Violent crime is rampant and rising on the Twin Cities’ light rail trains (LRT).
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(Video Transcript)
The Twin Cities Light Rail Trains Are Dangerous. Violent crime is rampant and rising. Passengers are getting punched, stabbed, and threatened. Theft, robberies and assaults are up 35% from 2018.
Unfortunately, these stories have become commonplace in the Minnesota Metro area… As Minneapolis and St. Paul suffer from growing crime rates, hiked tax rates, and silent politicians.
Many LRT victims of crime are often the most vulnerable; elderly passengers are often victims of assaults and robberies. Train operators have also been assaulted.
The most dangerous station is on Lake Street according to Law Enforcement.
Gun violence is increasingly being committed across city boundaries due in part to the recently opened Green Line (connects region’s two downtowns, Minneapolis & St. Paul)Green Line LRT violent crimes include manslaughter, assault, and robbery.
U of M students have also been frequent victims of attacks and robberies.
A St. Paul police Department (SPPD) document describes the Green Line as a “crime magnet. The SPPD attributes a 96% increase in gun violence, in part, on the Green Line.
The SPPD is also seeking a federal grant from the Department of Justice; the grant request indicated the Green Line light rail was contributing to the ease of which violent crime perpetrators are canvassing across the metro. The grant seeks $750,000 to help the SPPD investigate and prosecute gun crimes.
However, the districts US Rep. Betty McCollum took issue with the police’s grant application., stating it “undermines the necessary work to advance transit funding,” and that it “paints a picture that our office feels in not reflective of the city and the people of St. Paul.”
In 2015, Minneapolis tossed out longstanding laws against spitting, lurking, a move by racial equity advocates who said authorities unfairly use such laws to target minorities.
Professor Vincent Del Castillo, says these crimes happen on transit simply because “people are annoying other people. Someone might say something, and if someone is unstable, they might react violently.”
Passengers can text 612-900-0411 to report an issue or anything suspicious.
Rebecca Brannon
Rebecca is a cinematographer, writer, and independent filmmaker. She attended the 2016 RNC as a Minnesota delegate and has worked on a number of statewide campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys droning, running, playing violin and bass guitar, and walking with her dog. Follow her on Twitter @RebsBrannon
