Transcripts For CSPAN Minnesota Gov. Walz Holds News Conference 20240712

Gov. Walz good morning, everyone. This has been the most difficult week in minnesota in recent history and maybe in our entire history. In our streets. The ashes are symbolic of decades and generations of pain, of anguish, much like we failed unheard, much like we failed to hear george floyd as he pleaded for his life as the world watched by people sworn to protect him, his community, our state. Philando castile, silenced, unheard, so many other friends, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers senselessly died in our street. And now generations of pain is manifesting itself in front of the world, and the world is watching. One of the first people i called after seeing the video was valerie castile, philandos mother. We have become friends since the killing of philando. For those watching today who are not familiar, philando died in front of his loved one and his child and left them behind and the grieving mother who has become an advocate for justice, for reform, but more importantly an advocate for kindness and decency. When i talked to valery, she said first and foremost seek justice, seek fairness and reach out and show kindness. Visceral pain, a community trying to understand who we are and where we go from here. Im joined today by attorney general ellison, by Major General john jensen, colonel linger of the Minnesota State patrol and commissioner john harrington. I spoke this morning with reverend jackson who much like valerie said a prayer for our state. Said a prayer for those grieving, said a prayer for peace, then also said something very important. This is the moment where we start, but every time we get to this place, we never start the process to make sure it doesnt happen again. And that commitment amongst leaders in our community, watching this happen across the united states, watching another name be added, and for those of us old enough, to rodney king, to mike brown and no george now george floyd. The situation on the ground doesnt allow us at this time to tackle those issues. The very efforts in our community, our libraries, businesses, those nonprofits and government entities, our light rail system, are all shut down from this. We have to restore order to our society before we can start addressing the issues. Before we turn back to where we should be spending our energy, making sure that justice is served, justice is served swiftly and the we learn something from what george floyd gave on monday. Now i want to just be very clear. I am going to have the team talk about what transitioned last night when the state assumed responsibility over the security of the third precinct, the state secured critical assets and where the plan Going Forward to ensure tonight our buildings do not burn, our citizens are secure, and that space that we are going to create allows us to get back to the conversation of serving justice and making sure that we are not adding to that list of unheard names. I want to be very clear and speak to that community. The very tools that we need to use to get control, to make sure that buildings are not burned and the rule of law collapses are those very institutional tools that have led to that grief and pain. I understand clearly there is no trust in many of our communities. And the differentiation between the Minneapolis Police department that we witnessed losing trust of those they are there to serve is very difficult for people to make for those standing up here with me. I understand that. I will not patronize you as a white man without living those lived experiences of how difficult that is. But im asking you to help us. Help us use a humane way to get the streets to a place where we can restore the justice so that those that are expressing rage and anger and demanding justice are heard. Not those who throw firebombs into businesses that our community of colors have worked so hard to build back up areas that were blighted at one time and are thriving because of and theirepreneurship hard work. A library in an area where our children, as we know, are institutionally put behind and the achievement gap for our community of color is a shame on this state, that we continue to talk about and dont repair it. The tools to help with that burned last night. I want to just call out very, very clearly as we put our presence on the street to restore order, it is to open that space, to seek justice, and heal what happened. I will not in any way not acknowledge that there is going to be that pain. But my first and foremost responsibility to the state of minnesota is the safety and security of all citizens. We cannot have the looting and the recklessness that went on. We cannot have it because we cannot function as a society. And i refuse to have it take away the attention of the stain that we need to be working on is what happened with those fundamental institutional racism that allows a man to be held down in broad daylight, and thank god a young person had a camera to video it. Because theres not a person here or listening today that wonders how many times that camera is not there. These are tough questions. These are things that have been brewing in this country for 400 years. We have people out there putting themselves on the line to try to put out fires and our firefighters that are under attack. Those are the things i am asking you. Help me restore that order. We will do that under state leadership and state guidance. You will hear directly of them of once that decision is made, and that First Mission was executed around 3 45 at the third precinct, we will see a difference. So im asking you and you will hear from them to talk about this. I also want to think about what happens when we dont have that. People who are concerned about police presence, of an overly armed camp in their neighborhoods that is not seen in communities where children of people who look like me run to the police, others have to run from. So i understand that that is out there. But last night i got a call from a friend and a dedicated public servant. Senator torres rey called, from her district and it was on fire. There werent any police there. There were not any firefighters. There was no social control. And her constituents were locked in their house wondering what they were going to do. That is an abject failure that cannot happen. We must restore order to that. Senator torres reyes fought her whole life on these issues of inequities and making sure that peoples voices are lifted up. What she understands is none of us can lift those voices. None of us can tackle those problems if anarchy reigns on the street. I also want to address an issue and this one is on me and i will own it. Earlier this morning when this mission was carried out, under my direction to resecure the third precinct, to do so in a manner of which i am proud of how it was executed by the team, no injuries and no lossoflife, a reestablishment to put the fires out for those business, a cnn reporter and crew was arrested by the state patrol. A few minutes after hearing that, i was on a call with cnn president jeff zucker who demanded to know what happened. I take full responsibility. There is absolutely no reason Something Like that should happen. Calls were made immediately. This is a very public apology to that team. It should not happen. I want to be clear for those of you listening. I think our minnesota reporters know this. Im a teacher by trade and i have spent my time as governor highlighting the need to be as transparent as possible and have the press here. I failed you last night in that. And it does not escape me that we are here on the catalyst that lit this spark by what happened with the police detainment of george floyd and the idea that a reporter would have been taken while another Police Action was in play is inexcusable. So to cnn, to the cnn team, to the journalists here, this is about having a plan. That is what these folks are going to talk about. This is about having an aggressive approach to