Jaleel Stallings founded Good Apple Initiative

to elevate the integrity of our legal and justice systems

The seeds of Good Apple Initiative were planted when Jaleel Stallings was confronted by the very thing he was speaking out against — police violence. 

Jaleel was peacefully protesting after the murder of George Floyd, when he was shot with a "less-lethal" 40 mm round by a Minneapolis SWAT team. The officers fired from an unmarked cargo van without warning and without identifying themselves.

Governor Walz had warned the public earlier that day that white supremacist groups were bringing in large groups from out-of-state to stir up violence, and Jaleel assumed that’s who was shooting at him. Jaleel shot at the ground near the van to disrupt the attack. 

The moment he realized the shooters were police, Jaleel dropped his legally registered firearm and surrendered, laying face-down on the pavement with his hands empty and above his head. He maintained this submissive pose, and did not even defend himself when officers kicked and punched him in the head, stomach, chest and back for more than 30 seconds. 

Jaleel was eventually acquitted of all charges, but his legal journey absorbed more than three years and irrevocably changed his life. He faced incredible challenges defending his truth at every turn — through his own arrest and trial, as well as his attempts to hold the offending officers accountable for their crimes. 

There ARE good apples in every branch of law enforcement and government — and in the communities they serve.

Only by supporting the good apples and working together can we build confidence, connection and trust in public safety within our communities.