Tag Archives: BLM

BIPOC, National

Federal civil rights charges leveled against four Louisville cops in Breonna Taylor case

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – MTN After almost two years of radio silence on the Breonna Taylor case, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced four Louisville Metro police officers involved in the fatal 2020 no-knock warrant raid on Taylor’s apartment had been charged with violating her civil rights. The four officers charged were Detective Joshua Jaynes, Detective Kelly Goodlett, Sargent Kyle Meany, and Brett Hankinson.

Attorney General Garland said the Department of Justice alleges that the civil rights violations “resulted in Ms. Taylor’s death.” Late on Friday, detective Goodlett announced through their attorney they would be entering a guilty plea on one count of falsifying an affidavit.

The federal charges allege that members of the Place-Based Investigations unit falsified an affidavit used to obtain the search warrant of Ms. Taylor’s home,” Garland also mentioned that the search warrant was sought after, despite officers knowing they lacked probable cause for the search. The investigation into the conduct of the officers found Jaynes and Goodlett falsely claimed officers verified the target of the warrant had received packages with drugs at Taylor’s address.

Detective Goodlett, who was is a member of the Louisville police unit that investigated drug trafficking, and Meany, who supervised the unit, were charged with falsifying an affidavit. Detective Jaynes procured the warrant used in the search of 26-year-old Taylor’s apartment on March 13, 2020. Jaynes and Goodlett are accused of misleading FBI investigators who were looking into the deadly shooting. Former officer Hankison was charged with using excessive force while executing the search warrant in question in a separate indictment.

According to a statement given by Louisville police, Hankison was terminated from the department in June of 2020, and Jaynes was terminated in January 2021. The department also commented that they were looking to terminate Goodlett and Meany. A Louisville Police spokesperson announced on Thursday, “Today Chief Erika Shields began termination of Sgt. Kyle Meany and Officer Kelly Goodlett. While we must refer all questions about this federal investigation to the FBI, it is critical that any illegal or inappropriate actions by law enforcement be addressed comprehensively in order to continue our efforts to build police-community trust.”

Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump gave a statement after the press conference, saying it has been a difficult two years since Taylor’s death. “Today was a huge step toward justice. We are grateful for the diligence and dedication of the FBI and the DOJ as they investigated what led to Breonna’s murder and what transpired afterward,” said Crump.

During the fatal early morning raid, officers opened fire, killing Taylor after her boyfriend, who believed an intruder was trying to break in, fired a gun at the door. Attorney General Garland reaffirmed that Taylor’s boyfriend had legally obtained the gun. After he fired and struck an officer, two officers proceeded to fire 22 shots into the apartment, one of which was the fatal blow that struck Taylor in the chest.”

The raid was meant to target Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, a convicted drug dealer who was not at the apartment. According to Glover, Taylor had no involvement in the drug trade. Garland clarified that the officers directly involved in the raid were unaware of the falsified statements in the search warrant affidavit.

Garland further clarified that Hankison was the sole officer charged with excessive use of force because after Taylor was shot, he moved from a doorway and fired 10 additional shots into a window and a sliding glass door that was covered with curtains. Hankinson was previously charged with endangering a couple and their 5-year-old son in a neighboring apartment on the night of the raid when. He was found not guilty on all accounts in March.

While Breonna Taylor’s death was a horrible tragedy and a prime example of the gaps in the U.S. law enforcement and justice systems, the officers involved will have to answer for their actions in federal court. “There are still so many families who are fighting and praying for justice and accountability in situations where their loved ones were wrongfully killed by the police.” Crump stated, “We need to stand with them, pray with them, and do whatever is possible for them.”

BIPOC, Breaking News, Local

BREAKING: Two brothers arrested for the September 30 firebombing of Black Coffee Northwest

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[SEATTLE] – Two brothers were arraigned on an indictment today in connection with the September 30, 2020, firebombing of a coffee shop on Aurora Avenue in Shoreline, Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.  Taylor Lemay Rice, 23 and Daniel Lemay Rice 21, pleaded “Not Guilty” and were released on personal appearance bonds.  Trial is set before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on January 3, 2021.