understanding what the community needs. To not coming in heavyhanded with them, but to create space where the story can be told. In a situation like this, even if you are clearing an area, we have got to ensure there is a safe spot for journalism to tell the story. The issue here is trust. The community that is down there that is terrorized by this, if they see a reporter being arrested, their assumption is something is going to happen that they dont want to be seen. That is unacceptable. We will continue to strive to make sure that that accessibility is maintained. That not only that, the protection, security and safety of the journalists covering this is a top priority. Not because it is a nice thing to do. Because it is a key component of how we fix this. Sunshine, disinfectant and seeing what is happening has to be done. So again i appreciate president zuckers call. I appreciate his understanding in a situation that he was rightfully, incredibly angry. And that falls squarely on me. That apology has been issued. And i think Going Forward to make sure it doesnt happen again. It is time for us to clean our streets. It is time for us to execute today in a way that shows respect and dignity to communities. Im going to ask for a lot of help today of those folks who want to see it. It is my expectation that justice for the officers involved in this will be swift. That it will come in a timely manner. That it will be fair. That is what we have asked for. I have been in contact with the county attorney. And i am confident that those very things i just said will happen. We will continue at the bca to do a fair, a full, and swift gathering of all of the evidence involved. But i would reiterate again for so many of us, not all of that is done in every other case where all that evidence is gathered before. I would ask that the swift justice be carried out. So minnesotans, your pain is real. The chapter that has been written this week is one of our darkest chapters. And we can choose a few things. We can choose to try and get past this. We can choose to put a force out there and stop things from happening. We can hope that in the midst of covid19 it passes by. And we dont have to turn that mirror to look at the harsh reality of those underlying gaps, whether it be health care disparities, whether it be educational disparities in our communities of color, whether it be policing disparities in our communities of color, whether it ourealth acquisition in communities of color, they are all very real. We pride ourselves on a state of openness. We pride ourselves on a state of being friendly. I have talked a lot about one minnesota. That was not on display last night. I dont naively think everything heals, and you come to the forefront, and you say it will be better. This is a community that demands and should expect more than words. They should expect results. Lieutenant governor flanigan and i have tried to make equity the center of everything we have done. But obviously in minneapolis on monday night, there was not a lot of equity for george floyd. His family is probably wondering where the one minnesota is for them. And that is on us, us as minnesotans. Us as the governor and the team that works with me to put the things in order to establish order in our streets, to establish and rebuild trust in our communities, to lift those voices up to be heard, not pleading for their lives, but demanding the changes necessary so no one else is put into that position. So i would like at this time to turn it over to minnesotas attorney general keith ellison. A. G. Ellison governor, thank you. Martin luther king said many years ago that riot is the way that the unheard get heard. He did not condone it, but he said to the nation as a person who always protested peacefully, that dont just dismiss that and ignore it and relegate it to just criminality and bad behavior. Actually ask yourself what is going on there . And is it something that we as a society absolutely must Pay Attention to . I think we must Pay Attention to it. I would like everyone to recognize the fact that the National Guard just a week ago was administering covid19 tests to help people. To help people. The presence you see on the streets, dont react to them the way you might react to the Minneapolis Police department. It is not the same group. They have different leadership, different authority. And their job is to try to bring peace and calm back again. Please remember that this is not the group that you associate with unfair conduct. But it is a group that in fact just a week ago was trying to make sure minnesotans could survive and thrive and live because we are still in the middle of a pandemic. It is that sense of service, when they get involved, when it comes to natural disasters, storms, floods, rain, diseases, now they have to restore order on the streets. Force. It is making sure everybody can operate peacefully. So please accept it as that. Im asking it is essential and ive said this before, everyone keeps asking the question when, when, when. This is a perfectly legitimate question. It is important to know that under minnesota statutes, the primary jurisdiction for criminal prosecution is with the county attorney in which the ffense occurred. I believe that the message has been sent and received that the wheels of justice must turn swiftly. Not unjustly. Expeditiously, thoroughly, fairly, but swiftly. It is important that people have confidence that accountability , no matter who you may be, is how we live in minnesota. Let me also say that this prosecution, this investigation, this criminal process is important, and it is, and the whole country and the whole world is looking at it, cannot solve the problem. As the governor so eloquently said, events like this start and they come to a conclusion, but we never start the process of real reform. I will submit to you that myself and commissioner harrington, under the leadership of the governor, have already started a process on the working group on preventing and reducing Deadly Force Encounters with the police. We have a report that we want attention from the legislature and the entire community on, to focus on that so that we could really get to the bottom of this when it comes to issues of use of force, when it comes to officer wellness, when it comes to community feeling, training issues, all kinds of things to bear on this issue. And it is not just those things. We believe i believe the real work of our working group is the implementation of this. And that really begins in earnest now. And is more important now i think than ever. So i just want to, as i conclude my remarks, i want to say that we have to have the situation where lake street, a precious jewel of our state, is a place where minnesotans can walk again. Where businesses can be safe again. But i want to conclude that if the message was, this situation with with mr. Floyd is intolerable, absolutely unacceptable, it must change, that message has been sent and received as well. And the governor, myself, the lieutenant governor, all of us are committed to that longterm change. I could tell you i spoke with many legislators who feel the same way. People in the Philanthropic Community feel the same way. I think we are going to do some real changing. We are not just going to fix the windows and sweep up the grass. We are going to fix the broken shattered society that leaves so , many people behind based on their historical legacy of being in bondage and servitude, then secondclass citizenship, and now fraught with disparities from conservation to housing to wages and everything else. With that i want to hand it over to general jensen, Major General jensen who will further elaborate. Thank you very much. Maj. Gen. Jensen good morning. I am Major General john jensen, general of thent Minnesota Army National Guard. I have been the adjutant general since november 17. What i will describe this morning very quickly is the actions of the minnesota National Guard since we were mobilized under the governor walzs executive