>> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC."

FORMER BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE OFFICER KIM POTTER WAS ARRESTED TODAY IN THE KILLING OF 20-YEAR-OLD DAUNTE WRIGHT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON SECOND-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES WERE FILED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WE ARE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT HALF HOUR TAKING A LOOK AT COMMUNITY REACTION TO THE KILLING AND ARREST, PUBLIC SAFETY REPONSE AND MORE.

WE'LL HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SINCE THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

"ALMANAC'S" KAOMI LEE TALKED WITH PEOPLE IN THE BROOKLYN CENTER NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I'LL TALK WITH A REPORTER WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE SITUATION IN BROOKLYN CENTER THIS WEEK.

WE START WITH TODAY'S ARREST AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES.

JOINING ME IS SHANNON PRINCE, A LAWYER IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN NEW YORK CITY WHO SPECIALIZES IN POLICING POLICY.

LET'S START WITH THE CHARGE, SECOND-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER.

IT APPEARS THAT IT HAS TO NOT BE PLANNED.

HOW HARD IS THAT TO PROVE?

>> WELL, A CRIME IS COMPOSED OF TWO COMPONENTS, AND THEY HAVE -- LATIN NAMES.

NOW A GUILTY MIND IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD THING TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

WHEN OFFICER POTTER REACHED INTO HER HOLSTER AND PULLED OUT A GUN, SHE SAID, TASER, TASER, TASER.

SO HOW DO YOU PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT SHE KNEW SHE WAS HOLDING A GUN AS OPPOSED TO THAT SHE LEGITIMATELY THOUGHT SHE WAS HOLDING A TASER?

INTENTIONALITY IS WHAT DISTINGUISHES MURDER FROM FIRST-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER FROM SECOND-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER AND THE PROSECUTION MAY HAVE FELT EITHER SHE DIDN'T -- [ Indiscernible ] AND IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, THE MOST THEY COULD CHARGE HER WITH IS SECOND-DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER, WHICH IS THE CHARGE THAT REPRESENTS NEGLIGENCE.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED HOW SHE SAID TASER TASER TASER, WE ALSO HAVE VERY CLEAR AUDIO OF HER KIND OF SOUNDING SHOCKED OR SURPRISED AND SHE SAID, "I SHOT HIM."

IS THAT PHRASE SHE UTTERED, "I SHOT HIM," GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER?

>> YOU KNOW, IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.

THE JURY MAY FIND IT PLAUSIBLE THAT SHE WAS SURPRISED TO HAVE SHOT Mr. WRIGHT WITH A GUN AND NOT WITH A TASER.

BUT THEY COULD FIND IT IMPLAUSIBLE BASED ON THE DEPTH OF HER EXPERIENCE.

MISS POTTER HAS BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR 26 YEARS.

SHE WAS ENTRUSTED IN THE TRAINING OF OTHER OFFICERS AND, IN FACT, WAS ENGAGED IN FIELD TRAINING WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED.

THE JURY MAY FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS SHOCKED THAT SHE HAD PULLED A GUN OUT OF HER HOLSTER INSTEAD OF A TASER, AS SOMEONE WITH HER EXPERIENCE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> Mary: DOES THIS SEEM RIPE FOR A PLEA DEAL AHEAD OF TIME OR IS IT AHEAD -- HEADED TO A JURY TRIAL?

>> ON THE ONE HAND, MOST POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT CONVICTED FOR ON-DUTY KILLING.

IN FACT, THE ONLY POLICE OFFICER TO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED FOR AN ON-DUTY KILLING IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IN MODERN HISTORY IS OFFICER MOHAMED NOOR, A BLACK MAN, A SOMALI MAN WHO KILLED A WHITE VICTIM.

WE DON'T HAVE A HISTORY OF A WHITE OFFICER, LIKE Ms. POTTER, HAVING BEEN CONVICTED FOR AN ON-DUTY KILLING OF A BLACK VICTIM.

BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, SHE MAY DECIDE THAT IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE, AND DEPENDING ON HOW Mr. CHAUVIN'S TRIAL GOES, THAT IT'S TOO RISKY TO GO BEFORE A JURY AND, INSTEAD, TO TAKE A PLEA DEAL.

>> Mary: LEGALLY, HOW RELEVANT IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE TO CLOSING ARGUMENTS AND POTENTIALLY A VERDICT IN THE CHOAFIN TRIAL -- CHAUVIN TRIAL, DO YOU THINK THAT WILL AFFECT THE OUTCOME IN A POTENTIAL PLEA DEAL HERE OR NOT?

>> I THINK IT WILL.

I THINK THAT Ms. POTTER IS GOING TO BE LISTENING CLOSELY TO THE CHAUVIN TRIAL, BUT ALSO AT THE TRIAL THAT FOLLOWS IT.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IN AUGUST, THE OFFICERS CHARGED WITH AIDING AND ABETTING Mr. CHAUVIN WILL BE TRIED.

ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS IS THOMAS LANE, AND THOMAS LANE'S LAWYER, EARL GRAY, IS THE LAWYER WHO MISS POTTER HAS RETAINED.

>> Mary: ALSO, I'VE HEARD SOME ANALYSIS A U OF M LAW PROFESSOR TODAY SAID THE MINNESOTA STATUTE ON THIS IS VERY NARROWLY WRITTEN.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PROVE THAT YOU'D HAVE TO CONSCIOUSLY TAKE A CHANCE CAUSING DEATH OR GREAT HARM.

IS THAT YOUR ANALYSIS, TOO, THAT THIS IS VERY NARROW AND POTENTIALLY HARD TO PROVE?

>> YES, IT IS VERY NARROW.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MENS REA AND ACTIVE RAYA, ACTIVE RAYA IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PERCEIVE WITH THE FIVE SENSES, A BODY CAMERA CAN RECORD A GUILTY ACT.

PULLING A GUN FROM THE HOLSTER AND SHOOTING WITH IT.

BUT MENS REA IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T PERCEIVE WITH THE FIVE SENSES.

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND OR PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIND OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

>> Mary: YEAH, FINALLY, ON THAT, QUICKLY, THERE'S THIS PHRASE OF ACTED REASONABLY IN THE STATE OF MIND, WE'RE HEARING THAT IN THE CHAUVIN TRIAL.

THAT'S RELEVANT HERE AS WELL, CORRECT?

>> YES, IT IS.

HOWEVER, Mr. WRIGHT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NONVIOLENTLY RESISTING AN ARREST THAT WAS NOT FOR A FELONY.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT Ms. POTTER WOULD HAVE BEEN ACTING -- IF SHE HAD PULLED OUT THE TASER.

>> Mary: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, APPRECIATE IT.

>> MARY: REACTION TO WRIGHT'S DEATH HAS BEEN SWIFT AND SPECIFIC IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

LATE TODAY THE MINNESOTA HOUSE PASSED SEVERAL BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE AND ONTO THE FLOOR FOR MORE POLICE REFORMS, INCLUDING ALLOWING FAMILIES ACCESS TO BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE AND ELIMINATING OFFICER LIABILITY IMMUNITY.

THE SENATE CHANGED COURSE AND LAWMAKERS THERE ARE NOW PLANNING COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CHANGES.

HERE'S MORE ON THE GOVERNMENT REACTION, WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 'UNDER-TOLD STORIES' PROJECT FOR FOOTAGE.

S AS MINNESOTA REACTS TO ANOTHER FATAL POLICE INTERACTION FOR A BLACK MAN, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE RESPONDING.

THE LIFE OF DAUNTE WRIGHT WAS HONORED IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE AS MEMBERS OF ALL POLITICAL PARTIES STOOD FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> TRAGEDY AFTER TRAGEDY HAS BEEN PILED ONTO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS BEGINNING TO CRUSH US.

OUR COMMUNITY'S HURTING DEEPLY, AS OUR SOUL MOURNS THIS TRAGIC LOSS OF LIFE.

WE AT THE LEGISLATURE HAVE THE POWER TO MANIFEST A FUTURE WHICH IS BRIGHT AND JOYFUL.

