The California Democrat traveled to Brooklyn Center and expects to stay on Monday. At an anti-police brutality demonstration in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on Saturday night, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said protesters wanted to “sit on the street,” urging justice before police reform becomes a reality.
“I’ll fight for all the people who stand for justice,” Waters told reporters shortly before an 11 p.m. curfew. “We need justice in this country, and we can not allow these killings to continue.”
Asked about the Minneapolis murder trial of Derek Chauvin, Waters told reporters if the former police officer wasn’t found guilty of murdering George Floyd, “We have to remain on the street and become more militant, more confrontational. We must make sure they know we mean business. “
Waters said she was “hopeful” that Chauvin would be convicted of murder, but if not, “we can not leave.”
“We have to fight for justice,” she said, adding she is calling for Congress to pass a police reform bill, but she said republicans will probably stand in the way.
According to New York Times reporter Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, she reportedly stayed in Minnesota until Monday, when closing arguments are scheduled in the Chauvin trial.
“It’s a really tough time in this country’s history,” Waters, 82, a Congressman since 1991, told The Associated Press. “We must let people know we won’t be satisfied until we get justice in these situations.”
Waters told reporters gathered around her that the demonstrators eventually wanted candidates who shared their views to appear at the polls.
“The way to get in charge is not to let them win,” Waters said of political rivals in Minneapolis’ FOX 9 commentary. “You must register and vote, and you must take the power.”
Chauvin is accused of killing Floyd on May 25, 2020, kneeling for several minutes on Floyd’s stomach. Defense witnesses discussed Floyd’s health problems and drug use as other potential factors.
Others at Saturday’s Brooklyn Center included the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The crowd demonstrated for the seventh straight night against Daunte Wright’s deadly 20-year-old police shooting during last Sunday’s traffic stop.
The disturbances involved protesters tossing police objects. Police detained more than 100 people on Friday, but it was unknown whether Saturday made any arrests.
The officer who allegedly killed Wright, identified as Kim Potter, resigned last week, as did the police chief of Brooklyn Center. Instead of a stun gun, Potter said she mistakenly grabbed her gun and shot Wright with the weapon. She faces accusations of homicide.
Waters allegedly left the rally shortly before the curfew. After the curfew began, a small crowd remained defiant.
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