A fight inside the Minneapolis Central Library in late February culminated in what library advocates believe to be excessive force used against a Black teenager.
According to an incident report obtained from a data practices request, just before closing time on February 29, about five to eight youths threw punches and chased a youth around the computers on the first floor of the Minneapolis Central Library. A library staffer called security as the youths approached the Nicollet Mall entrance.
Security guards and advocates tell two different tales as the youth involved got to the Nicollet Mall entrance. One report by a Hennepin County security guard says they were assaulted by youth as they tried to arrest one of them, while another security guard performed crowd control. According to the Library Patrons Union, a 16-year-old passerby videotaped security guards pinning, shoving, grabbing and “yanking his [the Black teen] feet out from under him so he falls face forward to the ground.”
The Library Patrons Union, which calls the incident a use of excessive force by security guards, did not share the video to protect the privacy of the minors involved in the fight. A data practices request with Hennepin County for video footage from its two surveillance cameras mounted to oversee the Nicollet Mall entrance remains pending at press time.
The incident comes amid accusations that library security is disproportionately removing Black, brown and unhoused people from county libraries. According to the Library Patrons Union, the youth said they see security guards “bothering or kicking out unhoused people who weren’t even bothering anyone. They never try to understand or de-escalate the situation. They kick the person/people out.”
Library Patrons Union advocates, the MSR, and freelance journalist Tony Webster have tried to obtain trespass records from the library. Though the County previously denied these requests because they consider trespass records to be security data, which is private per state law, Webster is suing Hennepin County in state court for access to those records.
In January, a judge compelled the County to provide data to Webster. During an inspection, Webster found some data missing. As a result, the case will go to a four-day trial starting April 8.
The County did not respond to requests for comment. However, spokespersons previously told the MSR that the County expects its security guards to “create, promote, and maintain work environments in which all are respected, valued, and welcomed.”
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.