Families of Mariah Samuels, Allison Lussier call for justice for domestic violence victims – CBS News

Report on Domestic Violence Systemic Failures in Minneapolis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report examines recent events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where families of domestic violence victims, Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier, have alleged significant failings by law enforcement and the justice system. These cases highlight critical gaps in the protection of vulnerable individuals, directly contravening the principles of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The families, supported by activists, are demanding accountability and systemic reform to prevent future tragedies.

Case Backgrounds

• Allison Lussier: Family members report that Ms. Lussier made multiple calls to Minneapolis police regarding domestic abuse by an ex-partner. A medical examiner determined she suffered a brain injury prior to her death but could not ascertain the cause. The family contends that institutional inaction contributed to her death.
• Mariah Samuels: Ms. Samuels, a mother of two, was killed in September. Her family states she had also made several calls to the police for assistance. Minutes before she was shot, Ms. Samuels posted a video on social media documenting her ex-boyfriend physically assaulting her. David Eugene Wright has since been charged with second-degree murder in her death.

Institutional Response and Deficiencies

In response to the death of Mariah Samuels, the Minneapolis Office of Public Safety has initiated several measures:

1. A thorough review of the Samuels case has been ordered by Chief Brian O’Hara.
2. Mandatory retraining on domestic violence response for all Minneapolis police officers is to be completed by the end of the year.
3. Domestic violence and order for protection protocols are to be updated, requiring officers to explicitly ask victims if they feel safe and to take affirmative action based on that response.

However, family members have expressed skepticism, stating that officers receive basic training but fail to implement it effectively.

Analysis of Failures in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The events represent a significant failure to meet targets aimed at eliminating violence against women.

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. The deaths of Ms. Lussier and Ms. Samuels are the most extreme outcome of the failure to protect women from intimate partner violence. The victims’ repeated, unheeded calls for help demonstrate a systemic breakdown in safeguarding women.
• The disproportionate impact on women of color, as noted by a family member, underscores the intersecting inequalities that compound the challenges in achieving gender equality and safety for all.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The families’ call for justice highlights deficiencies in the institutions designed to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law.

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The inability of law enforcement to intervene effectively in these cases points to a failure in achieving this fundamental target at a local level.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all. The perception that the victims’ “cries for safety were ignored” suggests a critical barrier to accessing justice and protection, undermining public trust in law enforcement institutions.

Demands for Systemic Reform

In alignment with achieving the SDGs, the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice and the affected families have articulated several key demands:

1. Ensure domestic violence cases are treated as a priority by law enforcement.
2. Implement robust accountability measures for institutional failures in responding to domestic violence calls.
3. Strengthen protocols and training to ensure they result in effective, affirmative action to protect victims.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article directly addresses gender-based violence, a key component of SDG 5. The entire narrative revolves around two female victims of domestic abuse, Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier, highlighting the specific dangers women face from intimate partners. The call for justice for these women underscores the goal of achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article’s focus on systemic failures. The families and activists criticize the Minneapolis police, a key public institution, for not doing enough to protect the victims despite their repeated calls for help. The article mentions “gaps in the system,” “failings” of the police, and demands for “justice and accountability,” all of which fall under the purview of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions and ensuring access to justice for all.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article touches upon the intersection of gender-based violence and racial inequality. The quote from Simone Hunter, “I want you to go and look at all the records of all the Black and brown people who die on a daily basis due to these things,” suggests that this type of violence disproportionately affects women of color. This highlights an inequality of outcome based on race, which is a core concern of SDG 10.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

   The article’s subject matter—the deaths of two women due to domestic violence by their ex-partners—is a direct example of the violence this target aims to eliminate. The stories of Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier exemplify the lethal consequences of intimate partner violence, which occurs in the private sphere.

2. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   The article reports on the deaths of two individuals as a result of violence. The case of Mariah Samuels, where her ex-boyfriend has been charged with second-degree murder, is a direct instance of a violence-related death that this target seeks to reduce.

3. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   The families’ assertion that the victims’ “cries for safety were ignored” and that the police “didn’t do enough to keep their loved ones safe” points to a failure in providing equal access to justice and protection under the law. Their public call for “justice and accountability” is a demand for the fulfillment of this target.

4. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   The criticism of the Minneapolis police and the subsequent response from the office of public safety directly relate to this target. The police chief ordering a “thorough review” of a case and mandating retraining for officers are actions aimed at making the institution more effective and accountable in its response to domestic violence.

5. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome.

   The implication that “Black and brown people” are disproportionately dying from domestic violence points to an inequality of outcome. The families’ struggle suggests a failure of policies and practices to protect all citizens equally, which this target aims to rectify.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (Relates to Target 5.2)

  The specific cases of Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier, who were subjected to violence by their ex-partners, serve as qualitative data points. The article mentions Mariah Samuels posting a video of her ex-boyfriend hitting her, which is a direct indicator of physical violence by an intimate partner.

• Number of Victims of Intentional Homicide (Relates to Target 16.1)

  The article explicitly mentions the death of Mariah Samuels, for which a suspect has been charged with second-degree murder. This death is a direct data point for indicators measuring homicide rates.

• Proportion of Victims Reporting Violence to Authorities (Relates to Target 16.3)

  The article states that both Lussier and Samuels “made several calls to Minneapolis police to report domestic abuse.” This is a direct, though non-numeric, reference to the act of victims reporting violence to competent authorities, a key indicator for access to justice.

• Measures of Institutional Accountability and Reform (Relates to Target 16.6)

  The article implies several qualitative indicators for measuring institutional reform. These include: the number of officers retrained on domestic violence response, the implementation of updated protocols requiring officers to ask victims if they feel safe, and the completion of a “thorough review” of cases where the response was allegedly inadequate.

• Data on Violence Disaggregated by Race (Relates to Target 10.3)

  The call to “look at all the records of all the Black and brown people who die” implies the need for an indicator that measures violence-related deaths disaggregated by race and ethnicity. This would allow for the tracking of inequalities of outcome and the effectiveness of policies aimed at protecting marginalized communities.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com