FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Here's the letter in the text, without pretty format

[Rev. Kendyl Gibbons (uukendyl]

Sorry about the attachment confusion; here's the text of the letter:



Councilmember Don Samuels
Minneapolis City Hall, Room 307
350 South 5th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Dear Mr. Samuels,

The Social Action Committee of the First Unitarian Society and I urge you to
probe more deeply into questions surrounding the recent death of Quincy
Deshawn Smith.  Public knowledge at present is limited to the fact that
Smith, a well-known disc jockey in the North Minneapolis community, had an
encounter with five police officers early in the morning of December 9,
during the course of which he was subdued with a Taser.  He was then
observed to be in medical distress, and died soon after at Hennepin County
Medical Center.  We understand that the officers involved have been placed
on paid administrative leave pending completion of an investigation into
these events.  

We join Quincy Smith's mother and father, as well as the north side
community, and you, in the desire to understand what happened that resulted
in the death of this young man.  It is important to us to support our police
in the appropriate performance of their duties, and to nurture safe
neighborhoods for all our citizens.  We are best able to achieve these goals
when we can be assured that everyone is held accountable for their actions,
and for this purpose, the public needs to be kept informed of what is
learned in this investigation.

Thank you for all your work on behalf of our city, for justice and peace in
our community.

Happy holidays,