Banning The Use of No-Knock Warrants Becomes Law
Andre Locke Sr. on May 19, 2023 holding proclamation affirming legislation banning the use of no-knock warrants throughout Minnesota. The proclamation was signed by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz earlier that day.
On May 19, 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into State law a Judicial and Public Safety bill (Senate File 2909) that includes legislation banning no-knock search warrants throughout Minnesota.
Andre Locke Sr., whose musician-rapper stage name is 'Buddy McLain,' has been a tireless advocate for this legislation ever since his son, Amir, was killed by a Minneapolis Police Department SWAT team member during the early morning of February 2, 2022. Amir, age 22, was asleep in the apartment of a cousin in downtown Minneapolis when SWAT Team Officer Mark Hanneman, shot to death Amir when the officer saw a pistol which Amir had used as part of his current security job.
Amir, whose name was not on the search warrant, was, like his father, an aspiring musical artist with plans for further developing his own career.
Amir's father, Andre, when he lived on the West Side of Chicago, was a long-time member of the Explosonic Rockers Street Jazz Theatrical Troupe, beginning in 1984, during which he appeared with four other troupe members in schools and various other venues in 16 states, including throughout
Illinois and even schools on four of the islands of Hawaii. The Hawaii performances were totally financed by the Hawaii State Department of Criminal Justice. An employee of that Department had seen the Rockers at a conference in Evanston, Illinois, and convinced her superiors to finance the troupe's appearances in her state. As always, Andre delighted audiences near and far with both his energized and creative dance, acrobatic, rapping, and acting skills along with powerful messages based upon his own personal teenage struggles.
The Explosonic Rockers in 1993 morphed to the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe (Messages Which Are Hopeful!) and the troupe's website is mwah.net. There are recent stories about Andre, including the loss of his son, on the website's 'recent stories' page.
Despite his own personal tragedies and challenges,, Andre has continued his own mission to make the world a more caring place, extending from both the Minnesota Statehouse and the United States Capital in Washington, D. C. Andre was a guest of honor at President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address on February 2, 2023 - the one-year anniversary of Amir's death.
Minnesota State Representative Maria Isa Perez-Vega (left), the chief legislative sponsor of the legislation; Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; and Andre.