08/24/2026
We sent the following request to the Minneapolis Community Commission for Police Oversight. In it, we quoted the outstanding piece by Nekima Levy Armstrong. Let's hope the commissioners use their powers to actually act on this matter.
Dear CCPO Commissioners:
On Saturday, an individual named Jake Lang and his entourage held a rally outside of City Hall to promote overt racism against Black people and other people of color. This was not Lang's first action to attempt to stir racial animus in Minneapolis (as well as in St. Paul) and he faces charges for some of these prior harms. Members of the community held a counter protest and, appallingly, MPD appeared to focus on protecting Jake Lang and his group, allowing them to drive onto the sidewalk where MPD had already kettled community members, putting them in danger. They also allowed individuals with Lang to pepper spray indiscriminately into the crowd of community members.
In Article IX of your bylaws, you have among your powers (1) Review and analysis of police department programs, policies, and practices, internal controls, collective bargaining agreements, and other related matters and (2) Review, analysis and presentation to the City Council, Mayor, and Chief of Police of patterns related to complaints of officer misconduct.
We ask you to use these powers to perform an investigation into the conduct of Minneapolis police in this matter.
Michelle Gross
President
Communities United Against Police Brutality