order. Like many minnesotans i woke up yesterday morning to the news that the minneapolis mayor had requested National Guard support. The only difference was i opened up my phone and there was a text from commissioner harrington. It wasnt the newspaper or the morning news that notified me of that. So immediately yesterday morning made contact with the commissioner. And we began planning on the potential deployment of the minnesota National Guard in support of minneapolis. For those of you that may not understand how Emergency Management works in minnesota, i am just going to take a quick moment and explain it. In minnesota Emergency Management coordinators with the cities of minutes minneapolis, st. Paul and dilute outh may request National Guard support through the state e. O. C. So in accordance with that, the minneapolis mayor made that request of the minnesota National Guard, which traditionally comes with the request is the layout of the capability needed and exactly the problem that is trying to be solved. Typically the request for the guard and that type of information comes the same time. Sometimes it lags. So when it lags, what we do is we begin preparing for an unknown mission. But in this case we sort of knew what we might be doing as it related to civil disturbance in minneapolis. It is very important we know exactly what we are being asked to do so we make sure we have the right equipment. We mobilize the right number of soldiers, and the right number of soldiers and airmen who will support those soldiers that are going to conduct the mission. That element was lacking. But with the governors decision to allow me to continue to plan, we began notifying soldiers early yesterday morning of a pending mission. Once we notified our soldiers, again with the governors verbal approval, we began mustering our soldiers and moving them into the metro area, knowing that the most likely probability of deployment was going to be minneapolis. As we met as a senior team yesterday afternoon, the one topic that continued to be discussed was the lack of clarity and the lack of a mission and a description of what exactly the minnesota National Guard needed to do. My concern to the governor was twofold. One, i didnt know what special equipment i might need to accomplish the mission. And two, i was very concerned about being asked to move to an unfamiliar area of minneapolis under the cover of darkness. I wanted to get out when it was still daylight, where my soldiers and my airmen could become familiar with the terrain and familiar with their mission. We never got such mission assignment. We never got such mission description. Yesterday, we performed four missions in support of the governors executive order. The First Mission came from the governor directly. That came when we were notified of an immediate and pending threat to the state capital. My immediate advice to the governor was to assign that mission to the minnesota National Guard. And he agreed. With one caveat, and that is the state patrol also wanted to support that mission. In cooperation with the state patrol, we began that mission. The second and Third Mission came together. It came from st. Paul, specifically it was to provide security to the Ramsey County Law Enforcement center and the Minnesota Bureau of criminal apprehension. The key part of that security was to ensure that st. Paul Police Officers were not required to secure those facilities. They were therefore relieved of that duty and able to respond throughout the city of st. Paul throughout the day. And then the last mission we did receive yesterday evening was an Escort Mission for the Minneapolis Fire Department. The concept of the operation is that we would move, link up with the Minneapolis Police department and as they went into unsecure and dangerous areas that we would secure the area so they could perform their lifesaving and property saving missions. And we continued to do those missions through the evening. As the governor indicated, a quarter after midnight this morning, the governor authorized a law and Order Mission into the third precinct, what we would call in the military a clear and security mission. So under the leadership of the state patrol, and the department of Public Safety, the minnesota National Guard was assigned a task and a mission in support of the state patrol. We would follow the state patrol and we would help secure the area that they cleared. Our soldiers remained in that area, as i speak now, still on that mission, still securing that location. So people and mdot can come in and begin the cleanup of that area. Now we also picked up one other mission with the city of minneapolis. I will not cover the exact details, but it is ongoing right now with the Minneapolis Police department. I am very proud of the relationship of the minnesota National Guard and the Minneapolis Police department that goes back to super bowl 52. The chief and i worked together during that super bowl. So we have had opportunities to serve together, and i have a lot of respect for him. We will continue to operate in minneapolis until such time the governor relieves us of that mission, and we will do so in support of the department of Public Safety and the Minnesota State patrol. So that is just a little bit of background of what the minnesota National Guard did since yesterday morning when we first were notified of a possible deployment, through the deployment and through our mission set last night and early this morning. My recommendation this morning to the governor was that i continue to do the state capital mission, and that i continue to do the mission in support of the Minneapolis Fire Department. I believe both of those are very critical missions, both to the state and to minneapolis. And then we will conduct follow on missions again to the Minnesota State patrol and the department of Public Safety. At this time i would like to introduce the commissioner of the department of Public Safety, commissioner john harrington. Mr. Harrington good morning. My name is john harrington. I am the commissioner of the department of Public Safety. Governor walz tasked me to prepare options and capacities and capabilities to respond to the civil unrest protests, but more importantly and really more directly, to the unlawful behavior of the arsonists, the thieves, the burglars, the vandals who were tearing apart the city of minneapolis. I want to make it clear that that is i think a clear line of demarcation that we were operating under, because it is fundamental to the department of Public Safety. It is fundamental to the state patrol that we take an oath to support the constitution, and that we believe our work is absolutely essential to allow everyones First Amendment right to have their voices heard. We were not deployed, and we have not been deployed, and we will not be deployed to stifle free speech. But we will not and can not allow unlawful, dangerous behavior to continue. Im particularly proud of our relationship with both the minnesota National Guard and the department of Natural Resources and colonel leahy from the department of Public Safety and the Minnesota State patrol. We called and they came. And literally, it was that it doesnt make it much more complicated than that. I it doesnt make it more complicated than that. Im going to need you here in for two or three days, i may need you longer than that. And i cant tell you what i need you to do yet but i know that i you and they came. They began preparing readiness to be able to move folks from of minnesota,tate literally from miles and miles to come to the metro area to help us keep the peace. Course of the day i met with my contacts in st. Paul to talk about what they needed the fulfill. Help he department of Public Safety at that point was calling to say were here to support you. Were your partners. And well t you need well fill in the gaps. Tell us what you need it and get it. Got nothing atwe all. In the absence of a real Mission Began to identify what the were. Cal needs we tasked the state