The two men are charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device – in this case four Molotov cocktails.  The destructive devices darkened the sides of the building, but did not extensively damage the structure.  The men were identified as suspects in the early morning firebombing, after extensive work by law enforcement involving review of surveillance video and cell phone records.  Both men have been interviewed by law enforcement and agreed to turn themselves in.

January 14, 2021 coverage of black coffee northwest – security video of September 30 firebombing released

Information in the public record indicates the coffee shop shares the building with Bethany Community Church.  The coffee shop was closed and was scheduled to reopen under new operators.  The signs for the old ownership remained on the building.  Speaking in court at the detention hearing, prosecutors indicated the firebombing may have been motivated by a dispute over one of the brother’s cars being towed from the area around the coffee stand a few months earlier. 

Unlawful possession of a destructive device is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

BIPOC, Local, National

York Statue at Mount Tabor Park in Portland destroyed by vandals

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[PORTLAND] – (MTN) For the third time since March 2021, the bust of York, a slave that accompanied Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery, was severely damaged by vandals overnight. In the most serious damage to the bust to date, York’s bust was knocked off the pedestal and his face smashed in, shattering the installation. No suspects have been identified and no one has claimed responsibility for the destruction.

https://malcontentment.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/York-Statue-Defaced.mp4
Jeannette K Grode, 43 years old, allegedly vandalizes the statue of york at mount tabor park in portland, oregon

Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery traveled from St. Louis, Missouri, to modern-day Fort Clatsop, south of Astoria, Oregon. Among them was a slave by the name of York, who William Clark owned. York became the first African to cross North America and reach the Pacific Coast in known history.

Upon their return, York is said to have asked for his freedom which Clark denied. The historical record of what happened to York after the Corps of Discovery is unclear. Still, many believe he was either sold to a new slaveholder or was granted by Clark to move to Kentucky to be closer to his wife. It is believed he died of cholera.

The monument didn’t always have a bust of York. In 1933 a statue of Harvey W. Scott, the editor-in-chief of The Oregonian and later a principal shareholder, was erected at the summit of Mount Tabor. Scott was venerated after his untimely death in 1910. However, his legacy was already being called into question when his statue was erected 23 years later.

Scott fought in a volunteer militia in the Oregon Territory from 1855 to 1856 against the Nisqually, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, and Klickitat first nations. He supported the Union and the new Republican Party editorially during the Civil War while being an outspoken critic of women’s suffrage and public education. On October 20, 2020, his statue was toppled, and in February 2021, replaced by a bust of York by unknown parties.

There are no known drawings or artwork of York, so the bust on Mount Tabor is a representation. The statue was previously vandalized in March 2021, less than a month after its installation. There were no arrests made in that incident.

Jeannette K Grode, 43 years old, vandalized the statue on June 8 while taunting witnesses. She covered the Mount Tabor Park monument in purple spraypaint while telling people to have her arrested and claiming she was racist.

The Portland Police Bureau reported on June 10 that Grode now faces four criminal charges. Criminal Mischief II is the most serious charge, a Class A Misdemeanor that carries up to a year in jail and a $6,250 fine. She was also charged with Abuse of Venerated Objects, Unlawful Applying of Graffiti, and Vandalism of Protected Park Property and Vegetation. She was issued citations instead of arrest due to ongoing COVID restrictions limiting bookings.

BIPOC, LGBTQIA, Local

Racist incident at Edmonds Bar spills over into social media storm

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[EDMONDS, Wash] – (MTN) A racist incident caught on camera at an Edmonds, Washington bar on Saturday has created a social media firestorm, catching an innocent business owner in its net. Karlos Dillard, is an author, activist, and foster care advocate who moved to Seattle in 2015 according to his online bio. On Saturday he was eating at Engel’s Pub in Edmonds at their outdoor dining area when another customer accosted him asking, “are you going to pay for your drinks because you can’t get them for free,” according to Dillard. Dillard’s husband was inside at the time picking up their food, and a credit card had been left with the bartender.

