After a historic verdict on Tuesday in the murder of African-American George Floyd, the US Department of Justice announced Wednesday, April 21, the opening of an investigation into the police in Minneapolis (Minnesota).
“The Department of Justice has opened an investigation to determine whether the Minneapolis police are following an unconstitutional or illegal policing model or practices.”Justice Minister Merrick Garland said the day after white policeman Derek Chauvin was found guilty. The investigation, separate from the one into the death of George Floyd, aims to determine whether police in Minneapolis, a city in the north of the United States, systematically use excessive force, including during legal protests, has t -he adds.
Possible discrimination and ill-treatment
The investigation will also look into possible discrimination or ill-treatment inflicted by the police on people with behavioral problems, Garland said. If the existence of illegal practices is proven, legal proceedings aimed at forcing the city to undertake major police reforms could follow. “The Ministry of Justice will act in a determined manner in this quest for justice” in Minneapolis, Garland said.
The latest tragedy is the death of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old African-American boy who was shot and killed by a policewoman during a traffic stop on April 11, in the suburbs of Minneapolis.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, the federal authorities launched resounding investigations targeting cities in the United States – such as Baltimore, Chicago or San Francisco – where police officers were accused of racism or abuse of power. Donald Trump then expressed his opposition to such investigations.
