Attention Minnesota Attorn. Gen. Keith Ellison
Time, fate and history have put you in this position for a reason.
As Attorney General, you are the top legal authority in the State of Minnesota. And you are a man of color. You know the law thoroughly because we know you had to be ten times better than your white counterparts to get to where you are. Find the precedents for arresting all four police officers NOW given the overwhelming information on the case you currently have.
Suspects have been arrested and charged on much less evidence. I am sure that you have seen the body cam footage. Therefore, you have more information than the public right now. We have not see it. But we have seen enough from citizen video footage. The police chief saw enough and used his position to act immediately. Act on what you know you know to be true. ACT ON IT.
It is said that: “Each state's attorney general is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the laws, as well as the ability to pass new legislation. The state attorney general also has the higher purpose of protecting the people of the state and their interests.”
Every black person, every person of color that has helped you in any way to get to the position that you are in, every marginalized group, and the allies that support justice for all in your state and in this country are counting on you to do the right thing here. You must be acutely aware of the role that you play in history right now.
There are people in power that may have placed this case in your hands because they felt that the people of your state and across the country would be more likely to accept anything less than these officers being charged to the full extent of the law from a man of color than from white DA Mike Freeman.
Perhaps you may be concerned that because you are a man of color, that those watching your every move will scream that you are biased in this case and will therefore seek to over prosecute because of that bias.
DON’T ALLOW THOSE VOICES STOP YOU FROM DOING WHAT YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO DO IN THIS CASE. STAND IN YOUR POWER. STAND IN THE TRUTH OF WHAT EVERYONE HAS SEEN WITH THEIR EYES.
Now is not the time to use this as political capital to advance your career like so many who hold the power you do have done in the past and continue to do. Now is not the time to appease organizations, police unions and/or government officials with an outcome that leaves you in good standing and upholds your reputation with powerful people that continue to support racism in police ranks. YOU MUST MAKE SURE THAT ALL FOUR OFFICERS ARE ARRESTED AND CONVICTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.