The world is mourning yet another loss at the hands of the police. Daunte Wright, an unarmed 20-year-old Minnesota man, was fatally shot by 26-year veteran police officer, Kim Potter, on Friday during a traffic stop for two infractions: an expired registration and an air freshener illegally hanging from his rearview mirror. Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon said the police officer “had the intention to deploy their Taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet”—fatally wounding Daunte and sparking a national outcry.
Police Chief Tim Gannon on the shooting of Daunte Wright
‘It is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet’ pic.twitter.com/Ut2KXWoUr9
— Curious Rabitt 🧐🐇🇺🇸🇮🇪 (@CuriousRabitt) April 12, 2021
As Daunte joins Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and many more on the long list of black people killed by those sworn to protect and serve, many are condemning police brutality and calling for change.
Trevor Noah spoke out against the shooting of Daunte on his show last night.
“Maybe if the police weren’t so quick to draw any weapon, then maybe people wouldn’t die because of a mix-up,” Trevor said. “Don’t you find it amazing that cops think everything is a gun, except their own gun? If you have a cellphone in your hand – ‘Oh, that’s a gun.’ If you’re holding a wallet, ‘Oh that’s a gun.’ Their own gun? No, not a gun.”
Viola Davis and Demi Lovato shared infographics regarding Daunte’s death and ways to support his family, Beyoncé paid homage to the slain father of one on her website with a picture captioned “Rest in peace Daunte Wright,” and Porsha Williams sent prayers to his family.
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Kathy Griffin questioned the justification to use a taser in the first place, much less shooting him, while Kerry Washington sent condolences to his family and the entire black community.
Why the f would the #BrooklynCenter cop even think they needed to TAZE #DaunteWright in the first place? Of course no one is going to buy the “oops, I thought my gun was merely a taser”. But to even try to justify tasing this young man is ridiculous.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 12, 2021
#DaunteWright should still be alive. My heart goes out to his family, his friends. And to all Black people who are tired of waking up to tragedy after tragedy.❤️🙏🏾
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) April 12, 2021
Jamie Foxx posed the questions, “Where is the compassion? Where is the benefit of the doubt??” in an Instagram post. George Takei was “too heartbroken for words” regarding Daunte’s death, Ray Fisher pleaded for change and Regina King expressed her sorrow and frustration with the continued cycle of police killing black people.
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I’m too heartbroken for words on this latest killing.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 12, 2021
There has to be a better way.
If there isn’t then we gotta make one.#DaunteWright
— Ray Fisher (@ray8fisher) April 12, 2021
Now I’m seeing this! Here we are saying prayers for ANOTHER family because ANOTHER reckless officer exposed themself at the expense of ANOTHER Black human being. I’m so sorry Daunte Wright 💔 You are so much more than…ANOTHER. I will NEVER get used to this https://t.co/VKStCKpzNo
— Regina King (@ReginaKing) April 13, 2021
President Joe Biden described the fatal shooting as “really tragic” and called for “peace and calm” in the wake of Daunte’s death and Barack and Michelle Obama said their “hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man” and called for a “full and transparent investigation.”
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Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police. It’s important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country. pic.twitter.com/sgcbRjlApr
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 13, 2021
Police officer Kim Potter has been placed on administrative leave amid an internal investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Administration. Our hearts go out to Daunte Wright’s family and we will continue to shed a light on police brutality, inequality, and injustice.
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