Minneapolis council member obtains restraining order against individual who repeatedly harassed her

Minneapolis council member Emily Koski announced Tuesday that after being harassed for over two years, she has obtained a restraining order against an individual.

Koski did not name the person whom the restraining order was against, but said the individual had begun their harassment over two years ago, which had escalated as time went on.

“For more than two years, I have been the target of escalating harassment by an individual whose actions have left me, and those closest to me, living with stress, anxiety, an unshakeable sense of being unsafe,” Koski said. “What happened was not a misunderstanding. It was not a disagreement. And it was not an isolated incident. It was a deliberate, relentless, escalating pattern of behavior.”

According to Koski, this person’s actions began as minor, manageable disruptions, but over time escalated into angry outbursts and, according to her, threats.

“Over time it turned into waiting and watching, invading personal space, following me and my staff, even to our cars,” Koski said. “From there, it escalated to vandalism. And in the end, it became physical intimidation and threatening behavior. Each incident chipped away at the sense of safety I once felt.”

Koski said that due to this person continuing to harass her and her staff and the fear these threats would turn into physical violence, she began the process of filing the restraining order. During this process, Koski said she had withdrawn herself from the trial proceedings and had not made herself as visible to the public to protect herself, her staff and her constituents.

“I share this now not to cause alarm, and not to seek sympathy, but because you deserve to know,” Koski said. “You deserve to know why I have been less visible this year. You deserve to know why public meetings ceased to happen, why gatherings shifted from open forums to private conversations, and why the cornerstone of my platform when I first ran for office – presence in and with the community – seemed to change so drastically.”

Koski said the process was not easy, but she eventually secured a restraining order.

“With all the resources the City has with security, police, park police, crisis response, attorneys, it should not be this hard to protect and support victims, and yet, it is,” Koski said. “And if it was this hard for me, as someone serving inside City Hall, I cannot fathom how impossible it must feel for residents without that access. That thought weighs so heavy on my heart.”

Koski said now that the restraining order has been granted, she and her staff can begin to heal from the harassment.
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