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  2. Category: Democracy

Paradox: Documentary Movie Showing on Minneapolis Policing

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Picture of the movie showing in action, two people at the front of the room talking with the film on the projector
We recently screened the new Twin Cities Public Television documentary Paradox: Echoes of Reform & the Minneapolis Police (https://www.tpt.org/paradox-echoes-reform-minneapolis-police/), with Augsburg Professor Michael Lansing and Daniel Bergin the filmmaker (and Twin Cities Public Television executive producer and historian).
The film – a compelling blend of deep research, candid interviews, and rare archival footage- explores the history of police reform in Minneapolis.  It illustrates how mayoral politics, community activism, and police union pushback shaped the city’s trajectory as well as what is at stake for the future of public safety. Over the course of a 2 hour event, Lansing and Bergin showed a number of clips from the documentary, providing introductory framing and commentary throughout. The audience asked many wonderful questions that gave these two space to elaborate about the film and the careful historical work that went into developing it.

As a resident of Minneapolis, it was refreshing to hear the detailed historical, local reconstruction that these two, as well as Professor Yohuru Williams of the University of St. Thomas, did to assemble this film. They dug up archival material, captured interviews with many of those involved, and gave coherence to the unfolding of policing in Minneapolis. Understanding this narrative helped us to understand why policing today has taken shape in these specific ways.
The entire 3 part series is available to watch freely on TPTs website.
The event was hosted by the Augsburg Center for Teaching and Learning, Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Office of Faculty Development, and the History Department.

Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate Forum at Augsburg

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Image of Aidan Wippich leading the Augsburg Mayoral Forum, with 9 candidates on stage.

Last week, the Sabo Center and Augsburg Day Student Government co-hosted a 2025 mayoral candidate forum for the city of Minneapolis. Nine candidates came to the forum, including several of the leading candidates. Student leader Aidan Wippich of the Day Student Government led and moderated the forum discussion, which included a number of questions relevant to the Augsburg community and the broader community of Minneapolis. Questions included things like In 2025, as stated by the Minneapolis crime dashboard, we have seen a 3% increase in assaults from years prior. How do you plan to address the issue of rising crime? and How do you plan to work with the city council to get things done?

In the audience, there were many students, staff and faculty from the Augsburg community in attendance who were interested in learning more about the candidates, especially given they have the opportunity to vote for several candidates with [ranked choice voting](https://vote.minneapolismn.gov/ranked-choice-voting/).

Whether or not you are voting in Minneapolis, election day is November 4, 2025. This is an Augsburg holiday, meaning there are no classes! If you are able to do so, there are many important elections this year. At the Sabo Center, we have resources to help you learn more about how and where to vote.