In a second video, viewed over 1.2 million times, Dillard is apparently talking to an employee of Engels, which is surprised and empathetic over what happened. According to the person who is not in the video, they discuss how leaving a credit card at the bar wasn’t a requirement.

Internet sleuths thought they had identified the man who started the incident as Dean Worthy, of Seattle, Washington. They were wrong, and now Worthy, along with his business Dean’s Home Repair is caught in the crossfire. “I’ve received over 250 phone calls this morning,” Worthy said. “I’ve been getting death threats, and they are leaving terrible reviews about my business that I worked so hard to build.”

Worthy has a passing resemblance to the man in the video, but that’s where the similarities end. Worthy and his girlfriend were nowhere near Edmonds on Saturday, as he spoke from a car show in Everett this morning. “I have over 200 one-star Yelp reviews, and I want everyone to know I’m not the man in the video.”

Dillard reported in a third video along with comments on the Internet that the staff of Engel’s Pub was supportive and not involved in the incident. As for Dillard’s calm demeanor, many commenters stated they would have taken stronger action in the situation. “I have a lot to lose,” said Dillard. “My career is just taking off. I’m young, I’m cute, I’m sexy, and I have a lot to live for. Hit a white man in a predominately white city and see what happens to you. You have to respond like me, or you don’t have a life.”

BIPOC, Breaking News, Local

BREAKING: Man charged with felony hate crime for death threats against BIPOC students at Marysville Pilchuck High School

[EVERETT, Wash] – (MTN) Snohomish County Prosecutors have charged Benjamin Richey, 20, of Lake Stevens, Washington with a felony hate crime for posting an apparent handgun in a Snapchat post with the caption, “killing minorities soon.” In a report in the Everett Herald, the former Marysville Pilchuck High School student is no stranger to the police. Charging documents indicate he has been investigated previously for hiring racial slurs at People of Color. Richey is the adult child of a Marysville Police Officer at the time of the January 28, 2021 incident.

On December 14, 2020, in an Associated Student Body Junior Leadership virtual meeting, things took an ugly turn for Marysville Pilchuck High School students. Two students during a Zoom meeting stated, “let’s kill all Black people,” and then went on to identify several Black students by name in the call.

A criminal investigation followed, and Marysville police interviewed two impacted Black families. According to police and a press release from the NAACP, one family stated they did not want to pursue charges. The two students that made the statements received suspensions from school and were transferred to a different facility.

On January 28, 2021, a different student came forward and provided images of Snapchat conversations. In one of the screenshots, one of the students involved in the December incident was brandishing a handgun with the caption, “killing minorities soon.” The student who reported this went on to state this wasn’t the first time this type of comment was made.

During the investigation, Richey told the police it was a joke. Students, faculty, and civic leaders didn’t interpret the incident that way, and the phone that was used was the same one involved in the December 14, 2020 incident.

Marysville Pilchuck High School was the site of a 2014 shooting that left five dead, including the perpetrator. Prosecutors argue in charging documents that, given this history, it was reasonable to fear harm from the social media threat.

On March 27, impacted families, the Snohomish County NAACP, and civic leaders called upon the Marysville School District and Snohomish County Prosecutors to take action against the threats.

OUR COVERAGE AND FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR. JANICE GREENE OF THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY NAACP

Richey will be appearing in court on a summons for arraignment on August 5. He is not allowed to possess or has access to firearms, he cannot contact Marysville Pilchuck High School, or violate any other laws as a condition of his release.

BIPOC, LGBTQIA, Local

One year later, a community waits for justice for Summer Taylor

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[SEATTLE, Wash] – (MTN) A year after Dawit Kelete, 28-years old, allegedly killed Summer Taylor with his vehicle, the community gathered to remember their legacy and wonder when there will be justice. Approximately 75 people gathered on July 4 to honor and remember Taylor, including former protest organizers and those on the freeway the night of the tragedy.