AND THIS CELEBRATION, THE PROTECTION OF THE LIVES OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS, WHILE DAUNTE MAY FADE FROM THE NEWS, HE WILL NEVER FADE FROM MY HEART AND THE HEART OF MY COMMUNITY.

>> MEMBERS, PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> ALL OF US MOTHERS AND ALL OF US HUMANS CAN UNDERSTAND HER GRIEF.

I ASK THAT THIS BODY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GRIEF AND THE GRIEF OF OTHERS IN HER COMMUNITY.

>> Mary: THAT AFTER THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE PASSED A BILL TO BEGIN ALLOWING EVICTIONS AGAIN.

DEMOCRATS SAID THE TIMING WAS UNCONSCIONABLE.

>> OUR STATE IS REELING.

LAW ENFORCEMENT'S REELING.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE REELING.

WE'RE WONDERING, WHAT IS NEXT?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS TRAUMA, THIS PAIN, WITH THIS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Mary: AFTER DAYS OF PRESSURE, THE SENATE CHANGED COURSE, ANNOUNCING HEARINGS OR LISTENING SESSIONS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT NOT PROMISING TO PASS ANYTHING.

>> THE DEATH OF DAUNTE IN THIS SITUATION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TRAGIC ACCIDENT APPEARS TO BE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT JUST MEANS THAT WE WANT TO OPEN THE DOORS FOR CONVERSATION BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING HEARD.

I TALKED TO PEOPLE IN MINNEAPOLIS, A NUMBER OF PASTORS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO OVER THE LAST DAY OR TWO, THEY DON'T WANT TO DEFUND THE POLICE, THEY WANT THE POLICE, BUT THEY WANT BAD APPLES PLUCKED OUT.

THEY RECOGNIZE THE SITUATION IS JUST, LIKE I SAID, AN UNJUSTIFIABLE TRAGEDY.

AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

AND, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THIS TOGETHER.

>> Mary: DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE ARE TRYING TO PASS A BILL FOR PHILANDO CASTILE, ANOTHER BLACK MAN KILLED BY POLICE IN A TWIN CITIES SUBURB.

THE BILL HELPS COMMUNITIES REBUILD FROM PROTESTS AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND TAKES ON SYSTEMIC RACISM THROUGH VARIOUS INVESTMENTS.

>> WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO STAND BY AND NOT CHANGE A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT HAVE RESPECT FOR THE LIVES OF OUR YOUNG BLACK MEN IN THIS COUNTRY AND SPECIFICALLY IN THIS STATE.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS INITIALLY CALLED WRIGHT'S DEATH TRAGIC AND HAD REFUSED TO HOLD HEARINGS ON MORE POLICE REFORM AFTER PASSING LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, LIKE BANNING CHOKEHOLDS, BUT THE SENATE LATER CHANGED COURSE AND DECIDED TO HOLD HEARINGS.

THE HOUSE HAS HAD TEN HEARINGS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT CHANGES THIS SESSION.

>> WE PASSED A SIGNIFICANT BILL THAT SOME PEOPLE SAID WAS NOT FAR ENOUGH.

BUT OTHER PEOPLE SAID IT WAS TOO FAR.

>> WE CAN STOP PRETENDING THAT THIS IS JUST THE NATURAL ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE AND THINGS HAPPEN THIS WAY.

I'M GOING TO DEMAND THAT THE LEGISLATURE FINALLY HOLD SOME HEARINGS ON SOME OF THESE REFORMS.

>> WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THIS STRONG, HORRIFIC TREND THAT KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT DAUNTE WRIGHT WILL NOT BE THE LAST NAME, WILL NOT BE THE LAST HASHTAG ON THIS LIST, UNTIL AND UNLESS WE TAKE DECISIVE AND URGENT ACTION TO ENSURE THAT HE IS.

