A Democratic party official who promised to “dismantle” the Minneapolis police department in 2020 is now calling for tougher crime laws following a violent carjacking outside her Minnesota home.
Shivanthi Sathanandan, the second deputy chairman of the Democrats-Farmers-Labour Party, took the floor. Facebook on Wednesday to share the graphic outcome of the gunshot attack in her driveway and to demand justice.
Pictured with blood on her face, she said she suffered a broken leg, deep cuts to her head and body and bruises after four young men with guns “forcefully knocked me to the ground in front of our children.”
Sathanandan demanded swift action, calling for “get illegal guns off our streets, catch these young people… and take them into custody and prosecute.” Period of time.’
The post went on to thank “the incredible Minneapolis 4th Precinct Officers, Mayor Frey, Chief O’Hara, paramedics, neighbors, friends, and DFL family, who all came to our rescue during this terrifying experience.”
“I am so thankful for this community that wraps us in love,” she wrote.
The photo quickly went viral when users referenced a 2020 post on Sathanandan’s account calling for the Minneapolis Police Department to be dismantled, writing that “MPD have been systematically failing the Black Community, they have put us all in abandoned… If you still don’t agree that BASIC FACT, I’m not sure what to say to you’.
The DFP politician shared this photo and a post demanding justice after the violent attack
Sathanandan called for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department in 2020
Sathanandan shared a photo of herself, apparently post-attack, on Facebook, with blood streaming down her face.
She wrote, “Look at my face in the picture. This is the face of a mother who has just been knocked out of her. A mother whose only thought was, “Let me run far enough and fight hard enough for my kids to have a chance to get away.”
“This is the face of a mother who just listened to her four-year-old daughter screaming nonstop, her seven-year-old son wailing that someone came to help because bad guys are killing his mother in the backyard, and her neighbors screaming in indignation… and all while being beaten with guns, kicks and fists.’
“These men knew what they were doing. I have no doubt they’ve done this before. Yet they are still in OUR STREETS. Killing mothers. Causing babies a psychological trauma that a lifetime of therapy cannot erase. Without hesitation and without regret.’
In her post, she further called for more to be done to get illegal guns off the streets and catch those responsible for “creating chaos in our city.”
She said, ‘Look at my face. THINK OF ME as you consider letting youth and young people out of custody roam our streets, rather than HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.”
“These criminals will not win. We must take back our city. And this won’t be the last you hear from me about this,’ she continued.
The message inspired many sympathetic users to share their concerns and sympathy.
Minnesota DFL President Ken Martin also told KSTP in a statement Thursday that he was “heartbroken by the news of Shivanthi’s assault.”
He said, “It is my sincere hope that the people who attacked Shivanthi will be swiftly brought to justice and given a punishment commensurate with the gravity of their crimes.”
“My heart goes out to Shivanthi and her family and I hope their recovery from such a horrific experience will be as speedy as possible.”
But some pointed out that in June 2020, at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, Sathanandan had launched calls for the police station to be dismantled.
On another account, she had written, “We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. Say it with me.
‘DONTMANTLE (…) The (…) Minneapolis Police Department (…) (…).
What can we as allies do now? LISTEN and LEARN from our black siblings. And then STRENGTHEN this message now, right now. MPD has systematically failed the Black Community, they have failed us all.
“It’s time to build a new infrastructure that works for ALL communities. If you still don’t agree with that BASIC FACT, I’m not sure what to say to you.’
On Facebook, the Democratic party official called for a fight against illegal weapons
The Third Minneapolis Police Station is torched on Thursday, May 28, 2020 during a third night of protests following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis
A police officer watches a crowd as a police vehicle burns near New York’s Fort Greene Park after protesters gathered outside Barclays Center over the death of George Floyd, May 29, 2020
In another post, Sathanandan shared his thoughts on the language surrounding the lifting of police funding
In 2020, protests erupted across the United States following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.
Civil unrest over police brutality has spread to more than 2,000 cities in more than 60 countries around the world. The majority of protests were peaceful, but some escalated into violent riots.
By the end of June 2020, approximately 14,000 people had been arrested.
The protests also sparked a political debate about ending funding for police forces, allocating resources towards community support and away from the perceived militarization of the police force.
Combined movements have led to legislative proposals in the US to combat police misconduct, brutality and institutional racism.