In what has become a rallying cry for justice and recognition, the Minneapolis community has been mobilized following the tragic death of Allison Lussier, a 47-year-old Indigenous woman found deceased in her North Loop apartment last year. Jason Chavez of Minneapolis Ward 9 participated in a recent Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives March, where community members came together to honor not just Lussier, but the myriad of Indigenous individuals who have suffered similar fates.
The march coincides with the Minneapolis City Council's unanimous decision earlier in the week, addressing calls from constituents for an independent After Action Review of the Minneapolis Police Department's involvement. The formal request for this review was authored by Chavez, Council Member Robin Wonsley, and Council President Elliott Payne.
An unsettling statistic sheds light on the gravity of the violence faced by Indigenous communities in Minnesota—with Indigenous people representing one percent of the state's population, yet accounting for nine percent of all murdered girls and women in the state from 2010 to 2019, according to the 2019 Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force.
The Community Commission of Police Oversight has also positioned itself in the dialogue, formally requesting an After Action Review amidst the public outcry. At the heart of the community's demands is the quest for accountability and a transparent examination of the circumstances surrounding Lussier's untimely death. Chavez relayed the sentiment, "I am glad we were able to take this step to honor Allison’s life and seek justice," a recognition of not only the sorrow, but the resolve of those left to grapple with her loss.
