Minneapolis police discriminated against blacks and Native Americans - Department of Justice
The U.S. Department of Justice found that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) committed multiple civil rights violations not only against Black people, but also against Native Americans.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a federal investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department earlier this month. The police department was found to have engaged in inappropriate behavior toward blacks and Native Americans. The Justice Department said MPD was found to have used excessive force, unlawfully discriminated against and violated the rights of Black people and Native Americans.
The patterns and practices the Department of Justice observed during its investigation are deeply troubling," Garland said."They undermine the community's trust in law enforcement. "
The U.S. Department of Justice investigation was launched into the May 2020 death of 46-year-old George Floyd. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was later found guilty of killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said he couldn't breathe.
Investigators concluded that the police department "conducted patrols differently based on the racial makeup of the community for no legitimate, relevant safety reason."
Garland said the police department and the city are fully cooperating with the Justice Department's investigation.
Minneapolis Local
Minnesota is home to 12 federally recognized tribes and is home to 40 tribal casinos. Only Oklahoma (136) and California (82) have more Native American-owned casinos.
In total, Minnesota casinos have more than 20,000 slot machines. Tribal interests generated $3.72 billion in economic impact for Minnesota last year, according to a study commissioned by the American Gaming Association (AGA). This secured more than 29,000 jobs.
The tribes win more than $2 billion a year at casinos and generate more than $500 million in tax revenue for the state.
Minneapolis is close to two of the state's most profitable tribal casinos, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel in Prior Lake and Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Welch. The properties are owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the Prairie Island Indian Community respectively.
Two Tribes of Minneapolis-St. Paul area has more than 1,000 tribal members and about 2,000 total employees.
Mystic Lake is Minnesota's largest casino, with 4,000 slot machines and 100 gaming tables. The resort has a 766-room hotel, the third largest in Minnesota.
Treasure Island offers approximately 1,800 slot machines and 50 table games. With 788 rooms, the hotel is the largest in the Twin Cities and the second largest in the state, behind the 826-room Minneapolis Hilton.
Racial Tensions
Justice Department officials said the city has taken some remedial measures to improve security. However, federal law enforcement plans to meet with members of the Minneapolis community in the coming months to discuss the report's findings. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has appointed an independent monitor to oversee the MPD and its operations.
The Justice Department's investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department is one of eight ongoing investigations into law enforcement agencies. The review was conducted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
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Source: www.casino.org
