April 24, 2025 - Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder - Vol 91 / Edition 39

March on Consulate protests deportations

By Chris Juhn Contributing Writer

ore than 500 people gathered Wednesday, April 16 outside the El Salvadoran Consulate in Saint Paul to protest the deportation of immigrants — many without criminal records — to El Salvador’s controversial CECOT mega prison. The protestors called attention to what they describe as unlawful detentions, violations of due process, and the dangerous revival of xenophobic immigration policies.

The demonstration, organized by advocacy groups Minnesota 50501 and Women’s March MN, took place along Plato Boulevard, a typically quiet stretch of road on the city’s southern edge. Protesters held signs, chanted, and gathered along both sides of the street for two blocks, flanked by the Saint Paul skyline on one end and the building that houses the El Salvadoran consulate on the other.

Resistance rises to Trump’s tariff war

By Clint Combs Staff Writer

At the center of the protest was concern over deportations carried out under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, an antiquated wartime law that grants the federal government sweeping authority to deport non-citizens during periods of declared hostility. Originally intended for use during international conflict, the law has been revived by the Trump administration as justification for deporting individuals accused of gang affiliation — often without criminal charges or the opportunity to defend themselves in court.

Speakers at the event emphasized that such actions contradict fundamental American values.

“I’m afraid that the U.S. Constitution is being dissolved,” said Lydia Kelly, a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant. “I swore to defend the Constitution — even in retirement. That includes the right to due process.”

Among those deported under the revived law is 29-yearold Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father who had

previously been granted protection by a U.S. immigration judge. In 2019, the court ruled that Garcia would likely face persecution by gangs if returned to El Salvador. Despite this, Garcia was deported after officials claimed, without substantial evidence, that he was affiliated with MS-13, one of the most notorious gangs in Central America.

Federal agents based their allegation, in part, on a 2019 traffic stop during which Garcia was seen wearing a

Chicago Bulls hat. According to their report, the hat was evidence of gang affiliation. Officials also cited an unnamed “reliable source” who claimed Garcia was involved with MS-13. Despite the judge’s protection order, Garcia was deported. The Trump administration later admitted the deportation had been an “administrative error,” but refused to return Garcia — even after a 9-0

■ See MARCH on page 7

How cultural healing confronts disparities

s markets reel from unpredictable tariff shifts under President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with China, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators — including Minnesota’s Sen. Amy Klobuchar — is pushing for legislation that would restore Congressional oversight to U.S. trade policy.

The Trade Review Act of 2025, modeled after the War Powers Act, would require any presidentially imposed tariffs to expire after 60 days unless explicitly authorized by Congress. Supporters say the bill is a direct response to the economic instability caused by fluctuating tariffs, retaliatory trade actions, and limited accountability.

“President Trump’s tariff tax is raising costs for Americans and creating economic uncertainty,” Klobuchar said in a statement. “The erratic way these tariffs have been announced, un-announced, and re-announced has made it difficult for families and businesses to plan for the future. That is why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation to restore sanity and stability to our trade policy.”

“Congress needs to pass this bill to overturn these global tariffs for good,” Wyden said. The economic effects of the shifting tariffs are particularly acute in Minnesota, a state with strong manufacturing and agricultural sectors that rely heavily on international trade.

Polaris Inc., a Medina-based powersports manufacturer, has navigated the complex

The legislation has drawn support from both sides of the aisle, including Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. Wyden criticized the tariffs as a “10% tax on everything Americans buy,” calling the administration’s approach “chaotic” and harmful to small businesses and retirees.

tariff landscape by filing more than 100 exemption requests since 2019 — securing refunds on roughly two-thirds and recovering a portion of the $90 million it initially paid. However, industry analysts say smaller companies lacking political clout or lobbying resources have struggled.

Polaris’ successful exemption process has also drawn

By Isabel Chanslor

et’s talk about unleashing the power of people to heal themselves and build community; you don’t do one without the other,” said Atum Azzahir, executive director of the Cultural Wellness Center, in an April 18 interview.

Azzahir speaks from the depths of lived experience. Born three generations re-

moved from the enslavement of her ancestors, she has spent her life resisting the structural forces that disconnect communities from their cultural inheritance.

Her personal journey — shaped by the brutality of the Jim Crow South, the urgency of the Civil Rights Movement, the momentum of the feminist wave, and the call of spiritual and cultural reclamation — has become a compass guiding

her life’s work rebuilding the health and identity of African and Indigenous communities through cultural grounding.