patrol, dnr, guard, to meet specific missions that we were but we also do tasked them, we knew we might and shift from a static post guiding critical a vast moving to approach of restoring order. Midnight last night i was pivotto a call where that had to be made. The mayor of minneapolis called and said they had no more resources and they meet the Public Safety needs and control the that were occurring on lake street. Had lost the third precinct. They had lost the 3rd precinct and concerns about a gas main and concerns about continued looting and fires burning while the city of minneapolis and they had comparable concerns of looting and fires being set in the city of st. Paul, so we had to divide our resources to meet the needs of both of the twin cities. The task the governor gave me was pretty simple. It was to hold together a team that could go in and keep the peace, protect people. Protect them, protect their safety, protect their lives, protect their liberty. And to protect property that was being burned up literally every minute that we delayed. Hennipen sheriff was one of my first calls. The police chief offered support. And the chief of police of the metro transit offered support. And with that team together, we put together 250 to go in and restore order on lake street. We created a mission. It was very specific. Im a missiondriven person. We talked about the fact that we were going to be respectful of peoples rights and we were going to keep the peace and make people safe and we were going to follow our training and protocols by making a public announcement that they needed to clear the streets. And if they didnt clear the streets, arrests were imminent. We made those announcements repeatedly so no one would be confused about our intent or what we were there to do and we began to move to clear the streets. I will tell you that the vast majority of the great people of minnesota and the great people of minneapolis who are having their guts ripped out about the floyd murder and well call it a murder, thats what it looked like to me. I dont want to prejudice this from a criminal perspective. Im calling it as i see it. They dont want people out there on the streets at 3 00 in the morning when we arrived. People out there on lake street in 3 00 in the morning morning, they werent the people that wanted to mourn the loss of a friend, a relative and a neighbor. And then they saw the National Guard, Minnesota State patrol and this team moving down the street. Have majority of them the vast majority of them did they would do. They left. There were a few that decided not to leave. That was a choice they get to make, but we had advised them what that choice would result in and we took action to respectfully and carefully take folks into custody as was necessary. And it was a very limited and very structured and extremely disciplined approach in making those arrests. We are proud of the fact that despite what you have seen over the last few days, gas and cannisters and foggers, almost no chemical agent was necessary to be used last night. We did it the oldfashioned way. Command presence, a uniformed presence, and a clear intent to keep the piece. My cast today is a little different, having accomplished that mission and i think we have secured those streets and i appreciate the fact that i have National Guard folks Still Holding that ground that we took last night. We need to keep that ground and prepare for what may come today. Our task today is we are bringing a unified command of metro Police Departments, sheriffs departments and other Law Enforcement jurisdictions and other Public Safety entities into a Multi Agency Command Center where we will create a plan that will keep the peace, maintain the peace and prevent further lawless behavior in the cities of minneapolis and st. Paul and surrounding suburbs. We are going to do this the right way. And do it with full knowledge that our oath is to serve the state of minnesota, to serve the communities and to protect them. We are fully confident that we can do that mission and that we can do it while still ensuring that the Constitutional Rights of those who need to have their voices heard and who need to fully assemble can be protected. I can tell you that no one could have heard mr. Lloyds voice in the chaos of the screaming, shouting and the fires at 1 00 in the morning on lake street. My job is to make sure that tonight the community is safe and that our team is ready and prepared to keep it safe. With that, i am very pleased to introduce the colonel of the Minnesota State patrol. The honor and privilege of serving as the Minnesota State patrol. I dont need to rehash what appened as it pertains to the city of minneapolis this week. Difficult is the first word that to mind. It doesnt seem to represent everything that occurred this week well enough but it the inly represents challenges that the Minnesota State patrol has faced the last of nights as we have worked hard to combat the lawlessness and dangerous behavior that has occurred in the city of minneapolis and other places. I speak specifically to last night. As you heard shortly between midnight and 1 00 a. M. , the governor asked the state patrol city of n event in the minneapolis, to quell the unrest that was occurring in and around the 3rd precinct. One of the many challenges in that area there were tires set and the Minneapolis Fire Department was unable to get from and distinguish those fires because they were set by those who were demonstrating. But the commissioner explained we assembled a team. Means to be a resident and demonstrate peacefully. Thats a mission we took on and thats what we did overnight and it was difficult and dangerous work for everyone involved. We remain ready today with the National Guard and doing our best to hold that ground well and to make sure we restore order and clean that spot up and better than it was before and continue our efforts that Public Safety is of paramount concern as we move forward tonight and into the future and Work Together to restore order across the city of minneapolis. We had a couple of missions across other places, the State Capitol ap the city of st. Paul on things occurring on university avenue. Of eeded every single one them to do this job. We remain ready. Were doing our best to hold to make nd well and re restore order, sure that spot up and make that Public Safety is of paramount concern both tonight and work he future together to restore order across the entire city of minneapolis. Had a a side note we couple of missions in other places. Our responsibility at the state also assisted the city of pall with some lawless behavior that was occurring on we have some of our mobile Response Team assets. One thing ill note is that we troopers in the metropolitan area from all across the state of minnesota. T was an opportunity that we afforded the governor to make a staffing boost thats within the executive branch and within the ability of state patrol to do on very short notice. To those troopers that responded. The dnr officers that responded across the state of minnesota. Period e for an unknown of time and worked very hard to make minnesota what it should place for everybody. Thank you. I would note before we take questions, and well try to make sure we answer every one or as many as you need to ask. I would note to the reporters it was about ota, three weeks ago i stood in front of you and as we passed 500 and said on id19 about the 29th of may we would pass a thousand that. Will happen today so in the of this pandemic, were still working that. Are lieve, again, numbers down. Icu bed capacity is stable, and doing everything we can, and as you heard from the folks speaking the vast majority of there expressing their first am. Rights in the rage over what happened to george floyd were masks and were trying their best to social distance add not touch things. Before i go to questions i would note that the desire to get back so overwhelming for everyone, when so many in minnesota have said what else could happen . This, but i ed think its an important time to pause. So many of is, for us, thinking that normal is where we want to go. Was not working for many communities. Normal was not working for precovid19. Its certainly not working now, heard the ink as you attorney general talk about that work hat were trying to at, to use this as pint and not but the point ly to make those changes. With that, mary will start. The public, the public did not see you, hear did not address the public the last few nights . I certainly dont think its tv. Ortant to be on i think what you expected me, we support role as state law shows and once it became parents to me that the city of would not be able to complete that i was directing that over. O take this is my responsibility. To the ou announce public your plans . Obviously, if you think i didnt thats probably the case in theporter but i think moment of making sure as those decisions were being made and that we were staying in the lane support ere asked to this, and as it deteriorated, it was it was a decision last made, to come in front of you at that time, because that was the transition point because what youre seeing the state is the lead element now starting at 12 05 last night and those first that is were carried out. So for many of you, i try to make myself as available as possible. I think it was important for me to be getting the data and feedback. You were hing what seeing and to be quite candid when the third precinct was that ned, it seemed at point in time that that was the move. O did you evacuate . Now stayed in the residence. All the electronic tools. We were on all night. As i said, we were taking calls adjusting. I was able to track as the on going down ed there. I was a dangerous task that tasked the state patrol and National Guard. Those who were watching as i was, as lawlessness was burning down the third precinct. Allowed to happen. Thats where i was at to make sure it was executed. Tom . Millions of americans and minnesotans certainly watching on their tv screens as this last night, there was almost a complete lack of visibility of local police, police, National Guard, after much fanfare about how the in. Onal guard was coming people watched buildings burn, have been a re not Clear Mission for the National Guard, when they were called in, and you knew things were going to happen last night . Backlet my leadership come up here. Youre absolutely right that. Speaks to itself, by shortly become 00 it had apparent that that structure would go. The way this works is the mayor task and lead on the mission. I see that, too, i think the i ision to not engage, and want to be clear. There is philosophically an an ment to be made that armed presence on the ground in the midst of where we just had a olice killing is seen as a catalyst. My point to that was, we dont catalyst. Its already burning, so this was trying to strike that balance. Im in total agreement with that. See that tonight. There will be no lack of leadership and there will be no table. Response on the should there have been on very corner, in those areas last night, as a deterrent, as opposed to having them come in . This one. Swer potentially, but the decision on that, as its made from the think i on this one i would agree with them. We saw the first night, decisions were made. Up until about 8 30 last evening it appeared that things were relatively peaceful on that. There was a decision during the day, did you occupy the entire city and shut it down after hours . 24 in retrospect, im assuming that but, we would say at the time, and again, proving he negative, would it simply have started that movement faster and would we have seen it third precinct . Yes. Certainly its a valid critiquing point. Yes . There there was uncontrolled looting in st. Paul. Why were you not making those ecisions then and coming up with the scenario the leadership of communities leadership and their police force. They were at that time they serve. Rces in they were not being requested. They were not being requested. The reason were standing here today, if this would have been executed correctly the state would not this. On the state would have supported those and moved forward. That did not happen. That. Today were taking were making the decision to go and move forward. Again, i would go back to toms question. Had i known that we were not going to see that should the potentially me in, but i want to be very clear, with the exception of the state roopers who have a very specific statutory requirement on the highways, order is to the police and sheriffs. Policeot have a builtin force. We have experts but these are on the police force that are their streets with their people. That was made. On it was in reserve, and yes, as this n mind unfolded, the request came from st. Paul for the guard to be at 5 00. I had moved on a warning order earlier than that to be prepared. Supposed to wait until you get that and start moving them in. That wasnt going to be possible by 5 00 yesterday, our guard troops were coming from all over. They were getting activated ecause of the events that happened the night before, and we were prepared to carry out those missions. And they were there. As you heard some of these folks, those missions never came. Talking about a lack of clarity or lack of a mission, it extraordinary. From t supposed to come the mayor or the Police Department . Why was it failed to be given . Yeah, again, as it relates to management, in minnesota, county emergency anagement coordinators do exactly what you just asked. They define what they need and what they want, and thats the state eoc and the department of Public Safety along with the agency for. Are asking its not always the National Guard in this case. It is the National Guard its negotiated with the National Guard is to make sure that we have the do the mission thats being asked. So yes. The always in support of local leadership. The local civilian leadership. To ve no authority selfdeploy the minnesota in the guard anywhere state. I have no authority whatsoever so i followed exactly what you out. Civilian leadership. Civilian elected efficiency make he request and we work with them because if im not accomplishing their task and failure ofon, i risk mission. I also risk the chance that i the law. Ak right . I cant just march my soldiers say, nto minneapolis and this is what john jensen to do. S is what we need thats not how our military responds and reports to leadership. Civilian so what you asked is exactly right. Thats exactly how its supposed work. Walz, were you told that the plan was to let the protestors take over the third if thats true why did it take until 10 30 for that o happen, and why were you not called until after midnight to take over the third precinct . Youll havequestion to ask the mayor. I think that the commitment to hold the third was not one felt comfortable with and its one that we discussed during the day. Told ere the potential that the third not be held, thats correct. That they would be at some point. What is your response to that tactic given what we saw last night . Well, obviously, that was the turning point, where we were prepared, and thats where we moved in. Where we did not believe that the third should be given up and thats why its not and by the a was taken back forces we put together starting about 3 40 ecuted a. M. Im like all of you watching it. You cant have civil order then you have d to make a calculated decision in t the force going theres does it escalate it, civilians or ger the force going in there . Its local Police Departments is how this works. Police force, state. We have the ability to come back and backfill. The closest we have to the force is the state patrol not their normal dangerous, putting people at risk, why allow it to get to that point . I understand what youre saying but as people are watching thats the question they are us. Ng 8 30 to 10 00, that was the decision to go. Totook time to build a force be able to got. Again, were seeing it and there was no definitive answer whether