>> Mary: AS AUTHORITIES PLAN FOR THE REACTION TO THE TRIAL OF A FORMER POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN KILLING A BLACK MAN, THEY'VE MOVED UP THEIR PREPARATION FOR PROTESTS AFTER A BROOKLYN CENTER OFFICER, APPARENTLY ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HER GUN INSTEAD OF HER TASER, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF ANOTHER BLACK MAN IN MINNESOTA.

>> WE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO MANY OF THE OFFICERS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRAIN AND DRILL DOWN WITH THE OFFICERS BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO OPERATE EVEN WITHIN THIS CURFEW TO OPERATE WITH BOTH RESPECT AND DISCRETION.

>> WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IS OBVIOUSLY VERY TROUBLING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S TROUBLING FOR OURSELVES IN THIS PROFESSION.

THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS NOT BEEN GOOD FOR THIS PROFESSION LOCALLY.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

>> Mary: BROOKLYN CENTER, WHERE WRIGHT WAS SHOT, HAS A SIGNIFICANT AND FAST-GROWING BLACK POPULATION, ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THE GRIEVING AND GATHERING.

>> WITH PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO GATHER AND GRIEVE AND GIVE THEIR GRIEVANCES TO THE GOVERNMENT.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: JOINING ME NOW, REPRESENTATIVE CEDRICK FRAZIER, DFLER FROM NEW HOPE AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND INDIGENIOUS CAUCUS THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM.

REPRESENTATIVE, YOU'VE BEEN VERY BUSY, WATCHED YOUR HEARING THIS AFTERNOON.

AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS ISSUE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

YOU'RE WORKING ON A BILL.

TELL US MORE ABOUT IT, TO TRY AND DEAL WITH THESE MINOR OFFENSES THAT PEOPLE KEEP GETTING PULLED OVER FOR.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED?

>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET ACCOMPLISHED, WE'RE TRYING TO STOP THESE, WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE PREVENTABLE INTERACTIONS THAT COULD ESCALATE, THAT COULD ESCALATE TO A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE LIKE DAUNTE WRIGHT LOSES THEIR LIFE, UNARMED, NOT A THREAT.

THEY HAD ALREADY GOTTEN HIM, RAN HIS LICENSE, HE WASN'T FAR FROM HOME, THEY COULD HAVE GONE BACK AND PICKED HIM UP.

THAT SITUATION SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

HE WAS PULLED OVER FOR EXPIRED TABS, THEN THEY NOTICED AN AIR FRESHENER HANGING FROM HIS REARVIEW MIRROR, TWO THINGS UNDER THE LAW THAT GIVE OFFICERS A REASON TO PULL SOMEONE OVER.

OUR BILL, WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO, IT'S GOING TO LIMIT AND NARROW THE SCOPE BY WHICH AN OFFICER CAN PULL SOMEONE OVER.

YOU CAN STILL GIVE A TICKET FOR THAT BUT IT CAN'T BE THE MAIN REASON AND THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU PULL AN INDIVIDUAL OVER.

NOW, IT DOESN'T PREVENT YOU FROM PULLING FOLKS OVER IF THERE'S REASONABLE SUSPICION TO PULL THEM OVER, IF THEY'RE BREAKING THE LAW OR MAYBE SOME TYPE OF ISSUE THAT THE COPS SEE.

BUT IT WILL ELIMINATE SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS, LIKE WE SAW WITH DAUNTE WRIGHT.

AND IT SPEAKS TO THE MOMENT OF WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'LL BE HEARING MORE BILLS, SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, THAT WILL SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE MOMENT THAT LED TO THE DEATH AND THE KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT.

>> Mary: WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IN THE CASE OF PHILANDO CASTILE DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF TIMES HE'D BEEN PULLED OVER FOR MINOR OFFENSES OVER ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS.

AND TODAY COULD YOU SHARE WHAT YOU SHARED BECAUSE YOU EXPERIENCED THIS FIRSTHAND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I SHARED A STORY THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY CLOSE IN PARALLEL TO DAUNTE WRIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M HERE, I DIDN'T LOSE MY LIFE.

BUT I WAS AT A SIMILAR AGE, I WAS PULLED OVER, I WAS DRIVING MY AUNT'S CAR.

