Resources and Actions Amidst the Chauvin Trial and the Death of Daunte Wright.

As a seminary located in the Twin Cities, our communities have been anticipating the verdict in the Derek Chauvin Trial. Meanwhile, we are also mourning and responding to the killing of Daunte Wright at the hands of Brooklyn Center police. Amidst these tumultuous times, we are publishing the following list of resources and actions for our community to heal, to advocate, and to fight for justice.

Taking Action on Police Violence | April 2021

Responding to the deaths of Daunte Wright and the trial for George Floyd’s killer

Prayer/Meditation

• Healing Our City: https://www.facebook.com/healingourcity) 
• Chapel at United, Wednesday, April 21 
• Prayer flags in George Floyd Square—you can write prayers on flags in George Floyd Square or send them to the Interfaith Movement Chaplains who will write them for you
• Prayer Vigil day of verdict, 5:45 – 6:30 pm, George Floyd Square, https://fb.me/e/2i5fYg366 
• Preaching, Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, Plymouth Congregational Church at vigil/celebration of life for Daunte Wright, https://www.facebook.com/sprestemon/videos/10217977040596897 

Holding Memory

• Fire Arts Center, George Floyd Square, “Still Here... Unstolen. Unbroken.” https://www.georgefloydglobalmemorial.org/home#h.xuvu6cjeu38q
• George Floyd Day, May 25, https://fb.me/e/2eN5iMST0 

Changing Policies

• Abolition movement, https://www.mpd150.com/, Sacred Solidarity Network
• Council on American-Islamic Relations—9 bills before legislature, https://action.cair.com/a/action-alert-mn-coalition-justice-george-floyd-and-all-stolen-lives-demands-police-reform?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=109c9f2f-5bd3-413b-bf01-ef4286c8d317 
• Community Members for Environmental Justice sign on letter re. tear gas in Brooklyn Center, https://www.mncenter.org/take-action-end-use-tear-gas-brooklyn-center 

Impacting Public Discourse: Speak Out/ Increase Awareness

• Protests (see below)
• Op-Eds, Letters to the Editor (examples: https://www.startribune.com/readers-write-the-death-of-daunte-wright/600045578/) 

Engaging our Emotions

• Movement chaplain training and volunteering: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080f4fabaf28a3fe3-chauvin (seminarians welcome)
• Safe spaces, https://video.startribune.com/black-twin-citians-finding-comfort-in-safe-spaces/600045912/ 

Public Actions in the Twin Cities

Day of Verdict Vigil, Tuesday, April 20, 5:45-6:30 pm, George Floyd Square, https://fb.me/e/2i5fYg366