they were going to and im what you were seeing, there were still officers in the third precinct. Least i believe maybe you 9 00 or ct me until 10 00. E [inaudible] all those tools are there and thats in the planning stage right now. I dont want to take these folks from what they are doing. Weve been doing over the last 24 hours. I spent 24 years in the national myself. Im very familiar with how this works. Im very familiar with what jensen is asking. They get a warning order. They know what they need to do. An enlisted sold were start working with my troops to make sure they are packing the out r equipment, check it and drill through the things we needed to do. In many cases. E we n different situations, werent asked to help. Why not take a proactive approach . We are. Again, i think if we had seen two days ago, maybe yesterday, first to tell you that, in any of these things, if youre not secondguessing and the decisions being made youre going about this all wrong. Learned he lessons potentially so, but we have to count on our partners as things going. Im not sure that quick moving that were archists moving so quickly, one thing we aid, to prevent this from happening like at the super bowl or rnc, 18 months of planning went into that. Planning and prepositioning. 18 months of joint powers agreement. 18 months of lining up the that were there to make sure all those situation coos be there, because my situation on this is once you like that, im deeply concerned about the bad actors. Clear. To be very we own this. We own this in minnesota but there certainly, as people saw concern was yesterday, how many people would make their way here who are business. That so yeah i think its a valid question. Point is i have to operate in real space and realtime and by last evening was the second and in 8 30 or during the day until 8 30 we did st. Paul. N we asked to ask what was st. Paul. In they did stop a lot of that. That was what was being asked from them. Happened from about 8 30 at nature when the sun went what i saw was, the person breaching the barrier at the decision then to pull back out. Who hasnt asked, i need to make everybody. To governor, it sounds like you allow ing to demonstrations tonight . This would be in violation of Standing Order against of more than 10 people . No, were not allowing any of those. Again, absurdity in the middle of covid19, when state orked so hard as a to keep people from congregating. It goes back to this had in tion weve minnesota. This takes a social compact of this. E agreeing to do i just want to say. Watching what happened to george floyd, had people saying to hell. Im going out this cant happen again. The idea we would go in there and break up those expressions of grief and rage was ridiculous. The problem was, of not having in place with an expectation a crowd that big over such a volatile issue, weve seen his happen in city after city whether it was ferguson, whether it was l. A. , weve seen these that , that was the thing we started planning and asking but again youre seeing holes in planning. Dorn sure, as states and cities and counties on these happen. Start to let dave finish up. What are the rules for tonight . Thats whats being worked on right now. This is the plan that will be presented to me. Prepared to present that to minnesotans here by 2 00 or so. Hat i can tell you is a lot of it is going to be the operational things that you would expect to happen. There. Ill be there will be a presence out on the quarters. Going to art, but im ask again, i need to ask pain and s, those in those who feel like justice has not been served yet, you need to create the space so that that justice will be served and its my expectation that it will be swift. And that were able to maintain that order, and so that plan ill start to happen today and it will include, well think of all the tools that are there. Back to that again. The more of those things that are se the more those viewed as the oppressive things that led to this in the first place. Itt were trying to separate is the Law Enforcement First Amendment of grieved citizens who need to express that from clearly, im are telling you what, the arthermost thing from burning down a familyowned store at 3 00 a. M. On lake and t was george floyd, at. Ts what weve got to get a question for you and a question for the general, first, are you concerned that the ivilian leadership of minneapolis has lost control of its Police Department and for the general, are the guardsmen what on the streets and are the limits on that use of armament . Candidly, i dont think this is a secret to anybody that the minneapolis en the Police Department and many of their communities is a pretty and im n thing, certainly i dont know any way to express it other than have lost faith in them and felt that they were part of the problem. And certainly, seeing a uniformed Minneapolis Police neon George Floyds neck on monday pretty much tells is thinking public towards that. I dont think you could think it was a mistake of who was leading hat down there and that it changed the tone that was there. Im concerned. I think it would be disingenuous. I know this is painful. This is hard. There is going to be recriminations. Be, going back to and looking at this as there should be. Priority now is the immediate security to make sure that what happened in the last 8 hours does not happen tonight. The state of minnesota has assumed that responsibility. Its going to be easy. These folks are really good at they were trying to do on causing destruction. The way were able to stop it is tools with the support of the public to make sure we isolate these folks. You can that you think firebomb a building and not be arrested and spend serious time but il, i understand that the idea that we dont want to are out there still asking, what about george floyd . To those people . What happened to the people who did this . 48 hours of in anarchy . Get arrested early this morning on live television. There tellanyone out me how many looters or arsonists have been arrested over the past two days in the twin cities . Ill use this as an pportunity, as i set, tom, im deeply apologetic that this happened. I understand the community would targeted, this were i, as i told zucker, president i dont care at this point what the circumstance was why, they got arrested. Its wrong, its unacceptable and we need to correct it. Others, who can answer . Anybody got charge or arrested . Yes. Both st. Paul and state patrol and others have made arrests on i glary, arson charges, believe arson charges, i know burglary for sure, they have arrested. There has been stops. There have been folks incarcerated. Not know if they have been charged because most of them last 24 hours. E breaking into the grocery the , breaking into ets, breaking into decimated with folks. We believe who were seeking out of n and on opioids the pharmacy stock. So weve been chasing that around as well as chasing the setting have been fires. Yes there, have been arrests ade, and there will be more arrests made. Do you have a number, roughly . Ill get you a number. That. t have i asked both the minneapolisst. Paul and the other folks part of command to get me information by 10 00 or 11 00 this morning. Received it yet but im hopeful ill get it, and ill it to you as soon as we get it. Your reaction to president s tweet, related to minnesota and what he said. Well, its not helpful. Did speak to the president last evening. At that point in time, it was in process of where i said we were going to assume control of unnecessary. Was i did not know he was going to tweet. He certainly can. Its just not helpful. Its not helpful. The city of minneapolis is doing everything they can. And there are made is an accountability we need to do that but in the moment, where so e at, in a moment thats volatile, anything we do to add fuel to that fire is really, challenging, so as i said i spoke to the president. He pledged his support of in terms of eed supplies to get to us. There is a way to do this ithout inflaming, and