Now a prominent community leader, Azzahir is best known for founding the Cultural Wellness Center in 1996, a Minneapolis-based organization that places culture at the center of community and public health. Its philosophy is simple yet profound: Disconnection from culture is the root of many social and health disparities. Restoration of cultural knowledge, then, is the foundation for healing.

“The belief that sickness and disease are the direct result of the absence of community and culture is at the heart of our work,” Azzahir said.

The Cultural Wellness Center’s work focuses on closing the gap in persistent disparities such as poverty, infant mortality, and chronic illness — issues that continue to

Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Youth-led festival confers real-world responsibilities

By Kiara Williams Staff Writer

On the border of Frogtown and Rondo, a once-abandoned theater on University Avenue is now home to 825 Arts, a nonprofit community arts space that’s turning creativity into collective power. 825 Arts invites the community to witness this affirmation in real time, through its upcoming Speak Out and Lead Youth Arts Fest.

After more than a decade of grassroots organizing, the organization opened its doors in August 2024, launching a new chapter of arts programming focused on intergenerational connection, youth leadership, and cultural access.

“We are a community-centered and run arts organization,” said Executive Director Tyler Olsen-Highness. “We’re about creating space and opportunities for the people that we serve in our neighborhoods to have access to the same kind of culture and opportunities that a lot of other neighborhoods have.”

825 Arts’ programming is wide-reaching, with opportu-

nities for every generation to learn and express themselves.

From Double Dutch nights to “Fun Fridays” for theater games and storytelling, the center is alive with activity throughout the week. A standout among its offerings is the Minecraft Memory Project, where elders from the historic Rondo neighborhood work with high

school students to digitally rebuild local landmarks erased by urban renewal.

The organization also hosts community-centered conversations through creative formats. A recent mental health event invited Black men and boys to speak about their emotional well-being while receiving free haircuts on stage — an intentional space of vulnerability and visibility designed for all ages.

“We do a lot of intergenerational programming,” said Olsen-Highness. “Any opportunity to connect generations and make a space where they can enjoy each other’s company — we work hard to make those moments.”

The clearest example of 825 Arts’ youth-first approach is its annual Speak Out and Lead (SOAL) Festival. In its fourth year and first time at the new space, the festival is completely led by young people between the ages of 13 and 21. Every part of the event — from booking talent and organizing

volunteers to designing flyers and coordinating workshops — is carried out by a nine-member youth leadership team.

“This is a youth-led festival,” Olsen-Highness said. “All of the organizers are young people. I’m just an advisor. They’re the ones who are recruiting performers, managing volunteers, designing posters — really leading the charge.”

Myrachelle Riley, 18, joined the SOAL team in 2023 and has played a key role in organizing the festival since. “We invite a whole bunch of youth to come in and perform or lead workshops, and we pay them to do that,” she said. “Especially the vendors — they get to sell their art and get it out there. I’m an artist myself, so meeting all the other artists is probably my favorite part.”

She previously served as a performer manager and now oversees volunteer coordination. “I’ve learned a lot of leadership from SOAL,” Riley said. “I realized in group projects I’m more talkative and ready to make a plan. I’ve also gotten better at things like e-mailing people professionally and speaking in front of a crowd.”

The goal is to give young people real-world responsibilities and outcomes, not just advisory titles with no decisionmaking power.

“Young people learn much better when they’re actually doing something with real stakes,” said Olsen-Highness. “We didn’t want them to just be youth advisors with no purpose. We told them, “Let’s make a festival, and you’re going to lead it.”

That model has paid off. Recent additions to the festival — including a drop-in talent show — were generated entirely by youth team members. Participants were paid

stipends to perform, creating a low-barrier, high-impact platform for new artists to be seen and celebrated.

Beyond SOAL, 825 Arts positions itself as a creative commons — a place where all forms of artistry are embraced. “We’re called 825 Arts because we believe there are 825 different ways to be an artist,” said Olsen-Highness. “That includes everything from murals and theater to braiding hair and cooking meals. It’s all welcome here.”

“Young people learn much better when they’re actually doing something with real stakes.”

The center doesn’t operate with standard business hours but is activated through scheduled programming, special events, and a growing artist membership network. For $10 a month, members gain access to community spaces, project support, and the opportunity to pitch original ideas for monthly events. Selected pro-

posals receive a $500 stipend and staff support to bring their visions to life.

