Community activists call for Washington County attorney to step down, Walz select special prosecutor

Friday, the Minnesota division of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) joined community organizers in requesting Washington County Attorney Pete Orput step down and Gov. Tim Walz select a special prosecutor to handle the case of a former officer charged in connection with the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center.

CAIR-MN—along with Communities United Against Police Brutality, Racial Justice Network, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice for Jamal, Minnesota Justice Coalition, and others—are pushing for elevated charges against former Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter, who has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Thursday, KSTP’s Callan Gray reported a group gathered outside of Orput’s house to push for murder charges.

Push for higher charges in Daunte Wright’s killing continues as he’s laid to rest

Orput did not commit to a higher charge, Gray reported, saying, “I’m not going to give in to pressure to charge something I can’t prove."

The gathering outside Orput’s home happened the same afternoon Wright’s funeral service was held in Minneapolis.

‘He didn’t deserve this’: Family, friends lay Daunte Wright to rest

Wright was remembered at his funeral as a dedicated father whose life was ended too soon at the hands of police. Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy, stating Black people will never “shut up and suffer,” and that changes to federal law are coming.