restrictive Minnesota and Brooklyn Center policies that Potter would have been subject to.

“Did you review Brooklyn Center Police Department policy about shooting into motor vehicles?” asked Frank. 

“I don’t recall,” said Ijames. 

“So you’re not familiar with the policy that Ms. Potter would have been subject to as a Brooklyn Center officer?” demanded Frank.

“I’m just saying I don’t recall, sir,” said Ijames.

The jury also heard witness testimony to Potter’s character. 

Brooklyn Center police officer Samuel Smith II said Potter is a calming force.

“She is well-respected, and very peaceful, and very professional from my experience working with her,” he said.

The defense said it anticipates presenting two more witnesses on Friday.

Police use of force expert Seth Stoughton testified that even Potter’s use of a taser on Daunte Wright would have been unreasonable. Wright's father also took the stand. 

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Tiffany Bui reports:

Former police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty to violating George Floyd’s constitutional rights in federal court on Wednesday.

In a separate case, he also pleaded guilty to willfully depriving a 14-year-old boy of his right to be free from unreasonable force by a police officer. In 2017, Chauvin allegedly held him by the throat and struck him in the head several times. 

Meanwhile, in the trial of Kim Potter, police use of force expert Seth Stoughton testified that even Potter’s use of a taser would have been unreasonable.

“It’s really dangerous to incapacitate, the way a taser can incapicitate, someone who is in a position to get a vehicle moving,” Stoughton said. “If the taser was ineffective … if it just caused pain … then you’re providing an incentive for someone to flee.”

Defense lawyer Paul Engh objected to Stoughton's testimony that officers did not need to arrest Wright away. He became increasingly emotional and banged on the table as he spoke to Judge Regina Chu, adding that he would possibly move for a mistrial. The defense has asked for a mistrial once before. 

Defense lawyer Earl Gray asked a series of questions meant to point out that Wright was not compliant with officers. 

“Mr. Wright – he’s the one who started it, correct? Nothing would have happened, except he broke away once he learned there was a warrant. Is that a fair statement?” Gray asked.

“Sure,” Staughton said.

At the end of the day, jurors heard from Daunte’s father Arbuey Wright. He talked about working with Daunte as his manager at Foot Locker, and how the two enjoyed a close relationship. The prosecution showed a photo of Daunte holding his infant son, Daunte Jr.

“To see him as a father, I was so happy for him because he was so happy about Junior.  It was my chance to be a grandfather. He loved his son,” Wright said. “I love Daunte. He was loved.”

The prosecution is expected to rest on Thursday, at which point the defense will present its witnesses. 

When asked if he was aware of another officer mistaking their gun for their taser, expert witness Sgt. Mike Peterson said he was not. Other testimony revealed that Potter did not test her taser as required by her department the  day she fatally shot Daunte Wright, and that the position of her duty belt was also under question. 

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Georgia Fort reports: 

A taser spark test in court Tuesday showed jurors in the Kim Potter trial the process that Brooklyn Center officers are required to go through daily to ensure their tasers are functioning properly.

“I simply press my arc switch again and it runs through a 5 second test,” said

Sgt. Mike Peterson, a taser expert. Peterson explained to jurors appropriate uses for tasers. He also testified that Potter had been trained on the newest model taser that she was using at the time of Daunte’s death. Testimony regarding tasers is significant as the defendant is expected to testify that she mistook her taser for her gun. 

“In all the years you’ve worked for the Brooklyn Center Police Department are you aware of another officer who has drawn their hand gun when they meant to draw their taser?” asked State Prosecutor Matthew Frank. 

“I don’t,” replied Peterson after a long pause. 

The prosecution doubled down on tasers and training this week. During Monday’s Testimony from Sam McGinnis, senior special agent with the BCA, it was revealed that Potter did not test her taser as required by her department the  day she fatally shot Daunte Wright. The position of her duty belt was also under question.

“It appeared in watching this that their had been a manipulation of her holster,” said McGinnis.

Testimony from Brooklyn Center Commander Garett Flesand detailed the department's pursuit policies.

“In recognizing the risk to public safety created by vehicle pursuits no officer or supervisor shall be criticized or disciplined for deciding not to engage in a vehicle pursuit or for terminating a pursuit already underway underway, even if permitted by state statute or policy,” stated Flesand.

Judge Chu made a ruling Tuesday afternoon that evidence supporting a stricter sentence could be presented if the jury reaches a guilty verdict.

Kim Potter and the former Brooklyn Center chief of police are still expected to take the stand. Judge Chu says the trial should wrap up by Christmas Eve.

The Bush Foundation has selected Saint Paul-based Nexus Community Partners to redistribute $50 million to Black residents across Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The funds will focus on building entrepreneurship, homeownership, and education.

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Feven Gerezgiher reports:

Former officer Derek Chauvin has requested to change his plea of innocence in his federal civil rights case in the death of George Floyd.

Meanwhile in the trial of former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter, a jury heard testimony Monday from a medical examiner and forensic scientists that investigated Daunte Wright’s death. An agent with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension observed that Potter had unlatched her firearm holster as she approached Wright’s car.

In other news, the Bush Foundation has selected Saint Paul-based Nexus Community Partners to redistribute $50 million to Black residents across Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Another $50 million will be distributed to Indigenous communities by the NDN Collective.

Nexus President and CEO Repa Mekha says the Community Trust Fund is a response to systemic injustices faced by Black people.

“Foundations have not spent a lot of resources going directly to individuals and families... particularly geared towards wealth creation,” said Mekha. “We see this as not only an opportunity to do so in terms of getting dollars to individuals and families, but a modeling of how philanthropy can release dollars to the community, and not all [funds] have to go to organizations.”

Mekha says the funds will focus on things like entrepreneurship, homeownership, and education.

Danielle Mkali is the community wealth building director at Nexus. She says $50 million is an incredible amount for any one foundation to give and share.

“As an organization, we don't view these funds as reparations,” she said. “We do view them as an important contribution to our community's ability to create some space, to build some wealth to do the healing and to continue to build connections to move our communities closer to being more free and self-determined together.”

Mkali says Nexus plans to establish an advisory committee over the next year to help design a community engagement process that will most benefit and most impact Black communities. Nexus anticipates launching the Community Trust Fund by early 2023.

For questions on Nexus’ stewardship of the Community Trust Fund or to learn how to get involved, people can reach out to [email protected].