A few quick thoughts on the events leading up to the fatal shooting of #DaunteWright. We are now almost 7 years removed from Ferguson. The @CivilRights found FPD played a huge role in collecting revenue for the municipality. The full report is here: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachments/2015/03/04/ferguson_police_department_report.pdf

Pay close attention to the section on municipal court practices. Some state legislatures have taken steps to minimize the role of police as revenue collectors/how excessive fines contribute to the problem. @Arnold_Ventures has funded research https://www.arnoldventures.org/work/fines-and-fees/

Of course police departments and their officers need to be held accountable for their actions. The negligence of Kim Potter mistaking her firearm for her TASER will surely get attention. BUT lets also hold mayors, city managers/councils, and municipal courts accountable...

There is no excuse to for towns/cities who have maintained practices of municipal courts and their excessive fines/fees with the attention that Ferguson generated... almost 7 years ago. Not to mentioned violations of expired registration in the context of a global pandemic.

Ultimately, the resistance on the part of Mr. Wright and error in judgment of Off. Potter are why we're talking about this incident. But let's not forget about the SYSTEM(S) that made this encounter possible: the US Supreme Court allowing pretext stops - giving officers almost...

unfettered access to perform investigatory stops of vehicles, municipal court practices and the use of fines/fees - with officers still playing the role of revenue collectors. Please don't just pay attention to the immediate actors. We need to look at the broader systems at work.