The city of Minneapolis has opportunity to have Federal Mediation Between its 
Police Department and the community. Two different groups of community 
representatives have had contact with the city regarding Federal Mediation. 

One group called the Ministerial Alliance contacted the city back in February 
of this year about Mediation. Their efforts for various reasons were not 
carried out and they are currently not recognized by the federal government 
as the communities' mediation team. 

The other group named the Community Negotiating Team was formed at a 
community meeting. 80 community members attended this meeting; they elected 
the CNT to represent the community in Federal Mediation. 

This left the community with two legitimate groups of representatives. The 
ministerial Alliance is willing to merge with the CNT and become a mediation 
team that is respected and recognized by the community as a whole. The CNT 
however has declined to merge. This action by the CNT has mediation for the 
city of Minneapolis in serious jeopardy. The process is voluntary and the 
city may pull out at any time. The city has said that it is committed to 
assuring that the entire community respects and recognizes the community 
negotiating team. If they are not, mediation will not happen.

The merged team of representatives would be comprised of the African 
American, Somali, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, Native American, GLBT, African 
Immigrant, Community Service Organizations and Clergy. The total number of 
this team would be 18. 

My question is this, who thinks that the two mediation teams should merge and 
become one team that the Federal mediator recognizes as the communities 
negotiating team? Who supports such a merger?

Zachary Metoyer
8th ward
Minneapolis Resident

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