The chair of the Minneapolis Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is being condemned by both Democrats and Republicans after he said the burning of the Third Precinct by rioters last summer in response to the death of George Floyd was an “act of pure righteousness.”
Devin Hogan wrote an op-ed piece for local monthly newspaper Southside Pride in which he argued that setting the precinct on fire was a “proportional response” to police treatment of Black people, adding “the cops started it.”
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“They killed George Floyd and took every opportunity to escalate, agitate and make things worse. The cops are rioting and the people are responding,” Hogan wrote. “Like it or not, setting the Third Precinct on fire was a genuine revolutionary moment. An act of pure righteousness to open new worlds of understanding. The people declared themselves ungovernable and unilaterally took their power back. The largest international human rights movement in modern history had begun.”
Hogan went on to say that officers “started shooting ‘less lethals’ at the angry teenagers and other crowds who had gathered at the Third Precinct on the first afternoon. It was unprovoked and at random. Our Boys in Blue were showing off.”
Hogan said the youth of Minnesota are “out of f–ks to give” and their call from the streets “was genuine liberation, truly and finally.”
“The work continues until that day comes,” he added. “Keep focus. Eyes on the prize. Remember the demand of the streets. The blood and treasure spent. This is our job. Minneapolis must answer the call. For real this time. For real for real. Do it for the kids.”
In response, Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin issued a statement condemning Hogan’s comments as “dangerous, violent and inflammatory rhetoric.”
Martin said the comments “do not reflect the views of the Minnesota DFL Party or the Minneapolis DFL Party, and they certainly do not reflect the views of any elected officials in our party with whom I have spoken.”
“The burning of the Third Precinct did not bring Minnesota any closer to enacting the reform measures Minnesotans want to see and it was not ‘revolutionary’ or ‘righteous,’ as Hogan claims,” Martin continued. “That act of arson and the related violence jeopardized the safety of both police officers and the public, further damaged an already fractured relationship between police and the people they serve and made it more difficult to actually deliver real, tangible change.”
Minnesota Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan also issued a statement saying Hogan’s comments further demonstrate that “Democrats believe destruction is the pathway to change.”
“The chaos, destruction, and attacks on the Minneapolis Police Department last summer caused more harm than good in our long-term outlook to improve relationships between the community and the police,” Carnahan said. “We are not a nation founded on destruction, hate, and disregard for our laws. We are a nation founded on love, hope, inclusivity, and working together to do better.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer also weighed in on Twitter, saying Hogan’s statements were “proof Democrats only care about advancing their radical agenda, not the safety of Americans.”
In response to the criticism, Hogan wrote on Facebook that he does not advocate for violence. The post is no longer visible.
“The truth hurts,” he wrote. “Accurately describing reality is not a call to arms. Explaining the conditions of violent repression with the reasons why and how people react to that oppression is not condoning violence… If antiracism offends your sensibilities then please use this moment to examine the role you play in maintaining and upholding these systems. Which side are you on?”
*story by Audacy
