Legal Commentary

Rep. McCollum to Examine Police Misconduct in St. Paul

By TChris

Rep. Betty McCollum says "she played a pivotal role in securing some $50 million for the Twin Cities to help defray the cost of the [Republican National Convention]." She deserves credit for her willingness to ask whether that money financed police security that was needlessly militaristic.

“Betty is the first public official we’ve met with since this crackdown began who has actually listened,” said Gena Berglund, an attorney who has been active in the Lawyers Guild’s efforts to protect the First Amendment rights of RNC protestors. Berglund said the NLG’s request to meet with Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, who has been at the center of controversy over alleged police misconduct, or members of his staff was “turned down flat.” The NLG was able to meet this week with a staff person in St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman’s office, but said Berglund, “That meeting went nowhere. They are not interested in listening to us.”

“At this point, what we should be demanding is that there be an investigation at every level – state, city, country, and federal – into what has happened this past week. It has been a legal outrage and we, as citizens and taxpayers, have the right to hold all officials responsible for law enforcement at the RNC accountable for their actions,” Berglund said.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 07, 2008 (boomark / email).