CAIR-MN, police accountability groups call for firing of Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll

Tommy Wiita

[KSTP]

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) joins a coalition of local and national civil rights, racial justice and police accountability organizations for a press conference to demand the firing of Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll on Friday.

The groups are expected to deliver more than 250,000 petition signatures calling on Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minneapolis City Council members and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo to denounce Kroll and push for his removal.

Organizations represented at the press conference include CAIR-MN, Communities United Against Police Brutality, Minnesota Disability Justice Network, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Racial Justice Network, Movement Support Network, Insure the Police, Color Of Change and Police Unions Exposed. The petition signatures were collected by Color Of Change and by Police Unions Exposed.

"We call for the firing of Bob Kroll, a man who has repeatedly supported killer cops. He must recognize and be held accountable for his unjust and immensely harmful actions. The first step toward change within the Minneapolis Police Department starts with firing Kroll," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein, in a statement Friday.

Later Friday, Minneapolis Mayor Frey’s spokesperson issued the following statement:

"Today’s event underscores the extent to which Bob Kroll has exacerbated both the pain in our city and mistrust of the department. The mayor continues to believe that Bob Kroll has a negative impact on police-community relations in our city."

Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll on Chief Arradondo: ‘step up,’ or ‘step aside’