The facility features a flexible black-box theater, a large community room, and a meeting space, all designed to accommodate different forms of creative expression.

For those seeking community and celebration, monthly events like “Cake Day” offer a welcoming space to commemorate personal wins — from birthdays and job offers to simply making it through a tough week.

825 Arts remains committed to accessibility, and the staff — composed of five core team members and part-time project assistants — continues to shape the space with community input and youth leadership at the forefront.

The 4th annual Speak Out and Lead Youth Arts Fest will be held April 26, 12 to 5 pm. To learn more or view the organization’s event calendar, visit 825arts.org.

Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses to kwilliams@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Health Heroes Awards recognize public health contributions

By Clint Combs Staff Writer

More than 100 health care

professionals gathered at the Minneapolis Public Service Building on April 8 for the 2025 Local Health Heroes

Awards, in honor of individuals and organizations making significant contributions to public health. Launched in 2011, the awards spotlight a wide range of public health initiatives — from addressing substance use to strengthening communities through equitable food access.

Hosted by the Minneapolis Health Department, Mayor Jacob Frey opened the event by

and ensures that — regardless of the ZIP code you grew up in, your race, your ethnicity, or your background — you have the opportunity to see success,” Frey said.

Among this year’s awardees was Marcus Kar, director of North Minneapolis programs at Youth Farm, recognized for his use of food as a vehicle for community development and youth empowerment.

“I grew up in Minneapolis, and I want to see a healthier, stronger Minneapolis community,” Kar said.

“It’s time we close the ranks, dig in, and continue to serve the unsheltered,” said Cassandra Davis, the team’s program manager.

Nazir Khan, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table, was recognized for his environmental advocacy, including efforts to shut down the Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center.

applauding the honorees’ dedication to health equity across the city.

“The work that you are doing keeps people happier, keeps communities healthier,

“I

Patty Bowler, director of policy and community programs at the Health Department, called Kar’s work “a catalyst for social change, community engagement, and leadership development.”

Matt Toburen, executive director at the Aliveness Project, was honored for his work supporting people living with HIV and AIDS. Minneapolis City Councilmember Andrea Jenkins praised the organization’s role in addressing the HIV epidemic in Minneapolis.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, white Minnesotans make up the largest number of HIV cases statewide — 4,121, or 41%. However, African-born residents have the highest infection rate at 1,180 cases per 100,000 people, despite comprising just 17% of cases. U.S.-born Black Minnesotans follow with 733 cases per 100,000.

access through its corner store distribution program, which delivers fresh produce to more than 30 stores across Minneapolis food deserts.

“We believe that access to

“Environmental justice is about protecting our communities and ensuring a healthy future for all,” Khan said, noting his personal commitment following the loss of his father due to radiation exposure.

The organization Colectiva Bilingüe was celebrated for creating bilingual environmental education programs at local elementary schools. “My

convenient, healthy and affordable food should be a basic right,” said BrightSide’s Justa Heinen-Kay.

The Avivo Street Outreach Team was honored for its work supporting unsheltered individuals with housing, mental health services, and substance use treatment.

“Our goal is to end the HIV epidemic, and we need all of your support,” said Jamie McMurray, a representative of the Aliveness Project.

Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota, was recognized for her advocacy in mental health and her role in developing the state’s SchoolLinked Mental Health Program. The initiative has grown from a small pilot into a nearly $20 million statewide program.

“We’ve eliminated all the barriers to accessing care,” Abderholden said, emphasizing the impact on students and families.

BrightSide Produce received recognition for improving food

grandson, Elija, has severe asthma that gets worse due to dust and the poor condition of our very old school building,” said Gloria Velasquez, a parent and school advocate.

“That’s what motivated me to start monitoring air quality at our school. Now, all five of our partner schools will have indoor and outdoor monitors.” Councilmember Katie Cashman praised Colectiva’s efforts, which include lessons on air quality, recycling, and green transportation.

The Health Heroes Awards serve as a reminder of the vital work being done to build a more equitable and healthy Minneapolis.

“Thank you for making Minneapolis a better place for everyone,” Frey said.

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at ccombs@spokesman-recorder.com.

grew up in Minneapolis, and I want to see a healthier, stronger Minneapolis community.”

