In the midst of having to relive the horrific death of Mr. George Floyd through the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, we are propelled into a level of grief that is difficult to put into words. How do we put into words the confusion, anger, loss, despair and hopelessness we feel now, following the death of Mr. Daunte Wright? Our Twin Cities community is in an unimaginably deep level of mourning. We grieve for Daunte Wright, for his son, his mother, his entire family, and his friends. May he rest in eternal peace and power.

Details continue to emerge about the traffic stop that led to the Brooklyn Center police shooting and killing Daunte Wright, but what we do know is that Daunte Wright should be alive today. What we know is Black people continue to be in fear of the police every single day of their lives. What we know is that many Black men and women leave home and don’t return after interacting with the police.

Our hearts are heavy. We feel for the Black people in this nation, and particularly in the Twin Cities. Our Black people are tired. Not even a year ago, we issued a statement regarding the killing of one of our Black brothers in the community. We took that unfortunate opportunity to ask this community to “press for true transformation for greater justice and equity in our communities.” We have to do it again today.

We again press our colleagues, both white and non-Black people of color to ensure that we provide care and support to our Black attorneys who are experiencing anguish right now. Like last year, TCDIP, and the Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD), together with other bar organizations we will provide sessions for attorneys of color to process and address the compounded trauma they are experiencing in observing the Derek Chauvin trial and now following the killing of Daunte Wright. We will also offer programming for white allies to help them understand the trauma communities of color are experiencing and how they can practice allyship in times of crisis and beyond.

Change is overdue. How can organizations and individuals work towards an anti-racist future?

  1. Consider your role in creating a safer Twin Cities for all today. What does a safe community look like? What would safety have looked like for Daunte Wright, Dolal Idd, George Floyd, Jamar Clark, Philando Castile, and so many others? What can you do in your neighborhood, city, and state to ensure safer communities for all?
  2. Take action. What actions can you take today to build an anti-racist future tomorrow? What power do you have within your workplace, among your family and friends, and within your government to develop racial equity? If you’re looking for a place to start, sign up to receive volunteer alerts for our Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD) initiative. If you’re looking for an immediate project, check out our initiative to assist with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.
  3.  Continue to listen to and support Black attorneys and other attorneys of color. If you have not already, reach out to them. Acknowledge the difficulty of this moment and that you, and your company, are there to support them. At a time when we are socially distanced, connecting with people is even more important.
  4. Educate yourself and connect with your friends, family and colleagues. We have shared a few links below, including our WILD Conversation series focused on community safety. If you have more resources you would like to share with the TCDIP community, please email info@diversityinpractice.org and we’ll collect and distribute. We would encourage you to share these resources with your firm or company at large.

 

Sincerely,

Neera Chatterjee   Ross D’Emanuele    Dadri-Anne Graham     Darnell Cage    Scholastica Baker    Summra Shariff
Board Co-Chair     Board Co-Chair         WILD Lead                      WILD Lead       Board Secretary      Executive Director

WILD Executive Committee