Minneapolis is expected to pay six social media influencers to help spread the city’s approved messages during the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer accused of the death of George Floyd.
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously on Friday to approve a $ 1 million communication and scaling plan that involves partnering with community leaders, local media and social media influencers during the Chauvin trial, scheduled for begin in March, as well as the August trial of three other former officers charged with Floyd’s death.
DOJ CALLS NEW WITNESSES, REVIVE THE INVESTIGATION ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD
Social media influencers, whose contracts have yet to be finalized, will receive $ 2,000 each to share “city-approved messages” targeting black, Native American, Somali, Hmong and Latino communities. The effort aims to dispel misinformation and avoid the turmoil caused by Floyd’s death last year, involving violence and looting.
Local activists are criticizing the move, arguing that the city intends to buy the narrative around the trials, eradicate freedom of speech and protests and turn influencers into spokesmen for the city, WCCO reported.
But the city of Minneapolis said in a statement that its “aim is to increase access to information for communities that normally do not follow the city’s main news sources or channels of communication and / or that do not consume information in English,” said the KSTP . “It is also an opportunity to create more two-way communication between the city and the communities.”
The city’s communication strategy, called the Joint Information System (JIS), aims to “offer improved community services during the trial to keep people informed and safe, especially communities of blacks and non-English, indigenous people of color (BIPOC) and small businesses. who do not trust traditional media. “
NY PROTESTER, 75, SHOWN BY THE BUFFALO POLICE ARCHIVE LAW PROCESS AFTER CAUSE OF COPS
Regarding social media influencers, the program approved by the City Council involves the city entering into “paid partnerships with members of the community who are considered trusted messengers and have a large presence on social media to share messages generated and approved by the city”. These individuals will also support “JIS situation monitoring” to “address / dispel incorrect information”.
In a separate 11-2 vote on Friday, the council also approved a plan allowing the Minneapolis Police Department to enter into mutual aid agreements with at least 14 law enforcement agencies for additional support during trials around the Floyd’s death, Fox 9 Minneapolis reported. The deals can cost up to $ 1.5 million, which can be covered by the department’s pre-existing budget.
“Our hope is that the number of days we need these officers will be very short,” said city coordinator Mark Ruff, during the council meeting. “That it will be a trial where there will be a peaceful expression of First Amendment rights and not destruction or other types of illegal activities that would require these officers to stay for several days.”
CHICAGO POLICE RIPPED ABOUT GEORGE FLOYD UNREST RESPONSES BY SCANNING NEW WATCHDOG REPORT
In the meantime, Minnesota lawmakers should resume talks over the weekend in an attempt to break the deadlock over the creation of a new $ 35 million account that could reimburse agencies that provide mutual assistance, including during the Chauvin trial , reported the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
City officials are expected to provide a public briefing at 10 am on Monday on “plans and preparations being made to ensure community safety” during Chauvin’s trial. The jury selection begins on March 8, with opening statements scheduled for March 29.
Floyd, who was black, died on May 25 after Chauvin, who is white, pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck while he was handcuffed and begging that he couldn’t breathe. Chauvin faces charges of wrongful death and wrongful death.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said more than 3,000 police from across the state and National Guard soldiers will be ready when the case goes to the jury. Last week, the mayor declared that Minneapolis remains “open for business” and said that people should live their lives normally.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
But the new security measures surrounding the Hennepin County Courthouse, City Hall and Prison – all in the heart of the city center – include three rings of concrete barriers, two covered by a wire fence with a spiral-filled gutter. of barbed wire. The innermost fence is covered with barbed wire, and the ground floor windows in all three buildings are boarded up, the Associated Press reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.