Health care workers throughout Minneaoplis pack the firstfloor room at the Minneapolis Public Service Building where Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized the city’s commitment to health equality. Minneapolis Mayor Frey

Marcus Kar (l), director of Northside’s Youth Farm, with MHD Policy Director Patty Bowler

Jamie McMurray (l) with Councilmember Andrea Jenkins accepting the Public Health Infrastructure Award on behalf of Aliveness Project

Councilmember Latrisha Vetaw (r) with Sue Abderholden of NAMI Minnesota

Councilmember Jason Chavez (r) with BrightSide Produce’s Justa Heinen-Kay for addressing food insecurity in South Minneapolis

AVIVO Outreach team members stand behind Councilmember Aisha Chugtai recognized for their work responding to homeless encampments throughout the city.

(l-r) Councilmember Katie Cashman recognizing Priscila Quinde, Aida Azzazi and Molly Dengler of Colectiva Bilingüe for their bilingual environmental education programs that encourage students to monitor air pollution Photos by Clint Combs

Stress and what it does to you

for the body to manage stress effectively.

Since I find myself having this conversation almost daily, I thought it would be helpful to share more about stress: how the body responds to it, how it manifests, and what you can do to support your system in the face of it.

By Dr. Ayanna Quamina, ND Columnist

I see patients of all ages, backgrounds, and conditions. Lately the vast majority have been dealing with symptoms tied to one core issue: stress.

I talk about stress a lot. Not because it’s particularly fun, or because I have a personal fascination with it — but because, as a Naturopathic Doctor, my training is to seek the root cause of a symptom. And for the past five years or so, regardless of what brings patients into my office, stress has consistently been at the center — whether it’s increasing levels of stress, more sources of stress, or a diminished ability

Let’s start with a bit of physiology. The human body is highly organized, and each organ system — the digestive system, musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, etc. — is designed to function both independently and interdependently. Each system has its own checks and balances to ensure optimal performance, but they are all affected by one another.

A clear example of this is the nervous system, which is also highly organized and includes a major component called the autonomic nervous system. This system oversees the body’s automatic functions and is divided into two parts: the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous sys-

tems.

The parasympathetic nervous system — often referred to as “rest and digest” — is where we want to be most of the time, during both waking and sleeping hours. It governs essential functions like digestion, memory consolidation, and cellular healing. When we’re in this state, our bodies operate like a well-oiled machine.

On the flip side, the sympathetic nervous system — known as “fight, flight, freeze, or fawn” — kicks in when our body perceives a threat. That threat can come from something we see, touch, hear, taste, or even think. Once activated, it’s like someone hits the panic button: blood flow

honestly, who needs to digest lunch when you’re running from a tiger?)

This worked well when dangers were occasional and short-lived. In modern life, however, we’re bombarded with unrelenting stressors — deadlines, bills, news alerts, social expectations — which

erratic, leading to heartburn, bloating, constipation, or IBS.

The endocrine system may go out of sync, disrupting hormonal balance and menstrual cycles. The nervous system can become overstimulated, making it difficult to fall asleep — or causing you to wake in the middle of the night, unable to settle down.

The good news? Our bodies usually give us subtle signals before a full breakdown occurs. Even though many people only begin to make changes after a health scare — like a hospital visit, panic attack, or heart event — there are usually quieter signs that appear first: chronic fatigue, irritability, mood swings, or a loss of motivation.

is redirected from the core organs to the arms and legs so we can run; our pupils dilate to improve vision; and even our hearing sharpens.

This response is brilliant — it’s our body’s way of protecting us in life-threatening situations. But there’s a catch: only one of these systems can be dominant at a time. When the sympathetic system is engaged, the parasympathetic system shuts down. (Because

keep us locked in fight-orflight mode for far too long. As a result, our time spent in rest and recovery decreases significantly.

Over time, chronic stress makes it harder to relax and easier to get triggered. Physiologically, this shows up in various ways. The cardiovascular system may respond with high blood pressure or frequent headaches. The digestive system may slow down or become

When you start noticing those signs, that’s the time to act. Begin integrating small, consistent habits that help calm the nervous system. Slow down. Breathe. Remind your body that the danger has passed. Shift back into a state of rest and repair. You can encourage the release of “feelgood” neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin by doing things that bring you joy: read a good book, dance in your living room, laugh out loud, hug someone you love, walk in nature, cry, journal, or just take a quiet moment between meetings. Incorporating positive rituals regularly helps rebalance your body and bring you back to your best self. You deserve that.

