On the morning of February 2, Amir Locke peacefully slept while wrapped in a blanket on a couch, completely unaware that Minneapolis police officers quietly stood outside his door. While serving a “no-knock” search warrant, one officer quietly slid a key into the apartment’s lock. After gently opening the door, the officers rapidly stormed into the apartment, yelling with guns drawn, creating a volatile and dangerous situation. Based on an officer’s body camera footage, Locke was clearly disoriented as he tried to wake up with the strange men threatening him. Within the first chaotic nine seconds of entering the room, Officer Mark Hanneman shot and killed Locke before he could stand up.

More than a week has passed since that horrific morning. Yet none of those officers have been disciplined. Nor has Mayor Jacob Frey instituted a total and permanent ban on “no-knock” search warrants. (Frey’s office has instituted a moratorium on these warrants, but it is only temporary and it still allows the Minneapolis Police Department wide discretion in using them.)

We need to pressure the mayor and city council members to demand justice for Amir Locke. AREA has created letter templates that you may use to urge your city representatives to act today. They are below. Please feel free to copy, paste, and edit them however you wish.

As we consult with other groups across the city, more actions should be forthcoming.

Thank you for your participation!

Sample Letter to Mayor Frey:

Mayor Frey’s email: Jacob.Frey@minneapolismn.gov

Dear Mayor Frey,

I am one of your constituents in the _________ neighborhood, and I am outraged over the murder of Amir Locke. You must take immediate action in order to bring justice to Locke and his family.

I need you to:

1. Demand that Officer Mark Hanneman and all other officers involved in Locke’s murder are fired from the police force.
2. Call for charges to be pressed against Officer Mark Hanneman and all other officers involved in Locke’s murder.
3. Institute a permanent ban on all “no-knock” police search warrants. All loopholes need to be closed. A total and permanent ban needs to be in place today.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

__________

Sample Letter to City Councilmembers:

(Armatage’s councilperson is Linea Palmisano, at Linea.Palmisano@minneapolismn.gov. If you live outside of Ward 13, you may look up your councilmember here.)

Dear Councilmember ____________,

I am one of your constituents in the _________ neighborhood, and I am outraged over the murder of Amir Locke. You must take immediate action in order to bring justice to Locke and his family.

I need you to:

1. Publicly call for the immediate firing of Officer Mark Hanneman and all other officers involved in Locke’s murder.
2. Call for charges to be pressed against Officer Mark Hanneman and all other officers involved in Locke’s murder.
3. Demand that Mayor Frey’s office and the Minneapolis Police Department institute a permanent ban on all “no-knock” police warrants. All loopholes need to be closed. A total and permanent ban needs to be in place today.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

__________