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Communities United Against Police Brutality
EMAIL URGENT ALERT
April 16, 2004
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Sorry to hit you with two emails in the same day but this just came in, after we sent out the newsletter and seemed important enough to send out a second email. We received the following from Rep. Keith Ellison regarding the possible confirmation of Rich Stanek as Public Safety Commissioner.
TODAY--PRESS CONFERENCE TO OPPOSE CONFIRMATION OF STANEK
Press Conference
April 16, 2004 (TODAY!)
10:00 a.m. Sharp
Be there at 9:45 a.m.
Minneapolis Urban League
2100 Plymouth Avenue
Minneapolis MN 55411
Issue: the Confirmation of Richard Stanek and his use of the term "Nigger"
I received a copy of a deposition transcript styled Freeman v. Officer Richard Stanek et al. Freeman sued Stanek for police brutality. The transcript states in part:
Q: Have you ever made any comments that were negative about people because of their race?
A: Yes.
Q: And have you ever done that when you were on duty?
A: Yes.
Q: And have you ever done that when you were talking to other police officers?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you recall when the most recent time you did that was?
A: Yes.
Q: When was that? And what happened on that occasion?
A: . . . a Hispanic couple . . . asked me what kind of neighborhood the area of Broadway and Penn Avenues North was. . . I told them in my opinion a high crime area. . . .
Q: Have you ever used the word in quotes, "nigger"?
A: Yes.
Q: And approximately how many occasions have you used that one?
A: I don't recall a specific number.
As you may know, Rich Stanek is a former state legislator from MapleGrove, and now he's up for Commissioner of Public Safety. The Senate crime prevention committee will take up the issue of whether it will recommend him for confirmation by the full Senate very soon.
Commissioner Stanek was one the primary proponents of HF#1, the law that put a special mark of the driver's licenses of certain immigrants. He was one of the primary opponents of former Rep. Greg Gray's bill regarding Racial Profiling.
If the Pawlenty Administration wants Stanek, then it should be with the full understanding of his history. As commissioer he was represent the entire state of Minnesota, not simply his former House district. Please attend the press conference and share you views.
Keith Ellison 651-296-5486
rep.keith.ellison@house.mn |
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