UMN Students for a Democratic Society Statement of Support
December 28, 2020
The Asian Pacific American Resource Center (APARC) stands in support of UMN Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the rights for students and staff to exercise their first amendment rights through peaceful protest. We denounce the actions of law enforcement agencies, including the involvement of UMPD, for “kettling” participants and making arrests without issuing a clear and lawful dispersal order to those participating in the protest.
On November 4, 2020, UMN SDS led a contingent of UMN students to participate in a post-elections protest organized by the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar. Over 600 activists, including students, staff, organizers, and community members, participated in a march to protest President Trump’s interference of the voting process during the presidential election, police brutality, racism, and many other social injustices that greatly affect communities and our country. During the protest, multiple law enforcement agencies, along with the aid of UMPD, corralled participants with a kettling tactic to prevent participants from exiting their protest location. Law enforcement officers began making arrests without issuing a lawful dispersal order for participants to voluntarily remove themselves from the demonstration and allow the protest to end without force. Students participating in the protest were not given the opportunity to remove themselves which resulted in misdemeanor charges and heavy fines.
We stand with students and UMN SDS’s request for President Gabel and other university leaders to mitigate the harm caused by the actions of law enforcement during the march. We also support the call to establish a Campus Police Accountability Council to provide oversight on UMPD and their actions with students, on campus, and within the surrounding communities of the U.
APARC is committed to supporting students to speak up against injustices in our communities and working with university leaders, staff, and faculty to better our campus and broader community for everyone.
In Solidarity,
Asian Pacific American Resource Center
Sign UMN SDS petition to support students and staff.
Learn more about protesting and peaceful demonstration rights.
MN Daily article about Nov. 4th march and law enforcement actions.