Minnesota

Minneapolis City Council urges amnesty for pro-Palestinian protesters at U. of Minnesota

Published

12 months ago

December 4, 2024

Minneapolis City Council urges amnesty for pro-Palestinian protesters at U. of Minnesota

University of Minnesota students filled the Minneapolis City Council meeting room Tuesday and successfully lobbied a narrow majority of council members to urge authorities to back off discipline and charges against protesters opposing the Israel-Hamas war.

By a 7-5 vote, council members, meeting as a committee, approved a resolution “expressing solidarity with nonviolent campus activism opposing war and supporting Palestinian human rights” and urging the university to rescind all discipline against students involved in an October protest. It also asks prosecutors to back off any criminal charges against the protesters.

The U disputes that all the protesters were nonviolent.

The resolution goes to the full council on Thursday and, if passed, then to Mayor Jacob Frey, who released a statement Tuesday night saying he’ll veto the resolution because while he supports First Amendment rights, that doesn’t extend to actions that endanger the safety of others.

“The council’s resolution risks setting a disturbing precedent that must apply to all groups evenly regardless of the cause they are protesting,” Frey said. “It is concerning to me that any council member could view this as acceptable, and I will veto the resolution without hesitation.”

PRO-PALESTINIAN supporters at the headquarters of the International Criminal Court, at the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War, in October 2023. (credit: PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/REUTERS)

At Tuesday’s meeting, students and professors held signs and wore T-shirts in support of the protesters and dismay at the university’s reaction to an October 21 protest where several hundred pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered and about a dozen were arrested after barricading Morrill Hall, the site of the Twin Cities campus administrative offices.

Council urges university to drop penalties

During the protest, Students for a Democratic Society used patio furniture to create barricades, covering the building’s front windows, as part of their push for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

University officials say protesters spray-painted security cameras, broke interior windows, and barricaded entrances and exits, trapping staffers for “an extended period of time.” University police and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested at least 11 protesters soon after.

The resolution was sponsored by Council Member Robin Wonsley, who said campus activism has been crucial to many movements, including the civil rights movement.

“Nearly all of these nonviolent protests were criminalized and repressed at the time but are now widely celebrated and praised for taking bold and necessary action to achieve social change,” she said.

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Wonsley accused the university of trying to criminalize student protesters by evicting them from student housing, suspending them for up to 2½ years and making them pay up to $5,000 in restitution in one case.

Juliet Murphy of Students for a Democratic Society said seven of eight student protesters who were arrested and jailed were recently told they could be suspended for one to five semesters, be ordered to do 20 hours of community service and have to write a five- to 10-page essay on the difference between protest and vandalism. Murphy said one was told they would have to pay $5,636 in restitution in order to be readmitted to the university.

A university spokesman said federal and state privacy laws prevent the university from confirming or commenting on any specifics related to individual student discipline.

The City Council resolution urges the university to rescind all academic charges, suspensions, fines, and evictions and instead work with the group to accomplish their goals. It also urges city and county attorneys to drop or not pursue criminal charges against the protesters.

A spokesman for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said only one person had been charged by that office in connection with the protest: a fourth-degree assault charge for spitting at a police officer. All the other cases were referred back to the police for additional investigation but haven’t been resubmitted for possible charges.

“Protesting at the University of Minnesota has a rich history, as the City Council states, and individuals safely exercising their freedom of speech are to be commended,” a statement by the office said.

U President Rebecca Cunningham has said the incident was not a peaceful protest, because “These actions crossed the line into illegal activity when they actively threatened the emotional and physical safety of our employees, prevented their free movement, disrupted building operations and destroyed campus property.”

In a Tuesday social media post, University of Minnesota Regent James Farnsworth accused Wonsley of making “a number of factual errors and misstatements” during the council meeting.

“As I’ve previously stated, peaceful and respectful protest/demonstration are cornerstone to a university campus,” he wrote. “That was not what took place in October.”

The students chose Morrill Hall because of its history as a site for activism: In 1969, 70 Black students occupied the building in a peaceful 24-hour protest against institutional racism.

U Associate Professor Sima Shakhsari, speaking as a private citizen, joined the students at the council meeting and said afterward that Morrill Hall has been the site of over ten occupations, and this is the harshest punishment the university has handed down. Some protesters spent more than 40 hours in jail before being released without charges, Shakhsari said.

“When it comes to Palestine, our students are marked as terrorists,” Shakhsari said. “The students have been punished enough.”

The resolution passed the Committee of the Whole — which comprises the full council — by a vote of 7-5 and was supported by Council Members Wonsley, Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Jeremiah Ellison, and Jamal Osman, as well as Council President Elliott Payne and Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai.

It was opposed by Council Members Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw, Katie Cashman, Emily Koski and Linea Palmisano.

Council Member Andrea Jenkins was absent.

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Minnesota

Jokic leads Denver against Minnesota after 55-point outing

Published

12 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

Jokic leads Denver against Minnesota after 55-point outing

Denver Nuggets (9-2, second in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8-4, fifth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Timberwolves -1; over/under is 233.5

BOTTOM LINE: Denver faces the Minnesota Timberwolves after Nikola Jokic’s 55-point game in the Nuggets’ 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Minnesota went 49-33 overall, 11-5 in Northwest Division action and 25-16 at home a season ago. The Timberwolves averaged 26.1 assists per game on 41.0 made field goals last season.