“Summer was the absolute life of the party,” said Marilyn Manslam as she reflected on the events from last year, “Summer was a magnetic personality.” That evening, a high point was the group dancing together in the northbound lanes before moving to leave the highway for the night. “Getting to dance with Summer that night was one of the best exchanges of my life,” said Manslam through a quivering voice.

“I personally will never have the words to say how much Summer Taylor impacted my life.”

Protesters had been marching on to Interstate 5 for 18 days in a row when July 3, 2020, had arrived. The Washington State Patrol, in coordination with the Washington Department of Transportation (WDoT), would shut down a stretch of I-5 and the Express Lanes between SH-520 and I-90, along with other access ramps. Protesters used spotters on bicycles and vehicles to form a blockade to protect the group further.

The Black Femme March group left Capitol Hill and moved onto the freeway as part of anti-police brutality protests in Seatle. The nighttime protests combined with COVID closures occurred during low traffic periods, making the closures more symbolic versus creating major traffic issues in the city. The highway was closed as in previous nights. As the group moved into the southbound lanes, horror was forming north of them.

Dawit Kelete is alleged to have entered I-5 driving the wrong way up the Olive Street off-ramp, avoiding the police and WDoT roadblocks. He then turned southbound on I-5 and started going at highway speed toward the group despite the closure.

Omari Salisbury of Converge Media spoke to the group that had gathered to remember Taylor a year later. “Seattle is maybe the only place in America that you can say you can see a straight line to people being in the streets to actual change,” Salisbury reflected. “That’s part and parcel to these young people who came out and made their voices heard, and in some cases, lost their lives.”

“People were so impacted by this crime against humanity, against George Floyd, to get into the streets. It went from the streets to city hall, to county, and down to Olympia, where Governor Inslee signed 13 bills for police and police accountability.”

In the weeks and months since Taylor’s death, four police officers in Washington state have been charged with second-degree murder or first-degree assault in two separate incidents. From the establishment of Juneteenth as a holiday to mandatory reporting of police misconduct laws passed by the legislature, Washington state had more police reform measures than another state in the country. Before Jeff Nelson, a city of Auburn police officer accused of murdering Jesse Sarey in the line of duty, no officer had been charged in Washington for 30 years. Further, no officer in Washington state history has ever been convicted of killing a suspect in the line of duty.

Kelete approached two blocking vehicles that were positioned to prevent cars from moving past the travel lanes. Shocking video from a traffic camera shows he never slowed down, veered into the median, then veered again into a travel lane aiming at fleeing protesters. As they ran to the gore, he swerved at them, sending two into the air. Chaos erupted, and one of the block vehicles drove off to search for Kelete.

Kelete stopped about 3/4 miles away on I-5 and was initially confronted by a small group of protesters who blocked his vehicle from driving further. A short time later, the Washington State Patrol took him into custody.

Also hit that day was Diaz Love, who uses they/them pronouns. Both were rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. Taylor died from their injuries 16 hours later, and Love would spend almost a year in recovery.

Love’s physical injuries were massive, but they also experienced a severe closed head injury amplified by PTSD and survivor’s guilt, per their social media posts which provided an intimate and public window into their recovery. Love ultimately relocated to Portland, where they continue to recover and have regained much of their autonomy despite impossible odds.

Speaking at Taylor’s memorial, TK, a high-profile and charismatic organizer, said, “Life is always going to knock you down. But when life knocks you down, are you going to get up again? Because you can get back up and keep going.”

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SUMMER TAYLOR A YEAR AFTER THEIR DEATH – video by renee raketty

Balloons, flowers, signs, and candles punctuated the memories of Taylor, from a group that went from laughter to tears and back to laughter as the moments passed.

