In light of the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department, Minneapolis institutions are cutting financial ties with the MPD until systemic change is made to end their reign of terror on black people, indigenous people, and people of color in our community.

The YWCA rents space to the Minneapolis Police Department for police training. At this point, inviting the police into the same spaces where we gather as a community is no longer acceptable. The police are a clear and present danger to our community.

The University of Minnesota and Minneapolis Public Schools have both cancelled contracts with MPD, removing them from interaction with the public at events and in our schools, so why hasn't YWCA Minneapolis?

This is what the YWCA has to say for themselves: “Ultimately, we may cut ties with MPD, but first we want to provide them an opportunity to take an honest reflection of their culture and abhorrent and racist behavior toward people of color.” (http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2020/june/businesses-role-in-policing-policy-and-change

The Minneapolis Police Department have a LONG history of violence against people of color and the leader of their police union has called Black Lives Matter a terrorist organization. (https://www.insider.com/minneapolis-police-union-president-called-protests-terrorist-movement-2020-6) They have been showing us who they are for decades.

YWCA, this is not the time to wait and see. This is the time for meaningful action.

YWCA, your mission is to eliminate racism. We ask that you begin at home by cutting ties with the racist Minneapolis Police Department.