Helping Minnesota (With Cari Brunkow, criminal defense and civil rights attorney on So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast for People)
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**Note: Before you listen**
This episode contains discussions of disturbing events that occurred in Minnesota. Please take care while listening.
“Shouldn't we as a society really be taking a step back and dissecting this hate, and realize that it is shameful and embarrassing?... Right now, you guys might be interviewing me about what's happening in Minneapolis. I hope nobody is ever interviewing you about what is happening in your neighborhoods.” - Cari Brunkow
What happens when the national headlines are in your neighborhood?
In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Megan Senese and Jennifer Ramsey sit down with Cari Brunkow, founder and counsel of Lotus Legal, a Minneapolis-based criminal defense and civil rights attorney who is living and lawyering in the middle of escalating community unrest.
Cari shares what it feels like to launch a human-centered law practice and watch violence unfold in her own city just days later. She speaks candidly about fear, grief, anger, and hope, and about what it means to show up as a lawyer, a mother, and a community member when the fight feels personal.
This is not a neat conversation. There are no easy answers. But there is honesty, proximity, and a reminder that we are not alone and we can all do something.
You’ll hear about:
Why Cari named her firm Lotus Legal, and what the lotus symbolizes in criminal defense and civil rights work
What she’s seeing firsthand in Minneapolis, and how it differs from national narratives
The emotional toll of witnessing violence in your own community
What it means to “get proximate” even if you don’t live in Minnesota
Practical ways to support affected communities
Why speaking up makes all of us safer
About Cari Brunkow:
Cari Brunkow is the founder and counsel of Lotus Legal, a Minneapolis-based criminal defense and civil rights firm. With more than a decade of experience representing individuals in law enforcement brutality cases and protecting constitutional rights, Cari launched her solo practice in 2025 to align her legal work fully with her values. She is a mother, a community advocate, and a fierce believer in proximity, truth, and collective courage.
Ways You Can Get Involved:
Support local journalism (e.g., Minnesota Public Radio)
Buy gift cards or directly support small businesses in affected communities - Learn more about Mercado Central
Call your congressional representatives
Check out the National Lawyers Guild
Check out the National Immigration Law Center
By Jennifer Ramsey and Megan Senese