Have questions or comments? Send them to QandA@drayannaq.com. You can also learn more about her and her practice at www.drayannaq.com.

wichayada suwanachun

By Kiara Williams Staff Writer

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Richard Moody

If you’ve attended a fashion show, gala or runway in the Twin Cities over the past few decades, chances are Richard Moody had something to do with it. The internationally connected show producer, model, and community advocate is known as much for his fly fits and jet-set schedule as he is for his commitment to creating space — for Black artists, for youth, and for creatives determined to shape their own path.

“I’m global,” Moody declares. “I see the world. I’m not just Minnesota safe — which can sometimes be safe, not interesting, not creative, and even boring.”

From an adolescent start as a University of Minnesota cheerleader turned model, he was featured in department store marketing campaigns and eventually grew his career in fashion to be the icon he is today. Moody says stability is a top priority; thus he stayed committed to his work as a flight attendant, and leveraged it to reach new heights in the fashion industry.

“I’ve worked up front, in First Class. I just started my 45th year with Delta,” he shares. “That’s taken me all over — Paris, Lon-

don, Amsterdam, Cape Town. I lived off and on in South Africa for 20 years during the season. That’s where all the international models come in.”

Moody doesn’t romanticize the fashion industry, and he stresses the importance of credibility. He breaks it down with honesty and care, especially for young people trying to break in. “Modeling on Instagram or Facebook is not modeling,” he says firmly.

“Go to an agency, submit photos. Mirror someone who might look like you. Read the business.”

Reading the business means knowing how to move in it. “Be professional, be polite, be punctual,” he says. “Time is of the essence. If I’m five minutes late, I might as well get a new job because the plane has left.”

It’s this blend of creative instinct and business discipline that has kept Moody relevant across eras, genres, and continents. His fashion taste is cultivated from years of global experience — collecting pieces in Paris, Amsterdam and Japan; collaborating with designers; and building looks that suit his body and reflect his identity.

“You know, I’m not wearing skinny jeans… I’ve got an a** and thighs. That’s not gonna work,” he jokes, before rattling

Local fashion icon has global mindset

off his favorite brands, from London-based COS to Japanfounded Yohji Yamamoto. Moody shares his reason and his intentionality in collaborating with the community. “At some point, someone ahead of us pushed us forward,” he says.

“So my role is to continue the momentum — for my nieces and nephews, for Minneapolis-St. Paul, for the Black community.”

That momentum includes “Threads of Impact,” a fashion and beauty showcase in partnership with MSR’s Sister Spokesman to be produced by Moody on May 3 as part of

Black Fashion Week Minnesota. The event is designed not just to dazzle but to elevate.

“You’re going to meet Katherine Rogers,” Moody says, referring to the lead designer for House of KLynn. “She’s done the costumes for “Hidden Figures,” “Star Wars.” She’s worked with Zac Posen. She’s lived here for over 30 years, and I never met her until Covid. We’re closing the show with five of her amazing gowns.”

The show will also feature African-inspired fashion, menswear pieces, and other curated selections from local creatives.

“It’s not going to be a 90-minute full-on show, but people are going to love the looks,” Moody explains. “We want to support designers who are actually in the business. If nothing else, we don’t know what we miss if we don’t come.”

His point is clear: “We go to [see] Beyoncé. We get our hair done and spend all kinds of money. Why are we not supporting our local magazines, our local artists, our local designers?”

pared to represent your culture in every room you walk into — especially those where you’re the only one. “They’re going to ask us the questions,” Moody said, reflecting on conversations he’s had while traveling abroad.

“We, as people of color, have to know that every day we’re an educator. We have to be open for those hard conversations. Don’t snap — listen, and then process and give them some honest feedback.”

In the same breath, Moody reminds creatives that success doesn’t come from production alone. “Start with a good product. Do your homework. Collaborate,” he says.

“Everyone’s doing candles and T-shirts — what makes yours different? Be authentic.

If it’s herbs or art or fashion, make it excellent and work with people you trust.”

He’s also a strong believer in owning your digital identity.

“Get your domain. GoDaddy. Is it dot com? Dot net? Own your name. Secure your Instagram,” he says. “Stop thinking small — start thinking global.”

Part of that global mindset, for Moody, means being pre-

It’s this quiet fire — this blend of style, strategy, and soulful purpose — that makes Richard Moody a force. Whether he’s styling models for a fashion show, serving meals 30,000 feet in the air, or mentoring the next generation of creatives, the mission stays the same: Show up, own the narrative, own the space, and bring your community with you.