THE RIGHT BRAKE TAILLIGHT, I REMEMBER, IT WAS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, THE RIGHT BRAKE TAILLIGHT WAS OUT, THAT I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME.

I WAS PULLED OVER FOR THAT REASON.

I SHOWED THEM MY IDENTIFICATION, INSURANCE.

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS MY AUNT'S CAR.

THEY MADE ME GET OUT OF THE CAR, THEY SEARCHED THE CAR.

I WAS HELD FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES.

I WAS TERRIFIED.

THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T DO WAS I DIDN'T TRY TO GET AWAY FROM THAT SITUATION BECAUSE WHAT I WAS TAUGHT WAS THAT THE ONE THING THAT YOU MAY BE AFRAID BUT THEY'RE MORE AFRAID OF YOU SO DON'T GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACT TO THEIR FEAR.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO GET HOME.

>> Mary: AND THAT BILL IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, IT HASN'T PROCESSED YET OR PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE, CORRECT?

>> THAT BILL, WE HEARD IT TODAY, WE HAD AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING.

WE SHOULD RECEIVE A JACKET SOON.

YOU'LL SEE A HOUSE FILE BUT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT ALONG, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IT ALONG THROUGH OUR PROCEDURAL PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THAT BILL GETS TO THE FLOOR.

>> Mary: SEVERAL BILLS DID PASS, YOU'RE A FRESHMAN, YOU'RE ALSO VICE CHAIR.

TALK ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND THE SERIES OF NEW REFORMS THAT WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE TODAY AND ARE ON TO THE FLOOR.

>> WELL, IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, WE'VE HAD BILLS PASS THAT DEAL WITH BODY CAMERA REGULATIONS, IT'S GOING TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO SEE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE, FAMILY MEMBERS OR REPRESENTATIVES OF FAMILY MEMBERS, TO SEE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE WITHIN 48 HOURS.

THAT'S THE MOST CRUCIAL TIME AFTER THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS.

IT WILL ALSO ALLOW INFORMATION TO BE RELEASED AT A LATER DATE SO YOU CAN'T HOLD ONTO IT FOR MONTHS AND YEARS AND ALLOW FAMILIES TO SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONES IN THOSE LAST MOMENTS.

WE HAVE A BILL TO DEAL WITH OUR EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.

AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, RIGHT.

WE HEARD THE REPUBLICANS TALK ABOUT THAT THEY WANT TO START HAVING HEARINGS NOW TO ADDRESS POLICE REFORM.

WELL, WE HAVE THIS BILL THAT DEALS WITH THE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW US TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON OFFICERS.

THAT INFORMATION WILL STILL STAY PRIVATE WITH THE P.O.S.T.

BOARD, THE LICENSING BOARD THAT COLLECTS IT, BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT INFORMATION THAT WOULD LIKELY IDENTIFY, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, PROBLEMATIC ACTIONS TAKEN BY POLICE OFFICERS TO WHERE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO INTERVENE, AND THAT COULD BE TRAINING OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF ACTION, BUT THEY COULD INTERVENE TO POSSIBLY PREVENT A SITUATION LIKE THAT THAT HAPPENED WITH GEORGE FLOYD.

>> Mary: YOU MENTIONED THE SENATE IS NOW HOLDING HEARINGS, THAT WASN'T INITIALLY TRUE.

ARE YOU ENCOURAGED?

DOES THE PRESSURE FROM THE SENATE POCI CAUCUS, THEY ARE SAYING, STOP ALL BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC THAT THE SENATE IS HOLDING HEARINGS?

DO YOU THINK THEY'LL ACT?

>> I THINK THAT PRESSURE IS IMPORTANT FOR MY COLLEAGUES OVER IN THE SENATE.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, I AM NOT HONESTLY -- I AM NOT VERY HOPEFUL BECAUSE WHAT I HEARD SENATOR GAZELKA SAY WAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD FACT-FINDING HEARINGS, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD HEARINGS JUST TO HEAR PEOPLE TALK, LET THEM KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY IS BEING HEARD.

