Dayton wants to move forward from Jamar Clark decision

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - Gov. Mark Dayton made it clear Thursday he wants to help Minneapolis, and the state, move forward following Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman’s decision not to charge the two Minneapolis police officers involved in the deadly shooting of Jamar Clark on Nov. 15.

The governor issued statement Wednesday expressing his condolences to Clark’s family, but he has now made it clear he is looking ahead at what comes next.

“We need to move ahead,” Dayton said. “I want the legislature to consider and then approve upon and then pass my financial package for equity. And, we got to rebuild lives, we’ve got to rebuild communities.  We’ve got to improve lives and improve communities and that’s my focus.”

Initially, the governor disclosed the Minnesota Department of Public Safety showed him one of the video clips from the back of the ambulance on the night of the deadly shooting. At the time, he said it was inconclusive.
However, his comments fed into protestors demands that the public see the video and all of the evidence.

On Thursday, the governor said he has not seen the videos released by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and therefore has no way of knowing if he was shown the same video of the officers wrestling with Clark to the ground.

WATCH - Videos from Jamar Clark police shooting evidence file 

While the governor declines to weigh in on the case, he has been very sympathetic to the cause of Black Lives Matter and the NAACP toward improving the economic conditions of people of color.

In his new budget, the governor has proposed spending $100 million on a number of programs to reduce racial disparities.

“I think we all recognize that we need to move ahead,” Dayton said. “We’ve got a lot of improving to do in terms of opportunities for individuals our communities and that’s my focus.” 

Dayton said his priority is the best way people think would help close those gaps so that people have better opportunities in the state.

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