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Minneapolis Police Joke About “Hunting Activists” During 2020 Racial Justice Uprising

HeadlineOct 08, 2021

Newly released bodycam footage shows Minneapolis police officers talked about “hunting” protesters in the days after the police killing of George Floyd last year. In one video, an officer is heard saying, “You guys are out hunting people now. It’s just a nice change of tempo.”

Police officer 1: “You guys are out hunting people now. It’s just a nice change of tempo.”

Police officer 2: “Yep.”

Police officer 1: “[bleep] these people.”

Police officer 3: “Be very, very quiet. We’re hunting activists.”

Police officer 4: “Let ’em have it, boys! Let ’em have it! Get out of here! Right there! Get ’em! Get ’em! Get ’em! Hit ’em! Hit ’em!”

In another video, officers are seen celebrating after firing rubber bullets at protesters.

Police officer 5: “Gotcha!”

Police officer 6: “Good hit, buddy.”

The videos came to light during the trial of Jaleel Stallings, a Black man who was recently acquitted of charges of shooting at Minneapolis police officers during the George Floyd protests. Stallings told the jury he was acting in self-defense after men in an unmarked van started shooting at him and others. He learned later the gunmen were police officers firing plastic rounds.

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