Statement on Trump moving to end Federal Consent Decree

Council Member Elliott Payne

Ward 1 News from Council President Elliott Payne

May 21th, 2025

A message from Council President Elliott Payne

Hello Neighbors,

I wanted to send you my statement on the move by the Trump administration and the Department of Justice to end our Federal Consent Decree. I also shared below the statement from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. I joined City leaders at a press conference this morning which you can watch here. You can also read more reporting on this at publications like the Star Tribune and Sahan Journal.

Best,

Elliott

 

Statement from Council President Elliott Payne on Trump’s Department of Justice moving to end Federal Consent Decree

Today’s cruel action by the Trump administration, meant to sanitize our history, is why we should have never fought the idea that our police department and systems of accountability failed to keep us safe. I want to apologize to our residents because today is a failure by everyone at the city. We all could have done more to anticipate the possibility that Trump would win the election and turn his back on our city, and we should have done more on City Council to hold the city administration accountable to enter into the consent decree before Trump had power.

But make no mistake, no matter how hard the Trump administration and the MAGA movement tries, they can’t rewrite our history or take away our residents’ lived experience. Both the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the Department of Justice found that our police department had a pattern and practice of racist policing and discrimination against Black, Brown, Indigenous, and residents with behavioral health disabilities. My resolve to transform our system of public safety and reform our police department to one that actually keeps us safe is stronger than ever. We will do everything we can as the City Council to move forward with the MDHR settlement agreement and implement the provisions agreed to with the Biden Department of Justice and with our independent monitor.



Statement from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights

“While the Department of Justice walks away from their federal consent decree nearly five years from the murder of George Floyd, our Department and the state court consent decree isn’t going anywhere,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero in a statement. “Under the state agreement, the City and MPD must make transformational changes to address race-based policing. The tremendous amount of work that lies ahead for the City, including MPD, cannot be understated. And our Department will be here every step of the way.” 



Connect with Elliott and Ward 1 Staff

Elliott Payne was re-elected in 2023 to represent Ward 1

Elliott serves on the President of the Minneapolis City Council, Chair of the Audit Committee, member of the Public Health & Safety Committee, Budget Committee, Intergovernmental Relations Committee, and Committee of the Whole. 

Contact the Ward 1 Council Office

Elliott Payne, Council Member - Email

Liam Davis Temple, Policy Aide - Email

Ikram Mohamud, Policy Associate - Email

Brandon Garcia, Policy Aide - Email

Office Phone - (612) 673-2201

Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward1

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