Book Event: A Police State by Michael J. Lansing

Presented in partnership with the Racial Justice Initiative. Join us for a discussion with historian Michael J. Lansing as he discusses his brand-new book, A Police State: Politics and Public Safety in Minneapolis, 1945–2020. Lansing will examine the historical relationship between the Minneapolis Police Department and local government from the post-World War II era to the present day. The discussion will explore how decades of professionalization and policy reforms expanded the department’s role and influence over public safety decisions. By analyzing the involvement of officer unions, administrators, and local elections, Lansing provides crucial historical context for ongoing institutional challenges surrounding accountability and community safety.