Kelete was charged on July 8, 2020, and arraigned on July 22. His bail was initially set at $1.2 million for vehicular homicide and reckless driving. Kelete alleged he was impaired at the time of his arrest, but he passed a field sobriety test and a blood draw did not indicate he was under the influence. Despite not making bail, Kelete was released on December 31, 2020, with adjusted requirements of a $100,000 bond. Love, the surviving victim of the attack, claims prosecutors never notified them of Kelete’s pending release.

A trial date has not been scheduled.

Taylor, a Seattle native, would have been 25. Friends and family remembered them for being committed to racial justice, the LGBTQIA+ community, and a lover of animals who worked as a veterinarian assistant for Urban Animal in Seattle.

TK’s words were met with applause on Monday when she said, “We can hurt and do nothing, or we can heal, and do a Hell of a lot more. We are the cornerstone of change.”

“Let’s keep going.”

Renee Raketty contributed to this story.

BIPOC, Local, National

Amazon union-buster calls Black organizers “thugs” at NYC Distribution Center

[NEW YORK] – (MTN) The same union-busters who prevented a worker’s union at an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama, are now helping the company in Staten Island, New York. JFK8, New York City’s only Amazon fulfillment center, has a concerning workplace culture, according to several employees.

Amazon’s JFK8 employs consultants to prevent employee activism, but it’s one symptom of a system designed to increase productivity and one that mistreats women and employees of color, according to four current and former employees. Malcontent News also obtained two federal complaints filed against Amazon with the National Labor Relations Board regarding illegal union-busting techniques and harassment—complaints filed while some workers can’t afford rent and sleep in their cars.

According to a Truthout report, Amazon pays multiple union-busting companies like the Burke Group thousands of dollars to prevent organizing. Natalie Monarrez, an Amazon employee of three years, says on May 4 she spoke with Bradley Moss, President of the Eastern Division of the Burke Group. Moss is the same union-busting consultant who worked at the Bessemer location.

“He said the organizers [at Bessemer] were just Black Lives Matter protesters,” Monarrez said. “Then he shifted over to, ‘These guys in front [of JKF8 are] never gonna get off the ground. They’re just a bunch of thugs.’ I knew exactly what he meant.”

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”55″ gal_title=”Amazon Anti-Union”]

Monarrez says Moss was referring to union organizers outside JKF8 who pass out literature, connect with workers and host barbecues—and who are Black. It’s not the first time Amazon was racist; Vice reported in 2020 that during one executive meeting CEO Jeff Bezos attended, a company exec called organizer Chris Smalls, who is Black, “not smart or articulate.”

Hiring union-busters aren’t the only way Amazon prevents unionization. Employee and organizer Derrick Palmer recently filed a complaint with the NLRB after an incident on June 12. An Amazon manager took union literature and papers Palmer left on the break room table for other employees. Palmer says the manager wouldn’t reveal who told him to confiscate the material and says complaints have been filed previously for the same thing. After recovering his property, another manager tried to take similar literature from worker organizer Connor Spence.

Amazon has also put up anti-union signs in the bathrooms, according to Palmer, and Malcontent News obtained photos of anti-union digital signs inside the building with messages like, “Be careful who you trust.” Although there has never been an Amazon Labor Union, or ALU, at JKF8, the signs say the ALU has a “history of financial trouble.” This is in addition to a fence Amazon built around JKF8, which according to the Commercial Observer is designed to make organizing harder. Palmer filed charges with the NLRB because of the fence on May 11.

amazon anti-union ads ran on the amazon twitch platform in 2021

Employees say the internal culture is racist, too. Palmer says he believes being Black is part of the reason he hasn’t been promoted. After showing managers he had achieved enough “Matrix points,” a sort of internal tallying system of leadership and experience, management denied him an interview for promotion even though he had exceeded the requirements. Additionally, the New York Times reports that while many hourly workers are people of color, management is overwhelmingly white. Spence agrees, saying many managers are white men hired “fresh out of college.”

The company culture and union-busting do nothing to help employees who are struggling, Monarrez says. Monarrez, who also filed an NLRB report after a now-terminated manager physically prevented her from using the bathroom, says she and nearly 100 other JKF8 employees are homeless and sleep in their cars in the parking lot after work. Monarrez has been homeless for three years. She lost her job after the 2008 recession and had a difficult time finding work, so she moved to New York City and began working for Amazon in 2017.

Monarrez lives on just more than $19 an hour, but in New York City rent can be more than $2,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, which she can’t afford it. She says she’s gotten a gym membership so she can take a shower. However, it’s not easy to work 10-hour shifts handling around 1,800 packages per hour and not be able to afford basic necessities. 

“I wish people knew the truth,” Monarrez says. “It’s really bad, and we need help.”

Smalls, Palmer, Spence, and other labor organizers at JFK8 are doing their best to help. Every employee Malcontent News spoke to knew about each other’s struggles and had established relationships. Smalls says the barbecues he hosts outside the building help workers come together.

Because JKF8 has about 5,600 employees, Spence says they need about 1,700 signatures to vote on creating a union. They’re making steady progress, and Spence says they may hit their goals and push for a vote this year. But if it takes longer, they’re willing to put in the work.

In Bessemer, union efforts failed after 738 voted for, and 1,798 voted against a union. However, Amazon installed a mailbox there, and some reports say it’s possible Amazon tampered with votes. In addition to union-busting tactics, JKF8 has a turnover rate of about 150 percent. Spence says this means that in a building of 6,000 people, they may hire and fire as many as 9,000 employees in a year, making it difficult to unionize.

amazon’s union busting training video – full version – from 2019

“It’s not the only reason they do it, but trying to prevent labor organizing is one of the components of that business model,” Spence says. “High turnover prevents labor organizing.”

Still, there are ways the public can help. Smalls says locals are welcome to come and volunteer and that anyone can donate.

“We are self-funded,” Smalls says. “Donate whatever you can on amazonlaborunion.org. Help us amplify anything online. If they can volunteer, they can come on down.”

BIPOC, National

Police warrant for Nicholas Kraus’ blood draw provides some insight into his state of mind

[MINNEAPOLIS] – (MTN) Police statements within a warrant submitted to secure a toxicology report for Nicholas Kraus in the moments after he crashed through a vigil for Winston Smith in Minneapolis, Minnesota, provides insight into his state of mind, but doesn’t answer questions about his motivations.

According to the warrant, Kraus admitted to driving through the group holding a vigil. He refused to provide his name, stating he was Tim Burton, the movie producer, and Jesus Christ. Police noted that Kraus’ pupils were “pinpoints” and non-reactive. Officers were unable to provide a field sobriety test on the scene due to injuries Kraus sustained in the accident.

In the same warrant, it is reported a traffic camera caught the incident and that the brake lights never turned on as Kraus tore through the group. The video has not been released to the public.

Kraus is a convicted felon with a criminal record spanning 17 years and 18 criminal cases. He has five convictions for DUI, including twice in 2007, once in 2009, 2012, and 2016. He had a 2013 DUI dismissed in a plea deal. He was also convicted of fifth-degree assault in 2004, falsely reporting a crime in 2006, and obstruction of justice in 2015. In the 2015 case, he was accused of attempting to smother his girlfriend and trying to throw her over the top railing of a balcony. Those charges were later dropped in a plea deal. The woman involved is the mother of his two children.

Kraus was arrested and convicted in 2020 for giving a false name to the police. In that case, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail and got time served for 43 of those days. That arrest and conviction caused a violation of his 2016 parole conditions and triggered a warrant for his arrest.

Deona Marie Erickson was killed in the incident that left 3 others injured. Video of the incident show Erickson flying through the air. Volunteer medics who were there to support the ongoing vigil for Winston Smith provided lifesaving care and were able to get a pulse back, however Erickson was declared dead shortly after arriving at an area hospital.

Kraus remains in custody without bail while prosecutors mull additional charges. A number of states have passed Republican-led initiatives providing drivers with legal justification to drive through protesters. Minnesota does not have any such law passed.

BIPOC, National

Mural of Breonna Taylor vandalized in Louisville, Kentucky 10 days after public reveal

[LOUISIVILLE] – (MTN) A $2500 reward is being offered for the arrest and conviction of two individuals who were caught on a security camera vandalizing a mural of Breonna Taylor, less than a week after it was revealed. The mural located in Lannan Park in Louisville, Kentucky, was revealed to the public ten days ago.

The mural, painted on a recently renovated basketball court, featured Taylor and an urbanized version of the iconic “coexist” graphic. The project to create the mural was greenlighted by the city in August 2020, and involved local and national artists. Taylor’s mom, Tamika Palmer, was at the unveiling on June 4, and in an emotional statement said, “I’m happy…to have so many people, good people around to honor and support it.”

https://malcontentment.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Reward-offered-in-vandalism-of-Breonna-Taylor-mural-at-Louisvilles-Lannan-Park.mp4
BREONNA TAYLOR MURAL VANDALIZED DURING THE EARLY MORNING OF JUNE 15,2021

The surveillance video shows two individuals arriving on a small motorbike or scooter driving onto the court.

Palmer released a statement that said in part, “It’s very disappointing and heartbreaking that other people of the community would go to this length to say a black woman’s life didn’t matter, a woman who still deserves justice today.”

On March 13, 2020, Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville Metro police officers service a search warrant on her apartment. A lengthy investigation found that the warrant was issued under false allegations, the police did not follow proper procedures, and the person they were targeting for arrest was not only not in Taylor’s apartment, but was already in custody. Members of a grand jury commissioned by the state of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron claim they were never instructed to consider criminal charges directly related to Taylor’s death.

Breonna Taylor of Louisville, and George Floyd of Minneapolis, became eponymous within the Black Lives Matter movement that was reinvigorated after both their deaths.

BIPOC, National

Driver who killed 1, wounded 3, in Minneapolis car attack identified as Nicholas Kraus

[MINNEAPOLIS] – (MTN) Nicholas Kraus, 35, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was being held without bail for investigation of vehicular homicide after driving his car at a high rate of speed through a protest gathering and striking at least 3 additional people. More questions than answers exist less than a day later as Kraus had a warrant out for his arrest and had his driver’s license suspended for being “a hazard to public safety.”

During the evening of June 13, protesters had gathered to honor Winston Smith, 32, who was killed by U.S. Marshalls attempting to serve a warrant. The shooting death of Smith has enraged the community, with witnesses stating Winston was unarmed and no bodycam video taken during the arrest attempt.

Cars were used to create a barrier between traffic and the protesters. Kraus is accused of driving at a high rate of speed and accelerating into the crowd driving an SUV. Kraus was estimated to be driving 70 to 80 MPH as he tore through the group playing a game of red light, green light.

He drove through one barrier before striking a vehicle in the car barricade. The vehicle was hit so hard that it was thrown into bystanders, throwing Deona Marie Erickson through the air and striking at least 3 more people, including an independent journalist who suffered a broken leg. Volunteer medics started CPR on Erickson immediately and were able to get a pulse back, but she was declared dead upon her arrival at an area hospital. Kraus’ SUV came to rest against a pole, and he attempted to flee the scene but was detained by protesters.

Kraus is a convicted felon with a criminal record spanning 17 years and 18 criminal cases. He has five convictions for DUI, including twice in 2007, once in 2009, 2012, and 2016. He had a 2013 DUI dismissed in a plea deal. He was also convicted of fifth-degree assault in 2004, falsely reporting a crime in 2006, and obstruction of justice in 2015. In the 2015 case, he was accused of attempting to smother his girlfriend and trying to throw her over the top railing of a balcony. Those charges were later dropped in a plea deal. The woman involved is the mother of his two children.

