Loring Park vigil for Orlando shooting victims
Gun Violence

Hundreds Stand Against Hatred In Wake Of Orlando Shootings

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More than a thousand people streamed into Minneaplis’ Loring Park – driven by a need to be with others after such a senseless massive tragedy, a need to offer prayers, and a need to find an answer to the nation’s mounting gun violence problem.

Gun Violence

Mall Of America Target Again For Black Lives Matter

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Black Lives Matter is threatening to protest at the nation’s largest shopping mall during one of the busiest shopping days of the year if its demands are not met, including the release of video surrounding the police shooting of Jamar Clark.

Shooting victim Wesley Martin and his Advocate Jermaine Alexander
Criminal Justice

Man Claims Police Threatened Him After White Supremacists Shot Him

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When you’re the victim of a shooting you expect the police to help you, not threaten you. But that’s what Wesley Martin says happened to him after a group of white supremacists opened fire on him and four other Black Lives Matter protesters in Minneapolis on November 23.

Gun Violence

North Side Groups Aim At Gun Violence

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North Side Minneapolis neighbors took aim at the ways that systemic racism perpetuates the cycle of violence at a forum organized by Protect Minnesota. The forum, which as held at the office of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change on Broadway Avenue, included a call to oppose a bill in the Minnesota State Senate which they say criminalizes youth of color, rather than focusing on prevention.

Gun Violence

Gun Safety Advocate Michael Paymar: Still Shooting For Gun Safety

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The Minnesota Legislature’s leading proponent of tougher gun-safety measures, Rep. Michael Paymar, announced last week that he won’t run for re-election next year, but he plans to go out with gun-control proposals blazing. Paymar, a nine-term DFLer from St. Paul, made another in a series of attempts at Tuesday’s meeting of the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security to impose tighter controls over guns being carried into the Capitol before — as many legislators privately say they fear — someone gets shot. Paymar proposed that guns be banned completely from the Capitol (except for law enforcement officers) and that metal-detectors and security stations be installed to keep guns out. The proposal failed on a tie 2-2 vote of the six-member advisory committee, with one member absent and another — Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, abstaining, she said, because the measure might come before her court some day.

Gun Violence

Stroller-Jammin’ Moms Beat Gun Lobby in Shootout at St. Paul Starbucks

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Starbucks finally woke up and smelled the coffee!

The giant coffee chain announced late Tuesday that it will no longer allow the open carrying of guns in its properties, banning the display of guns — even legally licenses weapons — both inside its restaurants and in outdoor seating areas. Stroller-jammin’ moms in St Paul helped win the fight.

Gun Violence

Capitol Gun Safety Discussion Begins, Ends In Confusion, Disagreement. Is Paymar Out?

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Story for The UpTake by Kathryn Nelson and Nick Coleman

The Minnesota State Patrol does not always verify that gun owners have valid permits to carry handguns before they are added to a list of gun owners allowed to carry weapons inside the Minnesota Capitol and its complex. That surprising admission was made Wednesday at a tense meeting of the advisory committee on Minnesota Capitol Security that exposed a number of areas of confusion in the state’s gun permitting laws and how they are interpreted at the Capitol and its 14-acre complex of associated buildings. Testimony by State Patrol Maj. Bob Meyerson caused a number of startled looks on the six-member task force, which is headed by Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner Solon. Meyerson told the panel that gun owners are required to have a Minnesota Permit to Carry as well as permission from the Commissioner of Public Safety in order to bring their handguns into the State Capitol.

Gun Violence

Rolling Gun Violence Prevention Campaign Hits Minneapolis

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Political figures, faith leaders, community members and prominent survivors of gun violence came together in Minneapolis Wednesday morning to campaign for tighter gun laws, including background checks for all gun sales. The rally was part of “No More Names: The National Drive to Reduce Gun Violence,” a 100-day bus stop campaign that is visiting 25 states.