Garland Decries Racism, Excessive Force On Minneapolis Police Force, Cites Key Case Without Noting Victim Was White

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday discussed the results of the DOJ’s investigation into alleged racism and excessive force by the Minneapolis Police Department in the years leading up to George Floyd’s death but cited the killing of a white woman by a minority officer without mentioning their races.

In April 2021, in the wake of the murder conviction of Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of Floyd, Garland announced he was launching an investigation into “potentially systemic” problems inside the department.

“We found that MPD unlawfully discriminates against black and Native America people in its enforcement activities,” Garland said. “Such conduct is deeply disturbing and it erodes the community’s trust in law enforcement.”