Local organizers to circulate petition calling for recall of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman

Local organizers are beginning the process of collecting petition signatures to recall Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

The petition and push to recall Freeman comes a week after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Freeman and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has filed third-degree murder and manslaughter charges against Derek Chauvin, the officer who was seen in video holding his knee to Floyd’s neck. The other three officers involved in the arrest have not been charged.

The Recall Freeman campaign is beginning Wednesday to collect the 126,522 signatures needed to initiate a recall election.

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"State law gives Minnesotans the power to recall our elected officials when they fail our communities," said Kathleen Cole, an organizer for the Recall Freeman campaign. "Mike Freeman violated his ethical duties, committed malfeasance, and made it harder to secure justice for George Floyd and his family. We must recall him now."

The campaign will collect signatures at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, the site where Floyd was killed. Signatures will also be collected at First Universalist Church at 3400 Dupont Ave. S in Minneapolis.

A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said it will not be commenting at this time.

Earlier this week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was delegated to lead any prosecutions in connection to Floyd’s death.