Education Minnesota responds to guilty verdicts in the case against former officer Potter
For more information, contact:
KIEREN STEINHOFF
651-247-4195 (cell)
CHRIS WILLIAMS
651-247-5539 (cell)
ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 23, 2021 – After a jury returned guilty verdicts on the first- and second-degree manslaughter charges against former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter in the killing of Daunte Wright, Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement in response.
“Everyone in Minnesota should feel safe on their streets, in their homes and in their schools. Our union is grateful for the accountability served today, but it will not bring back Daunte Wright. Our union hopes that true justice will soon be felt through the needed police reforms and public investments that will make our towns and neighborhoods healthier, safer and more prosperous for everyone, no matter what we look like or where we live. We stand with our communities of color as they lead on the needed changes in our state and country.”
“This tragic event has also reminded us of the important role public schools play in our communities. Brooklyn Center is home to one of our state’s full-service community schools. After Daunte Wright’s murder, the school and its educators used the relationships and resources already available to them through the community school model to serve their students and area residents. The educators not only held supportive spaces for their students during school hours, but donated their time and money to turn an entire building into a food donation center which served thousands of people. The past few weeks as they awaited this verdict, the educators once again focused on their students, raising money and putting together food packs so that while school was closed for an extended winter break, no one would go hungry. Thanks to the full-service community school in Brooklyn Center, their community has had a hub of support during this tragedy.”
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
