Protesters call for resignation of Minneapolis Police Union boss Bob Kroll

Protesters took to the street Friday as calls for the resignation of the head of the Minneapolis Police Union grow.

Lt. Bob Kroll has been accused by protesters and community leaders of fostering a toxic culture within the Minneapolis Police Department.

"Nothing that has he has ever done, or said, has ever been positive towards my community- people who look like me," said Cosandra Lloyd, of St. Paul. "When George Floyd called out for his mother, he called out for me and I’m here to support the cause that enough is enough."

She joined the crowd to call for systemic change. Lloyd has a black son.

"That’s been the biggest fear of my life, for his whole 29 years, that every time he left the house I prayed that he returned home safely and not be a victim of any of our police departments," she said. "What have we done to deserve this type of inhumane treatment from the police other than show up and be black?"

Thousands of people stretched in every direction from the Minneapolis Police Federation building. Several community leaders spoke to the crowd.

"I am so hopeful as I look around this crowd," said Marques Armstrong. "You don’t fight hate with hate, you fight with love […] I want you to feel the anger you feel inside of yourselves. Don’t just let it pass you by because that’s our fuel ya’ll and when we tap into our love, and channel that energy into love, we will change the world."

Members of AFSCME also demanded Lt. Krolls resignation, saying "a union contract is about lifting people up it is not covering up racism and brutality."

In previous weeks, labor organizations joined the call to oust Kroll, including the Minnesota AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 5, SEIU Minnesota and the Minnesota Nurses Association among others.

Major unions in Minnesota call for Lt. Bob Kroll to resign as president of police union

“Bob is the president and what I believe is he really perpetuates a culture of violence towards people of our community, members of the black community and really all people of color,” said Bill McCarthy, president of Minnesota AFL-CIO, which represents thousands of workers across the state. “He’s setting the tone, he’s setting this culture of violence against his citizenry among the ranks and so he needs to go.”

Kroll has been reelected as president several times. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has been told he will be up for reelection in 2021 or 2022.

He did not respond to our requests for comment on Friday.

This week, however, the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation released a statement through an attorney.

It reads, in part, "…Now, the Federation acknowledges that, as a result of the senseless death of Mr. Floyd, the public rightfully expects that talk is not enough and changes must actually be made. Change needs to be made for many reasons but primarily to prevent another horrific event such as this or even less egregious types of misconduct. However, the law and common sense both require that these changes result from a collaborative effort between the Administration and the Federation. As it always has, the Federation remains ready, willing and able to do this difficult work. We are concerned that today the Police Chief and Mayor may have been saying that they are not…"

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to Mayor Jacob Frey for his response.

Frey said, “Bob Kroll’s resignation from the department alone wouldn’t heal the divide between our community and our police department. However, if he tendered his resignation, the City would certainly accept it.”

The Minneapolis Police Department is not commenting.

A petition also circulated at the protest, calling for Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to be recalled. Those organizing the petition told us they are working to collect more than 126,000 signatures from Hennepin County residents.

"It’s an extreme step when it comes to electoral politics but these are extreme times," said Anthony Hernandez, with the Recall Mike Freeman movement. "It’s clear the community doesn’t trust Mike Freeman any more and we can’t have him in power for two and a half more years."

The small crowd that gathered outside of the Hennepin County Government Center on Friday evening criticized Freeman’s handling of the Jamar Clark case and prosecution of former police officer Mohamed Noor.

"Mike Freeman has been the gatekeeper for some of the most corrupt police behavior in the state of Minnesota," said Alana Ramadan, with Witnesses for Justice. "He is one of the biggest threats to justice in the state of Minnesota. If we don’t take swift action to have Mike Freeman removed from this case immediately, and investigated for corruption, may God save us form the consequences of our failure to act."

Freeman’s office declined to comment on Friday.