again this one is so difficult, as i tools of , the restoring order are viewed by so any as the things that have oppressed and started this problem in the first place so it would just be more helpful at this point in time. If we need support from them its certainly appropriate that well ask but at this point in confident that the plan today to restore this order. I dont know. Commissioner harrington and attorney general ellison, when we first came into office last things s is one of the we wanted. As the governor, the nightmare scenario of having a policeinvolved shooting, or as they started working this. Ill hear [inaudible] well, governor, thank you. Time k this really is the to Start Talking about how we do reform. Ul deep dive grab a number to of people from diverse interests in the community. We had people from the from the civil community. We had Law Enforcement there. We had Law Enforcement from across the state. For about a year. We had a professional Assistance Group that guided the 21st Century Policing process, obama started, and we came up with a number of key recommendations. To you. T that report we hope you write about it. Super charges the need for the effort. It was just a few recommendations a few few vations and then a recommendations. One openings is, you know, a lot occur in ounters that our state are not concentrated in the twin cities. A majority of them were in greater minnesota, although many were in the twin cities. Them were people in the Mental Health crisis. A number alked about of things. We talked about officer wellness. Dealing with criestocrisis to crisis, check n and get right before they go back and enxwaj the public. Talked about we talked sanctity of life a central principle which mayor hodges did when she was the mayor. We made duty to intervene. Were recommending that be youre a meaning, if police officer, you see a fellow officer doing something wrong, its not me. St say youve got to do something about it. We came up with a number of that i think es are really helpful. Involving training, reform at the post board, and a number of things. Think that now, there is a effort. Further the ill say that i think, looking practiceic pattern and problems in the minneapolis olice department, is an appropriate conversation at this time. I think that we need to really to make eep diving, sure that our Law Enforcement rofessionals really do and really are serving the public, the whole public, so ill say hope that our state Legislature Takes up some of the in iatives that we have there, the Academic Community will take up some of it. Training communities will take it. Ome of of the recommendations was a dual response when there are Mental Health not just its officers who dont have the training on how to deal with someone in that situation. A priority and ill hand harrington. Sioner he covered most of the points. The one other point that ill group was very much based out of community. From a ht in folks variety of different diverse and geographic communities. E brought in folks from the disability community. To make sure that all kinds of of es were heard, and one the voices that i heard most clearly was the need for ommunity healing and community health. And so one of the recommendations that we have put we still think, it was important before, but i have as r seen it as acutely important as it is right now, is for community healing. He question that we asked, and that i ask here with you is, how when he Community Recover heart has been ripped out . [inaudible] were working with the county t charging o is if authority to make sure were ollowing their guidance as we move forward in seeking prosecution. Heard that for the last few days. Were still in the middle of an Ongoing Investigation so i cant much more than that other than past practice for the criminal apprehension of the Police Department has been, they work with the county sure that they have checked all the is and all the ts and made sure everything is in order before they make an arrest, or before there is a weve g decision, and been following that protocol with county attorney freeman in this case. We have some history with freeman in terms of past cases. Not successful, some successful depending on what your perspective is. Be discussions that this case is different. This is difficulty than past cases. Were aware that there is certainly a sentiment that its different but from the point of of the law, we have a man has ended. We have the pursuit of trying to what were the facts that surround that and be able enough probable cause or enough bases for a criminal for an arrest. 101, that you much have to have and thats what were working toward. Couple of covidrelated questions. The state spent hundreds of illions of dollars helping businesses with covid. Are you ready to respond to the usinesses in minneapolis that have been affected by this and offer them absolutely. Weve been moving people out detentions because of covid. If there are significant rrests, do we have a place to put folks because of the outbreak . Well, yeah. To law listen enforcement on this one. These are great questions. Too. That we came up with, whats going to happen. My hope is and again, hope is not plan. Need to execute that but i think what minnesotans nderstand, is whats at stake, and getting back to the focus of george floyd and our community issues. Tonight needs to be different, and when i say that, t needs to be different in the questions youre asking. Im stepping in. This is the state is responding. What we have. Well use the tools so hopefully side, ill ask john sure. I think this is certainly something, we did not finish our work in the regular session. Coming back on the 12th probably and working with the legislature. I think there is great desire to figure out how to do this. The tragedy of this, as i said is a community that felt this tragedy. Believes that t they were that this has happened. Say the i hear people system the system is broken, and communities of color will oh no, the system is working just fine for certain people, not us. We needfor us right now to take a hard look about reinvesting, bringing lake hoping that were there is insurance for these folks, differed things that we can do but i think certainly our vitality back is one. I do need to get my question earlier r. The National Guardsmen on the street the limits to are that . Well come back. So the first question, are they armed . Yes, they are currently armed. On that. Background yesterday afternoon, we received what i assessed was a credible specifically to the minnesota National Guard. Made redible threat was available to us by the f. B. I. Walzred that with governor along with my recommendation, i felt as though it was a credible we at and as a result, should arm the minnesota National Guard. Me,ernor walz concurred with and authorized me to arm the minnesota National Guard. Limits of their use of force . We traditionally dont talk the use of force because its an operational issue but this. Ell you maintain the right to selfdefense. You. K i think i heard general protecting theut State Capitol. Were they referring to the State Capitol building . Re you concerned that that building needs to be protected . And then as a follow up, when ill you make a decision on a curfew for tonight . Hopefully around 2 00, tom. Give us athat to you, little bit of time as they are finalizing but thats one of the questions. We had brought up the Capitol Building before that. Symbolic targets, the some of it was online. Thats the one question that i of the National Guard and what im asking, before, the ities needed to ask for what they needed, the preservation of the capitol and Capitol Grounds will still be enforced. Physically been. Ey are and they have governor walz, the last time carter made the claim that he the agitators are not from minneapolis or st. Paul . Do we believe that most of the burning down buildings and so forth are minneapolisst. Paul . I certainly think and im not speculate, i think probably the assumption is there but as i who come