Frey denounces violence against Minneapolis city workers as threatening flyer surfaces

A flyer that threatens retaliation towards metropolis leaders for clearing out homeless encampments is circulating via south Minneapolis.

The writing on the flyer says, “You Sweep, We Strike,” and has a picture of an individual throwing what seems to be a Molotov cocktail. The flyer names a prime aide to Mayor Jacob Frey in addition to the top of Neighborhood Planning and Financial Growth and the director of Regulatory Providers.

The flyer additionally stated “public works amenities and tools utilized in evictions are sometimes left unguarded and susceptible,” which some at Metropolis Corridor stated is a transparent sign the authors of the flyer intend to focus on metropolis property and tools for potential vandalism.

Mayor Frey spoke earlier than a full Metropolis Council assembly and denounced the flyer and likewise stated he has seen a “disturbing” pattern of violence and threats of violence towards metropolis staff.

“All through the primary quarter of this 12 months I’ve obtained a disturbing variety of telephone calls and textual content messages and emails relating to staff who’ve had their lives actually threatened resulting from security issues and violence in our metropolis,” Frey stated. “We have now had site visitors management brokers who’ve had weapons pulled on them.”

Metropolis Council Public Well being and Security Committee Chairperson LaTrisha Vetaw instructed 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS she was alarmed by the flyer. She says she has obtained quite a few complaints from metropolis employees about threats on the job, together with a snowplow driver who stated his truck was shot at whereas plowing final winter.

“The flyer is disgusting and it’s actually, actually heartbreaking to see our employees attacked and named,” Vetaw stated. “I imply, whoever created that flyer had the audacity to call our employees and there’s no means enterprise will be completed with folks threatening employees and likewise threatening the property of the town.”

Related threats with the message “You Sweep, We Strike” occurred in Seattle final month. Based on KOMO, the town’s ABC affiliate station, $16,000 in harm was inflicted on Seattle’s Parks and Recreation constructing and a few of its tools as a result of staff in that division help with clearing homeless encampments.

Minneapolis police instructed KSTP they’re “wanting into” the flyer however haven’t but recognized who is likely to be behind its contents and distribution.