John Thompson (Minnesota politician) facts for kids

John Thompson is an American politician. He was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. This is a group of lawmakers in Minnesota. He served from 2021 to 2023. Before becoming a politician, he was an activist. He supported the Black Lives Matter movement.

Early Life and Education

John Thompson was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Central State University in Ohio.

Career Path and Public Service

John Thompson first worked as a machinist. This is someone who operates machines. Later, he worked for the Saint Paul Public Schools. He worked there for 11 years.

Activism for Social Justice

John Thompson was a friend of Philando Castile. Philando Castile was a Black man who died in 2016. After this, Thompson became involved in activism. He joined the Black Lives Matter movement. He took part in many protests. These protests were about racial fairness. Thompson also led an advocacy group called Fight For Justice LLC.

In August 2020, Thompson led a protest in Hugo, Minnesota. This protest was outside the home of a police union leader. Some of his actions and words during the protest caused criticism. Days later, Thompson released a statement. In it, he apologized for his behavior.

Serving in the Minnesota House

Thompson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in November 2020. He started his job on January 5, 2021. He represented the 67A district. This area includes parts of Saint Paul and Maplewood.

Thompson spoke out for police reform laws. He proposed a large bill. This bill aimed to increase state spending. It would help education, health care, and social programs.

The DFL political group removed Thompson from their caucus. This happened on September 14, 2021. He still served in the legislature. But he could not use DFL party resources. He also could not attend their meetings. The DFL party said this was because of "credible reports of abuse and misconduct." They also mentioned his "failure to take responsibility."

In 2022, Liz Lee ran against Thompson. She is a Hmong-American resident of Saint Paul. Lee won the DFL party's support. She then defeated Thompson in the primary election. She received 89 percent of the votes.

Personal Life and Family

John Thompson is married. He has three children. He became friends with Philando Castile in 2005. They worked together at local schools.

Public Incidents and Discussions

In July 2021, a police sergeant stopped Thompson's car. This was because his car did not have a front license plate. He was also cited for driving with a suspended license. Thompson said he felt he was stopped because of his race. He later apologized to the police sergeant.

News media reported on past incidents. These were from 2003 to 2011. Several state leaders asked Thompson to resign. This included Governor Walz and House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Thompson said he did not commit any wrongdoing. He also said he would not resign.

See also

• 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest