ST. PAUL, Minn. – A coalition of media groups says restrictions on access to the federal civil rights trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged in George Floyd’s death amount to an unconstitutional closing of the courtroom. Citing the risks of the pandemic, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson has restricted the number of people who may be in his…
MINNEAPOLIS – Three former Minneapolis police officers charged with federal civil rights violations in George Floyd’s death will go on trial Jan. 20. The trial date was given Thursday in a docket filing, with proceedings to be held in St. Paul. Court records in November showed that juror summonses had gone out for that date, but the new filing was…
Derek ChauvinST. PAUL, Minn. – Federal prosecutors are recommending a sentence of up to 25 years in prison for Derek Chauvin, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal civil rights charges in the death of George Floyd. The former Minneapolis police officer’s plea means he will not face a federal trial in January. Chauvin was convicted this spring of state murder…
MINNEAPOLIS – A former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in George Floyd’s death has pleaded not guilty to violating a teenager’s civil rights in a separate case that involved a restraint similar to the one used on Floyd. Derek Chauvin was convicted this year on state charges of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s 2020 death. He’s also charged in…
MINNEAPOLIS – Four former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights have pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against them. A federal grand jury indicted Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao in May for allegedly depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority. Tuesday’s hearing was held remotely via videoconference. Chauvin appeared…
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The Minnesota trial for three ex-Minneapolis police officers charged in the death of George Floyd is going to be delayed until next year. That step has been taken so the former officers can face federal civil rights charges in court first. Those federal charges offer the potential for stronger sentences, including the possibility of life in prison….
BISMARCK, N.D. – A federal judge has thrown out the lawsuit of an Arizona man who claimed North Dakota law enforcement officers injured him and violated his civil rights during the Dakota Access pipeline protests. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled that 24-year-old Marcus Mitchell placed himself where he knew less-than-lethal weapons were being used and failed to show that…
MOORHEAD, Minn.–The Moorhead Human Rights Commission will be holding a Civil Rights discussion on Wednesday. The discussion is open to the public and will be followed by a series of community conversations on July 1. The Moorhead Human Rights Commission says the discussion is in response to “rising incidences of hate speech, hate violence, and social inequities.” The discussion and…
FARGO, N.D. — Step onto the third floor of the Plains Art Museum, and you’ll see paintings, photographs, films and letters blanketing the walls. The images created and words written are intentional. Their goal is to bring about change within the local community. “The issues that these artists are talking about in their works are issues that impact every single…
MOORHEAD, Minn. — An exhibit celebrating the struggle for racial equality ends its run on MSUM’s campus. The Songs of Resistance and Civil Rights exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. The exhibit includes pictures of songs vital to the fight for civil rights and scanable codes for visitors to play on their smartphones. Faculty in…
