Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team Condemns Use of No-Knock Search Warrants

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team condemns the use of no-knock search warrants.

We condemn their use because they have proven to lead to the tragic deaths of people of color. The latest example of their use killing an innocent person of color occurred on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, when the Minneapolis Police Department used a no-knock search warrant to enter a home where Mr. Amir Locke was asleep on a couch and was shot three times by Minneapolis Police.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team stands in solidarity with activists and organizations that continue to fight for the banning of no-knock warrants and those who are holding elected officials and police departments accountable for using no-knock warrants, especially when they have been banned.

We, the Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team, call for our member churches and individuals to remember Mr. Amir Locke and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota in their public prayers this Sunday, February 13, 2022. We ask that members contact the elected leadership of Minneapolis, as well as the Police Chief of Minneapolis, and hold them accountable to the moratorium on no-knock warrants and demand no-knock warrants be banned.  We also encourage members to contact the elected leadership and police leadership in their communities to end the use of no-knock warrants.

As always, we call upon the churches of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Region to begin and deepen the faithful work toward becoming Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation communities of faith.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team

Rev. Owen Cayton, Rev. Mary Jane Button-Harrison, Rev. Bryce Bowers, Rev. Candice Brown, Pr. Michael Carlson, Rev. Leslie Dalstra, Rev. Jill Cameron Michel, Dan Mineck, Rev. Dr. Laurie Pound Feille, Rev. Gary Sneller, Malinda Thomas, Rev. Kate West, Rev. Melea White, Rev. Joshua Patty

Minnesota Clergy supporting this statement:

Rev. Dan Adolphson, Rev. Dennis Sanders, Rev. Heather Thonvold, Rev. Lynda Lee, Rev. David Cobb, Rev. Wendy Manuel, Rev. Ronald Keith, Rev. Tamara Rottschaefer, Rev. Dr. Bryan Feille, Rev. Caila Rinker, Rev. Ana Wilson, Rev Dr. Laurie Pound Feille and Rev. Margaret Hutchens (Rev. Hutchens lives in Iowa and is a member of First Christian, Minneapolis)