A committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives is seeking answers from the University of Minnesota regarding the school’s decision to honor a left-wing anti-police group.
Last week, Alpha News reported that the University of Minnesota has twice honored an organization called Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) with an “Outstanding Community Partner” award.
According to its website, CUAPB is a volunteer organization that works to “combat police brutality from many angles, including political and legislative action, education, research, and providing services and support for victims and their families.”
However, following Alpha News’ reporting, the chair of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee, Rep. Marion Rarick, R-Maple Lake, announced that her committee would hold a hearing to get answers from the University of Minnesota about its connections to CUAPB.
Lawmakers voice disapproval of U of M’s partnership
At Thursday’s hearing, Rarick spoke about CUAPB, saying she is “disgusted” that the University of Minnesota is aligned with an organization that “teach[es] our students this type of activism, this type of hate.”
“This isn’t just a community award,” said Rarick. “This is not just about a community, this is about a systemic, inflammatory attack against law enforcement that are trying to protect the students of the state of Minnesota.”
CUAPB leader declines to attend hearing
Michelle Gross, the leader of the CUAPB, was invited to speak at Thursday’s committee meeting but declined, stating in a letter that she was already scheduled to speak elsewhere.
In the letter, Gross wrote that the CUAPB received “an award that consists of a piece of art glass that was presented to us at an awards ceremony along with a number of other recipients.” She also stated that “there is a nominal financial prize that comes with this award.”
“Throughout our history, we have worked with students from a number of schools including the University of Minnesota,” she said.
Criticism from university and law enforcement representatives
University of Minnesota law professor Richard Painter, a board member for the Campus Safety Coalition, also spoke at the meeting, saying, “What we ought to be spending our money on is teaching students and protecting students rather than a bloated administration, lots of awards going on all over the place.”
“I would have given an award to the brave officers of the Minneapolis Police Department and the Saint Paul Police Department who we need to help us stay safe on our campus,” stated Painter. “Anybody who says that we ought to defund the police or abolish the police, anyone who uses that kind of rhetoric, is either a criminal or an idiot.”
Brian Peters, the executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association—which includes members from the University of Minnesota Police Department—testified that partnering with the organization for an award was both “shocking and inappropriate” for the university.
WATCH: Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters slams the University of Minnesota for giving an award to an anti-police "extremist organization." pic.twitter.com/ZHmFAiqzXv
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) January 24, 2025
“Communities United Against Police Brutality is an extremist organization that spreads misleading and harmful narratives about law enforcement,” Peters said. “They create an atmosphere where students are led to believe all police officers are inherently racist, encouraging them to side with criminals instead of supporting law enforcement.”
CUAPB accused of misleading narratives
Peters went on to cite examples of how CUAPB has disparaged police officers. He read from the organization’s social media posts in the aftermath of the Ricky Cobb and State Trooper Ryan Londregan incident.
“Their social media posts demand officers involved in the Ricky Cobb and Ryan Londregan case to be charged just assuming they’re guilty and bad, even without probable cause and even without an investigation. This is a violation of the constitution,” said Peters.
Peters said within minutes of the incident, “[CUAPB] got on social media and alleged that Ricky Cobb … laid on the ground for over 20 minutes without any medical attention from law enforcement and troopers. If you watch the video, that is completely false. They immediately rendered medical attention.”
Early last year, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty filed criminal murder charges against Londregan but later dropped those charges.
Changes to U of M’s award program
As for the university’s award programs, a representative noted that the school’s public engagement office has begun the process of reworking its awards program to focus on scholarship and teaching rather than volunteering, and that going forward, all awards will be internal, recognizing organizations and individuals within the U of M campus.
“The selection committee noted that the Communities United Against Police Brutality award nomination documented longstanding partnership work with the University of Minnesota, primarily through student learning,” she said.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
