NO HEADER! Wright in a Shooting That Ignited Days of Unrest and Clash- Es Between Protesters and Police
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48.967 visitors in Thursday April 15, 2021 March 2021 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 8 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper Former Minnesota cop charged in shooting of Black motorist Associated Press BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) — A prosecutor said Wednesday that he charged a white former suburban Minneapolis police officer with second-degree man- slaughter for killing 20-year-old Black motorist Daunte NO HEADER! Wright in a shooting that ignited days of unrest and clash- es between protesters and police. The charge against former Brooklyn Center police Of- ficer Kim Potter was filed Wednesday, three days after Wright was killed during a traffic stop and as the nearby murder trial progresses for the ex-officer charged with kill- ing George Floyd last May, Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said. The former Brooklyn Center police chief has said that Potter, a 26-year veteran and training of- ficer, intended to use her Taser on Wright but fired her handgun instead. However, protesters and Wright’s family members say there’s no excuse for the shooting and that it shows how the justice system is tilted against Blacks, not- ing Wright was stopped for expired car registration and ended up dead. “Certain occupations carry an immense responsibility and none more so than a sworn police of- ficer,” Imran Ali, Washington County assistant criminal di- vision chief, said in a statement announcing the charge. “(Potter’s) action caused the unlawful killing of Mr. Wright Flowers are placed on a banner as demonstrators gather outside the Brooklyn Center Police De- and she must be held accountable.” partment on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, to protest the shooting death of Daunte Wright on Sunday Continued on Page 2 during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Associated Press A2 THURSDAY 15 APRIL 2021 UP FRONT Former Minnesota cop charged in shooting of Black motorist degree manslaughter after accidentally firing his hand- gun when he meant to deploy his stun gun on Eric Harris, a Black man who was being held down by other officers in 2015. Potter was an instructor with Brooklyn Center police, ac- cording to the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. She was train- ing two other officers when they stopped Wright, the association’s leader, Brian Peters, told the Star Tribune. On Tuesday night, hun- dreds of demonstrators again gathered at Brooklyn Center’s heavily guarded police headquarters, now ringed by concrete barri- ers and a tall metal fence, and where police in riot gear and National Guard soldiers stood watch. About 90 minutes before a 10 p.m. curfew, state Authorities advance on demonstrators gathered outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department to protest the shooting death of Daunte Wright, late Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, Minn. police announced over a Associated Press loudspeaker that the gath- ering had been declared Continued from Front Tim Gannon both resigned shows Potter approaching difference between a Tas- unlawful and ordered the Tuesday. Wright as he stands outside er and a handgun. crowds to disperse. Pro- Ali said he and Orput met Concrete barricades and of his car as another officer “Kim Potter executed testers launched fireworks with Wright’s family and tall metal fencing had is arresting him. Daunte for what amounts toward the station and assured them that no re- been set up around Pot- As Wright struggles with po- to no more than a minor threw objects at offic- sources would be spared in ter’s home in Champlin, lice, Potter shouts, “I’ll Tase traffic infraction and a mis- ers, who launched flash- prosecuting the case. north of Brooklyn Center, you! I’ll Tase you! Taser! demeanor warrant,” he bangs and gas grenades, Intent isn’t a necessary with police cars guarding Taser! Taser!” before firing a said. then marched in a line to component of second- the driveway. After Floyd’s single shot from a handgun Experts say cases of offic- force back the crowd. The degree manslaughter in death last year, protest- in her right hand. ers mistakenly firing their number of protesters plum- Minnesota. The charge — ers demonstrated several The news release announc- gun instead of a Taser are meted over the next hour, which carries a maximum times at the home of Derek ing the charge noted that rare, usually less than once until only a few remained. penalty of 10 years in prison Chauvin, the former Minne- Potter holstered her hand- a year nationwide. Police also ordered all me- — can be applied in cir- apolis officer now on trial in gun on the right side and