At the Aug 2 National Night Out celebrations, City staff and PEACE Commissioners visited neighborhood block parties to meet with residents and to distribute the City's Welcome Statement. Residents recently reported to the City Council and staff experiences of racial discrimination and harassment. The City of Golden Valley does not condone discrimination or harassment (see Minnesota Statutes Section 609.749 for definition). If you witness or experience harassment or racial discrimination, use the tips and guidelines below.
What should community members do if they are subject to or witness harassment?
If there is an immediate threat to you or others, call 911. If the actions or behaviors are not an immediate threat to your or others, consider the following approaches.
How should the police respond?
Minnesota Statues Section 626.5531 states a peace officer must report to the head of the officer's department every violation of chapter 609 or a local criminal ordinance if the officer has reason to believe, or if the victim alleges, that the offender was motivated to commit the act by the victim's race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or characteristics identified as sexual orientation.
For more information, contact the Golden Valley Police Department at 763-593-8079.