in said earlier, the thing that homeed this is a minnesota grown thing. The event that sparked it. Most of the problems are not residents . No, i dont know that. Rightk we cant tell that now but i think much of how a ot of what happened, this is minnesota. We need to find out. Dont think it changes the calculus that much, how we respond to it. Not taking ownership of it its been done by people from outoftown. Ownership. m taking we on it. Do you classify the dership [inaudible] no. Said my issues [inaudible] Minneapolis Police department. Ill assume responsibility if the issue was that the state moved faster, that is on me. Whether its the forces that were underneath. A lack of nk leadership. I think the lack of coordination and lack of understanding what to ask for, and again, thats in retrospect. Could be criticism said to us but the way things are lined up that was their responsibility at that point. To its our responsibility do that and weve been in docked with the mayors. They are doing everything they situation n in a thats unprecedented. Thats a ink, again, opout of, saying its unprecedented, you cant do anything about it. Were learning lot. Planned uations were for at the rnc, 18 months of planning and hundreds of dollars. Of this came about after the killing of george floyd on monday night. The started to ramp up when video came out on tuesday. T accelerated into wednesday and thursday and here we sat. Follow up on what you said earlier about charges, the thing is people dont understand the difference between types of crime, meaning, mr. Floyd is not to be released on the street pending an investigation. Have seen what concluded, [inaudible] the authorized [inaudible] typically, in a situation actually have witnessed a crime and youre to apprehend le the suspect, it would be not to have made an arrest, brought that person in, and then offered to the county attorney what you were able to put together in terms of nformation, to seek a criminal charge. If there was no criminal charge, because you did not have theicient information, then pending released further investigation. Because there was a lag time theeen when the video, when event occurred, when the video was out, and when vca brought into this, there was not and so a mediacy, criminal investigation was nitiated by the vca very quickly. Coordination with swezy. With the lowell that he wants to terms of an officer involved death case. Were following the protocols established. E continue to follow those protocols. We continue to meet with the county attorney. We want to meet with the f. B. I. The u. S. Attorney. As we continue to seek justice can we do and t hat are we allowed to do in bringing this case to a conclusion. Quick one. Do the guardsmen have the and detain . Arrest , no we do not have that authority. In our hy typically missions well always have a law with us. Nt officer so we have that support immediately available. But no, we dont. Talked a lot about plans here. Can you assure minnesota thanks repeat of t see a the unrest last night, tonight, or the for the rest of the weekend . I cant assure you but the responsibility to make sure it and t happen falls on me ill do everything in my power to do that. I spent 24 years in the National Guard. Surrounded by good people. Were pulling the assets in. ll need the help of minnesotans, ill need folks to cooperate to get this through. I want to acknowledge the pain people are feeling, need to get justice. Im just going to respond to question on this, too. T was an excellent question asking about the charges and things. Im not an attorney. I listen to them, and they are governorerned that the has to be very careful about what they say about prejudicing a case. Want to make sure everybody gets justice, but the questions minnesotans and the outrage they are feeling, im feeling them. Of my will all puffer to maintain that point of able asked but the way im to get them justice is by making sure that i put things in place, that civil order is maintained. That we make it clear that there expectation that justice is moved forward, and as elle son says l this is a point in time that we and not forget. George, we cannot forget, the aftermath of this, as if we would, but we have to get back o that point of what caused this all to happen and start working on that . Frustration the and the wondering why this is, this is a community that year decade ar, decade after and generation after generation hears this. Lott now i know there are a of folks out there listening, their answer is, ill belief it. N it i see ill believe when it justice is carried out. Ill believe when it the policies change. Belief when it my child gets the same education as your child and color didnt matter it. I get it right now. Were asking a lot to be based thats not panned out. I do want to say this is a state again, i think were coming to grips with the good we have and that thats not there but it always boston about be better. Im not trying to sugarcoat this. Just like with covid19 ive had to stand in front of you and tell you its going to get worse before it gets better. Easy journey an but the one thing we have to ensure, that civil order is so those changes that we want to see, none of us can ive in a society where roving bands go unchecked and do what they want to do. Ruin property, and the the tation is where are police . And this is the conundrum. Where are the police in the us in this got situation monday night . And where the Police Last Night . Heard from numerous people, im super nervous about broughtonal guard being in there. Its a flash point. I understand that. Heard from some of those same people at 2 00 with a different tone. Where is the National Guard . Where is the National Guard . So over these next 24 to 48 work with us to get the situation controlled. To talk to those mayors up 247. Someone about calling out on lack of leadership. Its about an issue that developed and figuring out how get there. This is volatile. This has been building for decades. His flash point came to us and now what are we going to do about and it happened in the iddle of an unprecedented global pandemic. So it gives us a chance. Were going to pick our paths here. Uickly how are we going to be seen by the world in the coming days . Seen e we going to be after that . How are we going to respond to another . And what are we going to do about it. Gain, if i were everybody in these communities listening i would say im going to believe it when i see it. Task at hand is, get civil control back. Quickly, andmoving horoughly, and Start Talking about together, how do we rebuild . In the e rebuild trust police . How do we rebuild those stores . Society . E rebuild a how do we send that space to the world that sees us for many things but we need to recognize this is what they are seeing and we need to take a and figure out how do we change that . I want to thank you all. Gain, im going to close because of the importance, as i said with the press. Apologies to the reporters that were out there. Xpectations that, again, that cannot happen. Well do our best today, and i ould ask all of you, as an Ongoing Mission to make sure we have peace and security today, is making sure that that story is told. Im asking our team to make sure that press credentials, ability protect you nd safely, needs to be out there so this is covered. Lease let us know quickly on that. Please make sure thats happening. Show the world everything thats happening here through hat lens of professional journalists, who ask the questions youre asking today. Thank you all. National copyright kale Satellite Corp 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] former Vice President joe biden said americans need to confront institutional racism. Family ith mr. Floyds and made these remarks shortly taken intofficer was degree murder d charges. Had an opportunity to speak with the floyd family, a them. Of most of them. They are close, decent, an loving one mily, another. And once again, we had the heard the words, and they breathe. Em, i cant an act