THERE WAS NO PROMISE TO ACTUALLY REALLY PASS ANY MEANINGFUL REFORM BILLS.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE THERE ARE BILLS THAT THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WE'VE ALREADY PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE THAT THEY COULD TAKE UP AND VOTE ON AND THEY KNOW WHAT THOSE BILLS ARE.

BUT THERE WAS NO PROMISE TO DO THAT SO I'M NOT VERY HOPEFUL.

BUT I'M ENCOURAGED THAT WE NOW APPLIED SOME PRESSURE, WE'VE GOTTEN THEM TO THE CONVERSATION, AND WE CAN HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS.

>> Mary: QUICK LAST QUESTION, AS I MENTION, YOU'RE A FRESHMAN, YOU JOIN A LARGE, DIVERSE FRESHMAN CLASS.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE VOICES LIKE YOURS NOW IN THESE TIMES?

>> REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD -- IF THESE VOICES WERE NOT HERE, DURING THIS MOMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU AND I WOULD BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE SENATE WOULD NOW BE HAVING A CONVERSATION SAYING THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO OPEN UP AND HAVE HEARINGS TO HEAR THE COMMUNITY NOW.

OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

REPRESENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> Mary: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, REPRESENTATIVE FRAZIER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MARY: "ALMANAC" REPORTER KAOMI LEE SPENT SOME TIME OUTSIDE THE BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE HEADQUARTERS THIS WEEK AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE DEMANDING JUSTICE.

>> THIS IS VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME BECAUSE WE HAVE A CITY MAYOR THAT'S ALSO LIBERIAN, HE'S AN IMMIGRANT AS WELL.

>> MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENT GREW UP NEAR THE BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE HEADQUARTERS, SHE HAD THE AREA IS CHRONICALLY OVERPOLICED.

>> I'M ANGRY BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE POLICE.

I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY ARE SO ANGRY WITH BLACK PEOPLE.

WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY?

WHEN YOU PULL US OVER, YOU JUST PULL US OVER, YOU'RE SO ANGRY.

WHY THE ANIMOSITY?

WHY ARE YOU TREATING US LIKE WE'RE THIRD-CLASS CITIZENS?

>> SHE TOOK THE DAY OFF OF WORK AS A HOSPITAL DIET TECH TO PROTEST, BUT SHE WAS FRUSTRATED THAT SHE COULDN'T TALK WITH ANYONE FROM THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WHY SHOULD WE BE HAVING THE NATIONAL GUARD IN FRONT OF US?

IF ANYBODY NEEDS PROTECTION, IT'S US.

>> 18-YEAR-OLD ARTHUR SIMMS WAS WALKING BY.

HE SAID THE POLICE KILLINGS HAVE TO STOP.

>> PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN WALK OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSE WITHOUT THINKING, I MIGHT SHOT BY 12.

OR IF I GET PULLED OVER, I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THEY SAY SO, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I MIGHT BE SHOT.

>> HE SAYS HIS COMMUNITY IS ALREADY ON EDGE BECAUSE OF THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL.

HE WANTS POLICE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> ALL I WANT IS FOR COPS TO BE TREATED LIKE ANY NORMAL PERSON IF THEY DO A CRIME.

THAT'S ALL I WANT.

THAT'S ALL I WANT.

I DON'T CARE HOW SMALL A CRIME, IF THEY DID IT, THEY SHOULD DEAL WITH IT.

BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE ENFORCING THE LAWS.

♪♪♪ >> MARY: RICARDO LOPEZ HAS BEEN PART OF THE TEAM COVERING THE KILLING AND COMMUNITY PROTESTS FOR THE MINNESOTA REFORMER, AN ONLINE NEWS SOURCE HOW YOU DOIN', FIRST OFF?

>> I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A ROUGH WEEK.

>> Mary: YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF THE TWIN CITIES JOURNALISTS ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THAT THE NEWS CYCLE WORKS WHEN IT COMES TO THESE CASES AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED IN MINNEAPOLIS.

>> Mary: WE HAVE MANY IMAGES FROM THE REFORMER THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHOW.

