Central Minnesota Legal Services Stands for Racial Justice, Inclusion and Fairness in the Justice System
Our hearts are heavy due to the tragic murder of George Floyd and the outpouring of grief, anger and despair within our local community. We recognize the great pain that many in our community are feeling. Many of our staff members and clients live in Minneapolis, and have direct connections to the tragedy at the intersection of Chicago Avenue South and 38th Street. Many of our clients have experienced the weight of systemic racism and abuse of power that has been a part of our society for so many years.
As an organization whose mission is to provide “high quality legal services to improve the lives of people living in poverty,” we strive to be champions of justice and speak truth to power. The recent events in our city cause us to believe even more strongly in the necessity to highlight the unfairness in our world and prioritize the work of building an inclusive and equitable community. As advocates in the justice system, we are committed to speak out against racial injustice and fight for fairness in our legal system.
While our hearts are burdened by the presence of hatred and injustice in our world and we grieve for all who are suffering, ahead of us there is a path that leads forward. We must be champions of truth. We must kindle hope, demand access to justice for all, and persist in the fierce belief that civil legal assistance is a right.