This story was originally published on Minnesota Reformer. [1]
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Activists confront Washington County Attorney at his Stillwater home, demanding murder charge for ex-Brooklyn Center cop who shot Daunte Wright
By:   ['Ricardo Lopez Is The Senior Political Reporter For The Reformer. Ricardo Is Not New To Minnesota Politics', 'Previously Reporting On The Dayton Administration', 'Statehouse For The Star Tribune To', 'The Republican National Convention In Previously', "He Was A Staff Writer At The Los Angeles Times Covering The California Economy. He'S A Las Vegas Native Who Has Adopted Minnesota As His Home State. In His Spare Time", 'He Likes To Run', 'Cook', 'Volunteer With Save-A-Bull', 'A Minneapolis Dog Rescue Group.', 'Ricardo Lopez']
Date: None

Activists traveled to the Stillwater home of Washington County Attorney Pete Orput, the prosecutor who has brought a second-degree manslaughter charge against former Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter in the killing of Daunte Wright, demanding Orput charge her with murder.

Led by civil rights activist and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, a group of demonstrators criticized Orput’s record in holding police officers accountable for fatal shootings. Levy Armstrong referenced the 2015 death of Marcus Golden by St. Paul police. A Washington County grand jury declined to issue charges against the two St. Paul police officers in that case.

“You have not taken up the mantle to put killer cops behind bars,” Levy Armstrong said. “The fact that your track record is zero when it comes to prosecuting killer cops, and here (in Potter’s case), you just gave the bare minimum, which is second-degree manslaughter.”

Orput, who came out to engage with the demonstrators, pushed back, saying the evidence in previous cases did not merit charges.

In Wright’s case, he said: “I choose not to,” eliciting boos. “You know why? Because I’m an honest broker.”

Levy Armstrong pressed Orput, saying that if Wright had been a white man or his son, Orput would have charged Potter with murder.

“I wish you knew me. You wouldn’t say that,” Orput said.

The confrontation, while tense at times, remained largely cordial. Orput at one point challenged Levy Armstrong to try the case.

“I will do it,” she said. “If you want me to become special prosecutor, and bring murder charges, I will do it. Is that what you want?”

After several minutes of back-and-forth, Orput eventually retreated inside his home to the chants of “Bring murder charges!”

Protesters have taken to holding demonstrations outside of the homes of public officials, including Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman.

The Hennepin County prosecutor sold his south Minneapolis home last year after the murder of George Floyd. Thousands of people demonstrated at his home, leading to thousands of dollars in security expenses.

[1] Url: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/activists-confront-washington-county-attorney-at-his-stillwater-home-demanding-murder-charge-for-ex-brooklyn-center-cop-who-shot-daunte-wright/