TELL ME WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AND COVERED SO FAR.

>> WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE SPEED AT WHICH THINGS ARE HAPPENING NOW.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE SAW THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE RELEASED LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER DAUNTE WRIGHT WAS KILLED.

WE SAW THE CITY MANAGER, AS WELL AS THE POLICE CHIEF, BOTH RESIGN OR BE FIRED FROM THEIR POSITIONS IN BROOKLYN CENTER.

AND WE ARE ALSO SEEING JUST THIS MEDIA PUSH TO HAVE EITHER SPECIAL PROSECUTOR OR HAVE ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON'S OFFICE TAKE OVER THE CASE, WHICH NO INDICATION OF THAT HAPPENING SO FAR, BUT WE ARE SEEING THE OFFICIALS ARE RESPONDING TO THESE TYPES OF DEMANDS FROM ACTIVISTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS MORE SERIOUSLY THIS TIME.

I MEAN, IT TOOK ONLY A FEW DAYS FOR THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY WOULD HOLD HEARINGS AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE ARE HELD.

>> Mary: SO, DOES THIS FEEL DIFFERENT THAN POST-GEORGE FLOYD TO YOU AND THE REACTION?

>> IT FEELS LIKE A CONTINUATION, ALMOST LIKE A PART 2, BUT THERE ARE VERY MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS HAPPENING NOW.

I MEAN, A YEAR AGO, WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION.

WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION THAT HAD A DIFFERENT REACTION TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS.

IF YOU RECALL JUST THE WAY FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP RESPONDED TO SOME OF THE UNREST AND THE RIOTING AND THE LOOTING THAT HAPPENED HERE LAST SUMMER, IT WAS LIKE THROWING -- IT WAS LIKE FANNING THE FLAMES WHEN HE SENT THE TWEET, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE LOOTING STARTS, THE SHOOTING STARTS.

WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION THAT'S SORT OF TAKING A MORE CAUTIOUS VIEW.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT IS DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER, BUT THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS, ARE WE GOING TO SEE THE GOVERNOR AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER REALLY PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN AND HOLD UP BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS TO SEE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY HAPPEN?

>> Mary: THE POLITICS IS FASCINATING.

FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO MAY NOT KNOW, YOU WERE A CAPITOL, HAVE BEEN A CAPITOL REPORTER, SO YOU GET THE LAYERS THAT ARE GOING ON HERE.

AND WE DEFINITELY SAW PRESSURE MOUNT FOR THE SENATE, DON'T YOU THINK, IN PARTICULAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, AS WIDE-RANGING PROPOSALS BEING ADOPTED BY THE SENATE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

AND ONE OF THE SHIFTS THAT I'M EXPLORING THIS WEEK IN SOME OF MY REPORTING IS LOOKING AT HOW SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE AT THE CAPITOL HAS REALLY SHIFTED.

POLICE USED TO ENJOY A REALLY STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AT THE LEGISLATURE.

IN FACT, SOME OF THE POLICE UNIONS USED TO ENDORSE DEMOCRATS IN THE ELECTION CYCLES PAST, BUT THAT HAS REALLY SHIFT IN THE MOST RECENT ELECTION CYCLE.

THEN ACTIVIST BUT NOW STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN THOMPSON, WHOSE ENDORSEMENT, YOU KNOW, WAS PULLED AND SOME CRITICISM MADE AGAINST HIM OVER COMMENTS HE MADE IN HUGO LAST SUMMER.

SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE SUPPORT FOR POLICE COMING FROM REPUBLICANS COMPARED WITH DEMOCRATS.

>> Mary: LET'S TALK RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATIONS ON SITE AT THE PROTEST WHERE YOU'VE BEEN.

