WILD Conversations: Minneapolis City Ballot Question 2 - A New Department of Public Safety?

Minneapolis is holding its first citywide elections since the murder of George Floyd. One of the most closely watched and hotly debated items on the ballot is Question 2, which would eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a new Department of Public Safety. Join us for an engaging discussion with legal experts analyzing this important question.  Our panelists have each studied public safety and racial equity. Together they will provide an objective overview of the ballot question, the different positions arising around it, and potential outcomes should it pass or not. Whether you live in Minneapolis and still have questions before you vote, or are simply interested in learning more on the subject, please join us. 

Moderator: Tane Danger

Panelists: Josh Esmay, (Legal Rights Center), Rachel Moran (University of St. Thomas School of Law), Justin Terrell (Minnesota Justice Research Center)

Panelists and Moderator

Tane Danger, Moderator
Tane Danger has been a host and moderator since 2011. He is best known for creating the Theater of Public Policy, a show that uses interviews with newsmakers and improv comedy to help make sense of complex current events. Theater of Public Policy has been called “C-SPAN if it were suddenly swarmed by the cast of SNL.”

Rachel Moran, Associate Professor of Law, University of St. Thomas

Rachel Moran is an associate professor and founder of the Criminal and Juvenile Defense Clinic at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. The 2020 graduating class selected her as the law school’s Professor of the Year. Moran focuses her scholarship on issues pertaining to police accountability, policing reform, and public access to records of police misconduct. In 2019 she was named a Bellow Scholar, a biennial national recognition for clinical professors engaged in empirical research that has significant potential to improve the quality of justice. Her articles have appeared in the Boston College Law Review, UC Irvine Law Review, Washington Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, Villanova Law Review, and Buffalo Law Review, among others. Her work has also been cited in CNN, The Economist, Vox, Bloomberg News, and many other media outlets.

Justin Terrell, Executive Director, MNJRC
Justin Terrell is a community leader with a track record of executing successful issue campaigns. With an expertise in Criminal Justice and Democracy reform, Terrell has led campaigns to expand fair hiring and remove barriers to voting. Terrell is an accomplished trainer and has led political education locally, nationally and in Central Europe. He has mobilized thousands across the state of Minnesota and has worked to develop community members as advocates, organizers and leaders. In his new role as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, Terrell brings his leadership and expertise to an organization whose mission is to transform Minnesota's justice system. Through research, education and policy development, the MJRC is positioned to build a statewide effort to build a justice system that is more humane and reflects our commonly shared values.

Joshua Esmay, Attorney, Legal Rights Center
Josh joined the Legal Rights Center in 2016 after serving as the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Council on Crime and Justice; his work with the Legal Rights Center is supported through a Robins Kaplan fellowship..  He previously worked for the Ramsey County Public Defender’s office. Josh specializes in advocacy and legal assistance that helps individuals overcome the burdens of criminal records, and maintains his subject expertise to support the training and education of others on the topic. .He has served as president of the Minnesota Community Corrections Association and co-chaired the Second Chance Coalition.

This program is open to the public. Register below!