“Threads of Impact” will be held at the St. Paul Wilder Center on May 3, noon to 3 pm.

Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses at kwilliams@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Anita Alexander

Torrion Amie

Holly Andersen

Richard & Joyce Anderson

Nancy L. Beals

Jonathan Beck

Clara Boykin & Family

Gretchen Bratvold

Amanda Brinkman

Toweya Brown-Ochs

Benjamin F. Bryant

& Dr. Antusa S. Bryant

Deanna Callender

Shirlee L. Callender

Karl Cambronne

Flo Castner

Liam Cavin

Janis Clay

Edward Coblentz

Coventry Cowens

Alvin E. Cunningham

Michael Davis

Victoria Davis

Marie Denholm

Michael Diehl

April A. Estes

George Ewing

Elizabeth Fealey

David Fettig

Readus Fletcher

Ken Foxworth

Michael Franks

Lee Friedman

Ella Gates-Mahmoud

Kimerlie Geraci

Erick Goodlow

Leota Goodney

Walter Greason

Karlene Green

Pamela Hall-Clemens

Charles Hallman

Jeana Hamm

Hendon Group, Inc

Thomas Hill

Maxine & Kieran

Hughes

Colnese Hendon

Connie Hudson

Angelo Hughes

Andrew Issacson

Katie Izzo

Ms. Jewelean Jackson & Sir Steven C. Davis

Nina Johnson

Clarence Jones

Debra Jones

Shirley R. Jones

Julie July

Cynthia Kelly & Murry Kelly Jr.

Nathaniel Khaliq

Zena Kocher

Jimmy Lewis

Lisa Lissimore

Michele Livingston

Harlan Luxenberg

MRPP and Associate Communications

Melanie Manaen

Rose McGee

Peter McLaughlin

Jeffrey McVay

Kyle Meerkins

Ellen Guettler & Ben Pofahl

Deborah Montgomery

Debbie Morrison

Marcia Murray

Mary K. Murray Boyd

Dan Ness

Sanda Noy

Amethyst O’Connell

The O’Neill Family

Minister Dr. Ni Ora Hokes

Liz Oppenheimer & Jeanne Burns

Tamara Pollard

Fiona Pradhan

Ray Seville Productions

Mary Quinn McCallum

Dr. Mitchell Palmer

McDonald

Heidi Pemberton

Amy Pfankuch

Patty Ploetz

Catherine Pruszynski

Mark Ritchie

Lyn Rabinovitch & John Saxhaug

Augustus Ritemon

Carolyn Roberson

Winthrop & Barbara

Rockwell

M. Rebecca Ross

St. Paul Saints

Anura Si-Asar

Floyd Smaller

Chanda Smith Baker

South Hill Film

Ronald Spika

Stan Sandiford

Cyriaque Sukam

Timothy Sullivan

Heidi Swank

Gregory Tillman

Dotty Timmons

Nicholas Upton

Kelsi Ustipak

Donald Walker ART

Jason Walker

Dr. Betty Webb

Bill Wells

Tracy Wesley

Gary & Kathy Wilde

Jeffery Young

Fashion Show Producer Richard Moody Courtesy photo

MARCH

Continued from page 1

U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordered his reinstatement in the United States. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) flew to El Salvador April 16 to seek answers about Abrego Garcia’s detention.

Legal scholars and civil rights advocates argue that such cases set a dangerous precedent, eroding constitutional protections for both non-citizens and citizens alike.

“We are witnessing the erosion of legal safeguards in real time,” said one protester who declined to be named.

“This isn’t just about immigrants. It’s about whether any of us will have rights when the government decides we’re inconvenient.” The protest also drew con-

TARIFF

Continued from page 1

scrutiny. The company’s CEO has donated to both Democratic Sens. Klobuchar and Tina Smith, while the Political Action Committee (PAC), made up of employees from Polaris, gave money to the campaign of Republican Representative Tom Emmer in February 2024.

“There’s no question that political connections can smooth the process,” said a Minneapolis-based trade attorney familiar with the filings. “But smaller Minnesota businesses trying to import packaging or parts aren’t on equal footing.”

One such voice is Mica Whitfield, CEO of 9to5, a nonprofit focused on economic equity for women of color. She said Trump’s shifting trade policies have disproportionately harmed Black women entrepreneurs.

