Families Say MPD Fails To Protect Women Of Color From Domestic Violence – Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Report on Institutional Failures in Minneapolis Regarding Domestic Violence and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Systemic Deficiencies in Protecting Women of Color

On October 30, families of two female homicide victims, Mariah Samuels (African American) and Allison Lussier (Indigenous), convened to protest the failure of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and city officials to provide adequate protection from domestic violence. The events highlight significant shortcomings in achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Case Analysis: Violations of SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

The deaths of Ms. Samuels and Ms. Lussier represent a critical failure to uphold SDG Target 5.2, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women. Despite proactive measures taken by both victims, the system failed to protect them.

• Mariah Samuels: An African American mother who was fatally shot 10 times by her ex-partner. She had previously filed police reports, obtained a protection order, and delivered evidence of threats to the MPD.
• Allison Lussier: An Indigenous woman who was beaten to death after repeatedly calling the police for help regarding an abusive partner.

Family testimonials indicate that officers dismissed the victims’ fears, with one reportedly noting Ms. Samuels “didn’t seem scared enough.” This subjective assessment points to a systemic breakdown in recognizing and responding to gender-based violence, undermining the core principles of SDG 5.

Institutional Failings and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

The families’ allegations describe a pattern of institutional negligence that contravenes SDG 16, which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions. The MPD’s handling of these cases demonstrates a lack of accountability and equal access to justice.

Key Institutional Failures Reported:

1. Procedural Negligence: The officer responding to Ms. Samuels’ final call for help reportedly failed to complete the mandatory domestic-violence risk assessment form.
2. Falsification of Reports: Body-camera footage allegedly contradicts an officer’s report that Ms. Samuels felt safe, a claim her family states is false.
3. Lack of Transparency: A City Auditor’s Office report noted that MPD officers declined to answer certain questions during an outside audit of domestic-violence procedures, undermining efforts to build transparent and accountable institutions (SDG Target 16.6).
4. Improper Investigation: Police initially ruled Ms. Lussier’s death an overdose, a conclusion later contradicted by a medical examiner’s report citing traumatic brain injury as the cause of death.

Racial Disparities and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

A central theme of the protest was the perceived disparity in police response based on race, a direct challenge to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities and ensure equal opportunity for all. Speakers contrasted the high-profile attention given to cases involving white women with the alleged neglect faced by Black and Indigenous women.

• Families argued that women of color are treated as less worthy of protection, creating a “moral hierarchy of whose lives matter.”
• The absence of public statements or appearances by Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara at vigils for these victims was cited as evidence of this disparity.
• This systemic bias prevents the achievement of SDG Target 10.3, which seeks to eliminate discriminatory practices and ensure equal outcomes.

Official Response and Community Demands

In response to the allegations, the City of Minneapolis issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy of Ms. Samuels’ death and outlining corrective measures.

Actions Promised by Minneapolis Police Department:

1. A thorough review of the MPD’s response to the Mariah Samuels case.
2. Mandatory retraining for all officers on domestic violence response by the end of the year.
3. Updates to domestic violence protocols to require officers to explicitly ask victims if they feel safe and take action based on the response.

Community advocates, however, are demanding further action to ensure these failures are not repeated and to build trust in public institutions, in line with SDG 16.

Advocate and Family Demands:

• An independent review of recent domestic-violence homicides involving BIPOC women.
• Mandatory completion and enforcement of risk-assessment forms on all domestic calls.
• Disciplinary action for officers who falsify or neglect official reports.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

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

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is violence against women, specifically domestic violence resulting in the deaths of Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier. This directly relates to the goal of achieving gender equality and eliminating all forms of violence against women.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article explicitly highlights a racial disparity in the protection offered to victims of domestic violence. The families argue that as Black and Indigenous women, the victims were “treated as less worthy of protection than their White counterparts,” pointing to a systemic inequality based on race and ethnicity.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
   • The article details the failure of institutions, namely the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and city officials, to provide justice and protection. It discusses a lack of accountability, transparency (officers declining to answer questions in an audit), and effectiveness in the police response, which are core issues addressed by SDG 16.

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

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The murders of Mariah Samuels and Allison Lussier by their partners are the most extreme form of domestic violence, which this target aims to eliminate.
2. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory policies and practices. The article alleges a discriminatory practice by the MPD, where the response to domestic violence calls differs based on the victim’s race. This leads to an unequal outcome: a higher risk of death for women of color. The families’ statement, “When it’s a Black woman or a Native woman, we’re left alone to bury our own,” directly speaks to this inequality of outcome.
3. Under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions):
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article focuses on two homicides resulting from domestic violence, which are deaths this target seeks to reduce.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all. The victims “did everything right,” including filing police reports and obtaining protection orders, but were still not protected. This represents a failure to provide equal access to justice and safety under the law.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article critiques the MPD for its lack of accountability, citing officers’ refusal to answer questions in an audit, alleged falsification of reports (“The footage shows that conversation never happened”), and failure to follow basic procedures like completing a risk assessment form. The community’s call for an independent review and disciplinary action is a demand for a more accountable institution.

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

1. For Target 5.2:
   • The article provides two specific cases of women killed by their partners. This implies an indicator related to the number of domestic violence-related homicides, disaggregated by race and ethnicity. Measuring a reduction in these numbers would show progress.
2. For Target 10.3:
   • The families’ perception of discrimination is a key theme. This points to an indicator measuring the proportion of the population who report feeling discriminated against by public services (like the police) based on their race or ethnicity. The stark contrast drawn between the response for White women versus women of color serves as anecdotal evidence for this indicator.
3. For Target 16.6:
   • The article mentions specific procedural failures. This implies several measurable indicators:
     • The rate of completion for mandatory domestic-violence risk assessment forms by police officers on relevant calls. The article notes an officer “failed to complete” this form.
     • The number of disciplinary actions taken against officers for falsifying or neglecting reports in domestic violence cases, as demanded by community advocates.
     • The level of cooperation with external audits, which could be measured by the percentage of questions answered by the department during procedural reviews. The article notes officers “declined to answer certain questions.”

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: spokesman-recorder.com