HOW IS IT FIRST, LET'S START BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND JOURNALISTS, HOW IS THAT GOING?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS TENSION BECAUSE THERE'S ABSOLUTELY SOME DISTRUST FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE, PARTICULARLY AIMED AT NEWS MEDIA WHO THEY PERCEIVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, VERY NONDIVERSE, AND THE WAY THAT THEIR STORIES ARE TOLD, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT TENSION THAT HAS EXISTED.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, JOURNALISTS ARE JUST AS OTHER PROFESSIONS ARE LEARNING THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RACIAL BLIND SPOT, THEY'RE FINDING THAT THEY'VE HAD SOME WEAKNESSES IN THEIR COVERAGE IN THE PAST AND, SO, THERE'S A LEARNING PROCESS.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT THINGS CHANGE ENOUGH SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CAPTURE THE STORY WELL AND TELL IT FAIRLY.

>> Mary: AND THEN HOW ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORITIES THERE?

THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WENT OUT THAT MEDIA HAD TO DISPERSE EVEN THOUGH MEDIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IMMUNE FROM THE CURFEW LAST NIGHT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE ROUGH.

THERE'S A "STAR TRIBUNE" REPORTER OUT INJURED, I SAW SHOTS OF, YOU KNOW, INJURIES, BLOODY ARM.

IT'S TENSE, ISN'T IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, LAST SUMMER WAS SORT OF THE START OF IT.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S A CIVIL LAWSUIT MOVING FORWARD AGAINST THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR INJURIES THAT JOURNALISTS SUSTAINED LAST YEAR.

AND PEOPLE GETTING INJURED AGAIN THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT JOURNALISTS ARE EXEMPT, BUT IN PRACTICE, IN THE HEAT OF A VERY VOLATILE SITUATION LIKE LAST NIGHT, YOU SEE THAT SOME POLICE OFFICERS EITHER ARE IGNORING THAT OR ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH TRYING TO MANAGE THE SITUATION THAN RESPECT JOURNALISTS' FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> Mary: AND HAVE YOU HEARD ANY FOLLOW-UP, I KNOW LAST TIME AROUND, THE GOVERNOR PUBLICLY APOLOGIZED TO JOURNALISTS AND SAID THAT'S NOW HOW WE WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE HEARD THE SAME RESPONSE THIS TIME.

>> YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT LESS OF GOVERNOR WALZ IN THIS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SINCE THEN WE'VE GOT THIS TASK FORCE, OPERATION SAFETY NET, WHICH IS MANY AGENCIES, SO THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THE INCIDENT COMMANDER OVER AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST NIGHT WAS HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF DAVID HUTCHINSON, SO THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHO EXACTLY IS IN CHARGE HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD BEING DEPLOYED TO HELP KEEP THE PEACE.

>> Mary: I WOULD SAY THE OPERATION SAFETY NET IS DOING MORE BRIEFINGS.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE MAYBE THEY LEARNED FROM THE RIOTS POST-FLOYD THAT THEY NEED TO DO NIGHTLY BRIEFINGS, THAT SEEMS DIFFERENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S ONE WAY THAT THERE'S MORE INFORMATION BEING SENT OUT, MORE COMMUNICATION.

YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK ABOUT THEIR CHARACTERIZATION ABOUT HOW LAST NIGHT TRANSPIRED.

YOU KNOW, JOURNALISTS HAVE REPORTED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OBJECTS, WATER BOTTLES LOBBED AT POLICE, BUT THEN, SIMILARLY, ACTIVISTS AND OTHER JOURNALISTS HAVE SAID THAT THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERLY AGGRESSIVE TO THEM.

>> Mary: VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR TIME,RY RICARDO.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MARY: THAT'S OUR SHOW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

MAKE SURE TO TUNE IN TO "ALMANAC" ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

ERIC AND CATHY WILL HAVE A LOT MORE ON BOTH THE CHAUVIN TRIAL AND THE POLICE KILLING OF DAUNTE WRIGHT, INCLUDING COMMUNITY REACTION, LEGAL ANALYSIS, AND I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT MORE PLANS TO CHANGE STATE LAWS TO REFORM POLICE PRACTICES.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪♪ >> "ALMANAC" IS A PRODUCTION OF TWIN CITIES PBS FOR THE STATIONS OF MINNESOTA PUBLIC TELEVISION ASSOCIATION.