DFL senators say criminal justice reform top priority in special session

DFL senators say that immediate changes to the way criminal justice is performed is their top priority in the upcoming special session.

"Black folks are sick and tired of literally suffering from people telling them to wait until the moment is right. wait until we know the measures that you’re calling for," said Sen. Jeff Hayden. "The question I’ll end with is how many black men and women have to die before an urgent response is warranted?"

The call is a response to Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, who said on Friday that any changes to the state’s public safety and criminal justice system will take time.

The new session is expected to begin on Friday.