NEWS STATEMENT
TakeAction Minnesota: Supreme Court Blocks Mayor Frey’s Backers From Stealing the Vote of Minneapolis Residents
(Minneapolis, MN)–Today, the Minnesota State Supreme Court struck down the ruling on a lawsuit brought forward by three allies of Jacob Frey to undermine the will of 22,000 Minneapolis residents who petitioned to put a charter amendment for a new Department of Public Safety on the 2021 ballot.
TakeAction Minnesota released the following statement:
“The Black-led, multiracial Yes 4 Minneapolis campaign came together after the police murder of George Floyd. Minneapolis residents joined together across race, age, income, zip code, and political ideology to propose a new path forward to create a more just and safe city. After being blocked by the Charter Commission in 2020, the campaign to create a new Department of Public Safety went through every meticulous step of the legal and legislative process to make sure the will of the people could be heard on this critical issue this year.
Lawsuits brought forward by Minneapolis residents who have personal, financial, and political ties to Mayor Jacob Frey were clearly never about the ballot language–they were about trying to steal our right to vote.
After months of manufacturing one unprecedented barrier after another and watching in frustration as the people of Minneapolis overcame each and every one, Mayor Frey’s backers are stooping to a new low: not only did they attempt to stop our votes from counting on question 2, they are calling for a separate charter amendment to consolidate power in the hands of the Mayor. Minneapolis voters will not be fooled by this corrupt, brazen attempt by a handful of Jacob Frey’s allies to undermine our democracy and consolidate power.
As a directionless mayor, Jacob Frey has no credible response to his police department’s murder of George Floyd, his disastrous handling of the aftermath, and corrupt and violent police department that is under both state and federal investigation. As a failing mayor with exclusive control over his police department, his response was to create an unholy alliance with rightwing groups and corporate interests to protect his power. They go by many names — All of Mpls, Jacob Frey for Our City, Operation Safety Now, Charter for Change, Minneapolis 8, Mpls Together, A New 612 — but they are run by an exceedingly small group of Mayor Frey’s closest allies.
In Minneapolis, we know the power of our multiracial democracy, and believe in a unified path forward. As voters, we have a choice between a failed Mayor backed by a corrupt and dishonest network of dark money groups that lie to voters, attack our democratic right to vote on a community-led charter amendment, and elected officials who believe that our local democracy can be a force for good and will vote yes for new Department of Public Safety.
Our vote is powerful. Early voting starts tomorrow, Friday, September 17. We call on all Minneapolis voters of good conscience to vote No on question 1 that consolidates power in the hands of the mayor, yes for question 2 to create a new Department of Public Safety, and yes for rent control. And we’re telling all Minneapolis voters: Don’t rank Jacob Frey.
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, multiracial grassroots organization advancing justice and equity through organizing, policy, and campaigns. Offices are located in St. Paul, Duluth, and St. Cloud.