Kraus was arrested and convicted in 2020 for giving a false name to the police. In that case, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail and got time served for 43 of those days. That arrest and conviction caused a violation of his 2016 parole conditions and triggered a warrant for his arrest.

Kraus’ social media footprint is mostly innocuous, with many public posts from 2017 to 2018. In his posts, he frequently expressed that he was a victim of other people holding him back and not forgiving him for his mistakes.

Although he did not express any political ideology in his posting, he wrote Greg Laurie was his favorite pastor. Pastor Laurie formed Harvest Christian Fellowship, the eighth largest megachurch in the United States. He serves on the board of directors of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, headed by Franklin Graham, an outspoken champion of Donald Trump and critic of Black Lives Matter. Laurie also served as one of the pastors for Donald Trumps’ 2017 inauguration.

Facebook post of Nicholas Kraus expressing his admiration for megachurch pastor Greg Laurie

However, Laurie has spoken out against historic racism in the Christian religion and aligned his megachurch with the Southern Baptist Church in 2017. In July 2020, he said, “Our country is in turmoil right now because of the tragic killing — and I would classify it as a murder — of George Floyd. This man had a knee of a police officer on his neck. He wasn’t able to breathe. He said repeatedly, “I can’t breathe,” and even called out, “Mama,” which is just so heartbreaking to watch this. It’s really opened up an important national conversation, and also there’s a lot of conflict on our streets right now. I want you to know, I can only speak for myself and maybe my family, but we’re listening. We’re wanting to understand. We’re wanting to learn. We don’t know what it’s like to walk in the shoes of an African American person.”

Untrue rumors were swirling on social media that Deona Marie Erickson is Kraus’ children’s mother. According to family members, Erickson had no relationship or contact with Kraus in the past.

Many posts on Nicholas Kraus’ Facebook page expressed he felt like a victim of other people holding him back.

Kraus is being held in Hennepin County Jail, awaiting a bond hearing and arraignment. Authorities had not stated a motivation if Kraus was impaired when he was arrested or indicated if this is being investigated as a hate crime. Hennepin County has been a national flashpoint since 2016 when officer Jeronimo Yanez shot and killed Philando Castile. Yanez was acquitted for wrongdoing after a criminal trial and 5 days of deliberations.

George Floyd was murdered by Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020, in an incident recorded and shared on social media. Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder and two other charges and will be sentenced on June 25, 2021. On April 11, 2021, 26-year police veteran and training officer Kim Potter shot and killed Daunte Wright, 20, during a routine traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Potter claims she mistakenly grabbed her service-issued firearm instead of a Taser. Potter was arraigned on second-degree manslaughter charges in the same courthouse conducting the Derek Chauvin trial.

The June 4, 2021, shooting of Winston Smith has exacerbated the tense situation in Minneapolis, further divided the public trust from law enforcement. Both Anoka and Hennepin County Sheriff’s have stated their departments will no longer participate in federal raids due to the lack of transparency in the death of Smith.

The national discord on using vehicles to commit violence has sunk to new lows since 32-year old Heather Heyer was murdered in 2017 by 20-year-old James Alex Fields. Fields drove his Dodge Challenger through an anti-white supremacy counter-protester in Charlottesville, Virginia. Since May of 2020, dozens of car attacks were recorded across the nation. In Seattle, Summer Taylor died and Diaz Love was gravely injured on July 4, 2020, in a car attack on a closed interstate. Dawit Kelete was stopped by protesters in that incident and is still awaiting trial.

In a September 2020 USA Today story, researchers indicated there had been 104 documented car attacks at Black Lives Matter protests, including 8 involving police officers. Of the 104 incidents recorded, charges were filed against 39 drivers. Several of those cases have already gone to trial with a range of findings.

A number of states have passed Republican-led initiatives providing drivers with legal justification to drive through protesters. Minnesota does not have any such law passed.