Kim Potter Trial Verdict: A Message from Trumanue Lindsey
Dear Minneapolis College Campus Community,
In the wake of the guilty verdict in the Kim Potter trial for the killing of Daunte Wright, I wanted to offer a few words to our campus community. These are times of unrest. Regardless of the verdict you were looking for, the fact remains that a young man’s life was cut short due to the ills of the antiblack sentiments that continue to plague our society. The lost life of Daunte Wright is felt today in our immediate communities, and it will have a resounding impact for posterity.
None of us were outright responsible for Daunte’s death. Yet, it would be inhumane of us to further the narratives of “we don’t know the full story,” “if only he would have complied,” or even of illuminating past criminal behaviors. This mindset continues to reinforce the notion that Black lives are unimportant and that they have no place in our society. We know that the Black body is disproportionately policed at higher rates and is not afforded the same due process as members of other identity groups. It is the tale of two criminal justice systems that perpetuate the practice of structural racism.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Minneapolis College made the declaration of becoming an AntiRacist, Culturally and Trauma Responsive and Healing Institution. Events like these, are the real life, everyday racialized traumas that many of our historically disadvantaged and underserved students and employees carry with them to our campus. It is imperative that we do not lose sight of our declaration and that we actively choose to remain committed to this work. Whether your focus is course curriculum, institutional practices and policies, or student support by addressing campus climate, we all have a responsibility in enacting institutional change.
Although we have a lot of work to do in many areas as a society, we cannot deflect and lose sight of the work that we need to do in order to better serve our Daunte Wrights. Minneapolis College remains committed to the work of our Equity Statement, the work of dismantling and transforming systems that perpetuate privilege and oppression. This will not happen overnight, and it cannot happen without experiencing discomfort. This is not a destination but rather a journey.
In closing, I would like to share a quote from the late United States Congressman John Lewis: “If you see something that is not right, not fair, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.”
Trumanue Lindsey, Jr
Vice President of Equity & Inclusion