New Black Panther Nation Minnesota leader explains group’s efforts to raise awareness on cases

Members of the New Black Panther Nation-Minnesota chapter often have their faces covered, dress in all-black with red berets, and some carry long guns when out in the community.

In recent weeks, the group has been very active in raising awareness about the five unsolved shooting cases involving children in north Minneapolis since the spring.

"We’re also the vanguards of our community, making sure that justice is served within the community," said Nasiy Nasir X, the local chairman.

The Minnesota chapter has been active in the community for the last year-and-a half, according to the group’s local leader.

"We stood in solidarity with the community and the families on behalf of that because we are against the wickedness,” Nasiy Nasir X said. “We’re against the atrocities, we’re against the hideous crimes, that’s taking place within our community, we stand against that."

Nasiy Nasir X explained more about the conversations they have had with residents on the streets about ways to stop crime.

"We tell the community that the crimes will continue to get worse if we if as a community don’t come together and unify, the community right now is a burning house, the people have not put the fire out, due the fact of the lack of unity and lack of people stepping forward to turn these criminal in, to turn these murders in, that’s roaming amongst our community," Nasiy Nasir X said.

On Friday afternoon, the group stood alongside members of Daunte Wright’s family to call for tougher charges in the case, and for cameras to be allowed in the courtroom.

Specifics about who belongs to the group, or how many members are involved, were not shared with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.

On Sunday, the New Black Panther Nation-MN will join other community activists at 36th and Penn avenues north, to raise awareness about the unsolved children’s cases.