Denver went 50-32 overall and 8-8 in Northwest Division action during the 2024-25 season. The Nuggets averaged 120.8 points per game last season, 58.5 in the paint, 17.0 off of turnovers and 20.1 on fast breaks.

The two teams play for the second time this season. The Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves 127-114 in their last meeting on Oct. 28. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 43 points, and Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with 25 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (foot).

Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (arm), Nikola Jokic: day to day (wrist), Christian Braun: out (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Minnesota

Minnesota weather: Very warm and sunny Friday, breezy Saturday

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota weather: Very warm and sunny Friday, breezy Saturday

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Friday could be the warmest day until spring with lots of sunshine all day long.

Friday forecast

Local perspective:

Expect lots of sunshine with a few clouds in northern Minnesota.

A southern breeze could bring 20 mph wind gusts, but sustained winds will remain between 10 and 15 mph.

The temperatures could be the warmest in the area until spring, with the metro area hitting 67 degrees and southwest Minnesota possibly seeing 70 degrees.

Average highs for this time of year are in the lower 40s.

The sun will set around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, and temperatures will remain mild into the evening.

Overnight, clouds will move in with a weak cold front, possibly bringing light showers around 5 a.m. Saturday.

Weekend forecast

What’s next:

Temperatures on Saturday are expected to peak around midday, with a northwest breeze picking up.

The day will still be mild for this time of year, but temperatures will drop in the afternoon.

A cold front will work its way through the area, possibly bringing light showers along with it.

The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.

WeatherWeather Forecast

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Minnesota

No. 7 Oregon hosts rested Minnesota on Friday night

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2025

Press Room

No. 7 Oregon hosts rested Minnesota on Friday night

In an unusual scheduling quirk, Minnesota has a four-game winning streak when playing on Friday nights.

So certainly the Golden Gophers (6-3,-4-2 Big Ten) are hoping to continue the tradition this weekend in Eugene, and at the same time topple No. 7 Oregon (8-1, 5-1, No. 8 College Football Playoff).

Minnesota is coming off a bye week following a 23-20 overtime win at home over Michigan State that made the Gophers bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.

The victory was also Minnesota’s sixth straight at home. The problem for the Gophers is the road, where they’re 0-3 this season.

“We’ve played some really good football at home and on the road. We’ve also played some really good teams on the road. So we just got to find a way to be a little bit better each week, have a little more attention to detail in the things that we do — especially in our preparation — to go out there and play our best game of the year,” coach P.J. Fleck said.

Oregon staged a comeback 18-16 win on the road against Iowa last Saturday that might be one of the Ducks’ most notable victories when the season is all over.

Oregon went into the game against the Hawkeyes without a pair of key receivers, freshman Dakorien Moore and tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and lost Gary Bryant Jr. to an apparent foot injury in the first quarter. And it was played in horrendous weather.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore celebrates with fans after an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Iowa City, Iowa. Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall

But in the end, quarterback Dante Moore led a 10-play, 54-yard drive to set up Atticus Sappington’s game-winning 39-yard field goal with three seconds left.

“I thought our guys had great composure. And each guy had to do their part. It was one of those games where every phase mattered. They all contributed,” coach Dan Lanning said.

Dakorian Moore, a freshman, has caught 28 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns this season, while Sadiq has 22 catches for 311 yards and five scores. Bryant has pulled down 25 passes for 299 yards and four TDs.

As is his custom, Lanning wasn’t revealing much about the status of his injured played for Minnesota.

Minnesota players huddle on the field ahead of an NCAA... — Minnesota players huddle on the field ahead of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minn. Credit: AP/Alex Kormann

“If they’re ready, they’ll play,” he said.

Moore’s Moment

Lanning was surprised to learn that Moore had never led a game-winning final drive like the one against the Hawkeyes.

“I didn’t realize this, but this was Dante’s first opportunity to actually come back from being down in a two minute drive. He said that to me, in his career, not just in this game, but in his career, which I think is pretty, pretty awesome for him to have that moment, but he’s cool, calm and collected, executed at a high level,” Lanning said.

Moore threw for 112 yards and an interception in the challenging weather in Iowa. Overall, he’s thrown for 1,884 yards and 19 TDs with only five interceptions.

Lindsey to the rescue

Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey had his own late-game heroics in the Gophers’ last outing, rushing for the game-tying touchdown in regulation against Michigan State and then adding a 3-yard TD run in overtime to win it.

Fleck said starting an inexperienced quarterback comes with the acknowledgment that there will be highs and lows. It’s part of the maturation process.

“He’s played really well, then maybe inconsistent at times, and then bang — when we needed him most, he was there,” Fleck said about the latest performance.

Lindsey has thrown for 1,743 yards with 10 scores and six interceptions. He’s also run for six touchdowns.

Rankings watch

Oregon moved up a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings this week to No. 8 following the victory over No. 20 Iowa. It was the Ducks’ first win over a ranked team this season.

Of the three remaining games on Oregon’s schedule, only one is against a CFP-ranked team, No. 17 USC on Nov. 22.

Should the Ducks win out, they should earn one of the at-large spots in the 12-team playoff. Undefeated Ohio State and Indiana, sitting atop the CFP rankings, are likely to meet in the Big Ten championship game.

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