Transit officer Johannes dia to leave. cumstances where a per- Floyd’s death. her Taser on the left. The Mehserle was convicted Brooklyn Center, a suburb son is suspected of caus- Police say Wright was handles of each weapon of involuntary manslaugh- just north of Minneapolis, ing a death by “culpable pulled over for expired tags faced to Potter’s rear. The ter and sentenced to two has seen its racial demo- negligence” that creates on Sunday, but they sought Taser is yellow with a black years in prison after re- graphics shift dramatically an unreasonable risk and to arrest him after discover- grip and would require Pot- sponding to a fight at a in recent years. In 2000, consciously takes chances ing he had an outstanding ter to remove it from her train station in Oakland, more than 70% of the city to cause the death of a warrant. The warrant was holster with her left hand, California, killing 22-year- was white. Today, a major- person. for his failure to appear in the county attorney’s state- old Oscar Grant in 2009. ity of residents are Black, Potter, 48, was arrested court on charges that he ment said. Mehserle testified at trial Asian or Hispanic. Wednesday morning at the fled from officers and pos- Wright family attorney Ben that he mistakenly pulled Mayor Mike Elliot t said Bureau of Criminal Appre- sessed a gun without a per- Crump said the family ap- his .40-caliber handgun in- Tuesday that he didn’t hension in St. Paul. Her at- mit during an encounter preciates the criminal case, stead of his stun gun. have at hand information torney did not immediately with Minneapolis police in but he again disputed that In Oklahoma, a white vol- on the police force’s racial respond to messages from June. the shooting was acciden- unteer sheriff’s deputy for diversity but that “we have The Associated Press. Body camera video that tal, arguing that an expe- Tulsa County, Robert Bates, very few people of color in Potter and Police Chief Gannon released Monday rienced officer knows the was convicted of second- our department.”q A3 U.S. NEWS THURSDAY 15 APRIL 2021 Senate filibuster test over Asian-American hate crime bill By LISA MASCARO and Republicans, to overcome MARY CLARE JALONICK a filibuster. Associated Press Schumer said he was open WASHINGTON (AP) — The to considering changes to Senate is poised to start the bill. He is in conversa- debate on legislation con- tions with McConnell on a fronting the rise of potential package of amendments hate crimes against Asian that could be considered, Americans, a growing according to aides. problem during the coro- “We cannot and must not navirus crisis that will also remain silent,” Schumer test whether the chamber said Tuesday. can push past partisanship “There is no reason, no rea- on an issue important to son, this shouldn’t be a bi- many constituents. partisan bill that passes the Typically, the Democratic- Senate.” sponsored COVID-19 Hate A robust floor debate is Crimes Act might quickly rare for the Senate, which face a filibuster, opposed has ground to a halt due by Republicans who pre- to pervasive partisanship. fer a different approach. The gridlock has intensified But under the Senate lead- calls from Democrats to ers’ agreement struck at change the filibuster rules the start of the year, Re- Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, in Washington, to push past the opposi- publicans and Democrats Tuesday, April 13, 2021. tion. Shy of taking that step, Associated Press pledged to try to at least try Schumer and McConnell to debate bills to see if they Meng described well-doc- virus’ origins in China. Don- McConnell is married to had reached a tentative could reach agreement umented but “horrifying” ald Trump, while president, Elaine Chao, the former accord earlier this year to through the legislative pro- images of people being played into that narrative transportation secretary, try to push past stalemates cess. shoved and beaten in pub- with derisive nicknames for and he said Tuesday he and allow senators to dis- Ahead of Wednesday’s ini- lic attacks, and of her own the virus. The moment harks was hoping to work out cuss and amend bills. tial votes, several leaders conversations with survivors, back to earlier eras of rac- an agreement with Demo- Several Republican sena- of the Asian American and including the families of the ism against Chinese Ameri- crats to at least debate the tors indicated they would Pacific Islander community victims of deadly shootings cans, Japanese Americans bill and consider potential prefer to adjust the hate in Congress gave personal last month in Atlanta. Six of and others of Asian heri- amendments. crimes legislation, but they and heart-wrenching sto- those killed were women of tage in this country. Final passage, however, re- are reluctant to exercise ries of the racism they and Asian descent.