With his swearing in Monday, Mayor Jacob Frey officially began his third term, although a protest derailed the start of his inaugural address.
The ceremony at the Pantages Theater included plenty of fanfare, including an a cappella rendition of “God Bless America,” a performance by the Somali Museum dance troupe and a reading of a work by Minneapolis poet laureate Junauda Petrus.
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Once Frey and all the members of the City Council, Parks and Recreation Board and Board of Estimates and Taxation were sworn in and it was time for the mayor to take the podium, the hecklers in the crowd began chirping. Murmurs turned to shouts as a protester holding an “FTP” banner stood outside the room.
“We’re not doing that right now,” Frey said during the disruption.
Security eventually escorted two protesters out of the theater, allowing Frey to retract his prepared remarks.
The mayor highlighted Minneapolis’ resilience in the face of the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and the arrival of federal immigration agents in neighborhoods across the city.
“City officials may not sit in the front ranks of Congress, but make no mistake: We are on the front lines,” Frey said. “The consequences of federal dysfunction don’t stay in Washington. They land in our neighborhoods, they land in our schools, they land on our doorsteps.”
Frey, who follows in RT Rybak’s footsteps as Minneapolis’ second three-term mayor, has listed housing, public safety and economic development among his administration’s priorities for the next four years.
“If the motto of the last four years was resilience, then the motto of the next four years must be opportunity,” Frey said. “Opportunity to build housing that welcomes everyone, to make every neighborhood safer and to develop a city that works for everyone. »
“By the end of this term, we will work together and you will see a reinvigorated downtown filled with workers, residents, visitors and large-scale events. You will see a new chapter for Uptown led by small businesses, arts culture and local entrepreneurs,” he said.
Frey also highlighted major redevelopment projects.
“You’ll see Nicollet Avenue crossing Lake Street. You’ll see the long-awaited redevelopment of the former K-Mart site connecting the neighborhoods that we were once divided up,” he said.
Frey also highlighted trends in public safety, noting:
- Homicides are down 16%.
- Thefts are down 33%.
- Carjackings are down 36%.
- Shooting-related incidents are down 21%.
“You’re going to see the first-ever community safety center on the Southside,” Frey said. “In 2025, we added new officers and increased our force by over 600 people, and by the end of my next four years, we’ll grow it even further.”
The mayor emphasized the community throughout his speech.
“This city is all of us. It’s about unity. It’s about coming together,” Frey said.
In the afternoon, the Minneapolis City Council and its four new faces – Pearll Warren (Ward 5), Elizabeth Shaffer (Ward 7), Soren Stevenson (Ward 8) and Jamison Whiting (Ward 11) – voted on its leadership structure for the next two years.
“We heard a familiar message from our constituents,” said Ward 11 council member Jamison Whiting. “They are tired of factional politics at City Hall.”
Outgoing Council President Elliott Payne, who is part of the progressive wing of the organization, was chosen to return to his leadership role. Jamal Osman will replace Aisha Chughtai as vice-president of the municipal council.
The leadership of the Council includes:
- President: Elliot Payne
- Vice-president: Jamal Osman
- Majority Leader: Aisha Chughtai
- Minority Leader: Robin Wonsley
“This moment should inspire us to show up like we never have before,” said Council Member Elliot Payne.
Protesters call for action on cases of domestic violence
Hours after the inauguration ended, a group called the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice claimed responsibility for the protest during Frey’s inaugural address and demanded that Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara be held accountable for “enabling the murders of Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels.”
Both Lussier and Samuels were victims of domestic violence.
The group accused the Minneapolis Police Department of mishandling the investigation into Lussier’s death in February 2024 and prematurely closing a potential homicide case.
“I don’t think it’s authentic at all,” said protester Jana Williams. “Mayor Frey stood in front of everyone saying he was going to enforce the law, but he wanted to silence us.”
The group is demanding that the city allocate $5 million to create an independent unit to investigate domestic violence cases and discipline officers involved in women’s cases.
Williams is Lussier’s aunt. “Both of these women should be alive today,” she said. “We are actually demanding that Mayor Frey go public and admit that his department failed in the Mariah Samuels case and his department failed with Alison Lussier.”
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS asked her if she thought the new city council could help her meet the demands she’s hoping for.
“I don’t know. I hope they actually took the oath seriously there,” Williams said.
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Samuels, meanwhile, had an order of protection against her ex-boyfriend and alleged murderer, David Wright. Family members say police did not intervene when Samuels presented evidence that Wright had violated the protection order.
If you or someone you know is a victim of violence, there are several resources available to offer help. For immediate assistance, contact:
In the United States, more than 12 million people are affected by domestic violence each year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The organizations listed above can help victims access resources such as safe shelter, advocacy services, legal help, and support groups.
The National Domestic Violence Helpline also offers advice on identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see them.
Other organizations that can help include:
Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for crime victims. HERE.
