Minneapolis councilmember: Protesters held her 'hostage' with list of demands
Andrea Jenkins is blocked by protesters in a Minneapolis parking lot. Tuesday, Mayor Jacob Frey condemned the protesters. (Donald Hooker, Jr./Facebook Live)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey chastised protesters who blocked the car of Minneapolis Councilmember Andrea Jenkins over the weekend until she signed on to a list of demands.
In a statement Tuesday, Jenkins described the incident as being held "hostage" against her will. She also called her treatment there "inhumane".
According to a live video filmed by the account of Donald Hooker, Jr., protesters blocked Jenkins’ car in a parking lot near Loring Park after a Pride event until she agreed to a list of demands.
Protesters would not let her car leave until she signed a handwritten note of the demands, which included Frey’s resignation, community control of police and keeping George Floyd Square closed.
Jenkins can be seen on the livestream video leaving the parking lot after signing the piece of paper.
In a tweet Tuesday, Frey said holding elected officials accountable is good, but "holding people for hours against their will until they’re compelled under duress to take positions is not."
He called the behavior "fundamentally wrong."
Here is Jenkins's full statement:
Black pain, Black trauma, Black anger is real and justified. What is not justified is the inhumane treatment of other humans because they hold elective office. On Sunday afternoon, while attending a Pride event in Loring Park, something I’ve done on the last weekend in June for the past 20 plus years, I was verbally attacked, berated and held "hostage" against my will by a large group of angry protesters.
I ran for office on a platform of Leadership. Access. Equity. I ascended, thanks to the confidence of my colleagues to the Vice President of the Council, I led the efforts that have resulted in the first ever Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan, declaring racism a public health crisis and spearheaded the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation workgroup that will be presenting their recommendations for a full on TRC to the City Council this week. Additionally, I have consistently met with all groups/individuals to discuss what ever ideas, topics or proposals they had in mind.
I am a public servant, I represent 31,000 people that live in Ward 8, in South Minneapolis. A beautiful community that was forever changed by the inhumane murder of George Floyd at the intersection of 38th and Chicago. The perpetrator has now been sentenced to 22.5 years in penitentiary. Thank goodness the Floyd Family can begin their process of healing. There have (been) many other high profile police killings in our community since then, and we need answers related to the deaths of Dolal Idd, (Daunte Wright), and Winston Smith. I can’t tell people how to express their anger, their fears or their pain, but I do know that when your pain impacts others then that becomes problematic. I have always believed in open dialogue where people can talk and be respectful of their differences. I continue to be willing to sit down with activists, advocates and protesters to understand their policy change demands and recommendations. I refused however to be bullied and held hostage to somehow accomplish that. Every citizen of this City has a right to bring forward their concerns, but no citizen has the right to detain and coerce anyone to do anything, that includes elected officials.
As for mayor (Jacob) Frey, the residents of this City will determine in November who will lead this City, not me or any other councilmember. Additionally, I believe that what has become known as George Floyd Square already is and will continue to be a sacred space and I intend to do all in (my) power to create the type of social justice memorial that reflects that struggle. However, it is time to stop holding of the Black owned businesses, the neighbors and residents of that area hostage. Thanks to the 100’s of people that have reached out to me to offer support. Please know that I intend to continue to serve the residents of my district and this city to the best of my abilities.