Minneapolis DFL Chair Devin Hogan Says Burning Third Precinct ‘Act of Pure Righteousness

 

The Minneapolis DFL Chair Devin Hogan said in an op-ed that the burning down of the Third Precinct last summer was an “act of pure righteousness.” Hogan wrote a column in the Southside Pride, that said lighting the precinct on fire was a “genuine revolutionary moment.”

In the op-ed, titled “The cops started it,” Hogan makes his case for the violence that occurred in Minneapolis in May of 2020 after the death of George Floyd. He said, “They [police] killed George Floyd and took every opportunity to escalate, agitate and make things worse.” He went on to say that “The cops are rioting and the people are responding.”

Hogan explained his view of how events unfolded. He said, “People hid behind bus shelters and moved dumpsters into the street to protect themselves from the unpredictable violence, sometimes setting them alight.” Hogan claimed police officers were shooting non-lethals “indiscriminately” and “unprovoked” and “non-stop,” calling it “the Boys in Blue showing off.”

He also touched on some of the looting that occurred. “The Target across the street wouldn’t let protesters into the store to purchase posterboard and markers to make signs. It got looted. Brand new flatscreen TVs and other detritus were used to build more barricades,” he wrote.

Hogan said through “the lens of anti-racism and decolonization” all the things that happened “unfolded in unsurprising ways.” He wrote, “The people declared themselves ungovernable and unilaterally took their power back.” Hogan said that the actions were “genuine liberation” and encouraged readers that “the work continues.”

He closed his op-ed with a call to action. Hogan wrote, “This is our job. Minneapolis must answer the call. For real this time. For real for real. Do it for the kids.”

Hogan came under fire for his comments and doubled down, tweeting that “the truth hurts.” Some DFL lawmakers even criticized his position and said that he was not speaking for the party. However, DFL State Senate WHIP Jason Isaacson retweeted Hogan’s official media statement regarding the op-ed, where Hogan said “fetishizing decorum over substance is a hallmark of white supremacy.”

Yesterday many democrats tried to say that comments by the Minneapolis DFL chair were not representative of their party. Last night DFL Senate Whip @jasondisaacson blew that argument up. pic.twitter.com/TSkJ5TL7Je

— Jeff Kolb (@jpkolb) August 10, 2021

Isaacson tweeted out Tuesday morning that he would “never ever endorse violence as a solution to our problems. That is simply not how a democracy works.”

Just so people know, I never ever endorse violence as a solution to our problems. That is simply not how a democracy works.

— Jason Isaacson (@jasondisaacson) August 10, 2021

In another tweet, also doubling down on his statements about the riots, Hogan shared that he will be writing a column weekly and that “Accurately describing reality is not a call to violence. ”

To those upset with my new column in Southside Pride who won’t say anything to my face: the truth hurts. To the TV station writing a story about the mad people: I’ll be writing a column every month. Accurately describing reality is not a call to violence. https://t.co/9xSkizh7A8

— Devin Hogan (@devinforparks) August 7, 2021

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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Devin Hogan” by Devin Hogan.