“Black women are the fastest-

VOICES

Continued from page 1

disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous communities despite decades of interventions centered around access to health care and education.

For Azzahir, the disconnect lies not in a lack of programming, but in a lack of power to define health, power to shape community, and power to recover from historical trauma in a way that affirms identity.

growing group of business owners, but they’re already navigating unequal access to capital,” Whitfield said. “Now they’re forced to find new sources for packaging or ingredients just to stay afloat. This could close doors for so many of them.”

The effects have reached consumers as well. Nintendo, for instance, paused pre-orders for its upcoming Switch 2 console earlier this month, citing supply chain disruptions linked to the changing tariff environment.

“There’s nothing sensible about reckless, unpredictable tariffs.”

“There’s a sensible role for tariffs in economic policy, but there’s nothing sensible about reckless, unpredictable tariffs,” said Robert Weissman, copresident of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group. “If

nections between U.S. deportation policies and systemic injustices in El Salvador itself. The CECOT prison — short for Terrorism Confinement Center — has become emblematic of President Nayib Bukele’s tough-on-crime policies. Housing over 40,000 inmates, CECOT is the largest prison in the Americas. Human rights groups have condemned the facility for alleged torture, indefinite pretrial detention, and a lack of transparency in prisoner treatment.

“In the ’70s and ’80s, people were disappeared in El Salvador and sent to clandestine jails,” said Francisco Segovia, executive director of COPAL MN, who addressed the crowd. “What they’ve done now is legalize those jails. And here in the U.S., this administration is arresting people without due process. We cannot tolerate that.”

Segovia warned that tattoos, clothing, or community associations are increasingly being used to criminalize in-

to wave flags or display signs out of their windows, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Despite the strong turnout, several attendees noted the limited presence of Black community members — something organizers say they hope to address in future events by strengthening cross-cultural coalition work.

The protest lasted from 3 to 6 pm under a cloudy sky and cool wind. A lone security guard stood outside the consulate building, observing quietly as demonstrators demanded justice.

“We need to build a personality that is culturally self-aware, grounded and anchored in the purpose of restoring health and wholeness,” she said. “Without that, no policy or program can fully take root.”

Through initiatives supported in part by the Medica Foundation, the center helps people of African and Indigenous heritage rediscover cultural practices, reclaim ancestral knowledge, and develop leadership rooted in community-based traditions.

The approach is holistic, intergenerational, and deeply spiri-

dividuals — particularly immigrants from Latin America.

“If you have a tattoo, immediately you are assumed to be in a gang. If you’re assumed to be in a gang, you may be denied due process — even if you’ve never been convicted of a crime,” he said. “That is unconstitutional.”

Countries like China and members of the European Union have condemned the tariffs as economically aggressive and potentially unlawful under World Trade Organization rules. In response, some have implemented retaliatory tariffs, escalating trade tensions and disrupting diplomatic ties. wildpixel

Trump cared about protecting workers, he’d pair tariffs with manufacturing investments and price-gouging prevention. This isn’t strategy — it’s showmanship.”

Public Citizen has consistently criticized the Trump administration’s trade approach, saying it lacks a coherent strategy and could lead to cro-

tual. It centers elders, teachers, and kinship networks as crucial agents of both healing and transformation.

This work, which Azzahir calls “cultural knowledge production,” includes facilitating rites of passage programs, storytelling circles, community mapping, health initiatives, and research rooted in ancestral ways of knowing. Through these efforts, the center doesn’t just provide services — it creates a cultural infrastructure that redefines what it means to be healthy and whole.

Much of Azzahir’s insight stems from her own upbringing in a small sharecropping town outside Greenwood, Mississippi.

“As I look back, we didn’t have a ‘good’ life, we had a ‘pure’ life,” she said. “The hor-

rific didn’t seem so horrible at the time. Things were just the way they were.”

Her father, a tall man with a joyful disposition, told stories with his hand gently placed on her head — an act that, at the time, felt like tenderness but now registers to her as something far more intentional.

“He was protecting my spirit,” Azzahir said. “Now that I have studied my culture, I know that he was transmitting things to me, and receiving some, too. That was healing.”

In contrast, her mother — who worked as a domestic and could neither read nor write — carried a pistol and a fierce resolve not to be mistreated.

The townspeople called her a “pistol-packing woman,” a label that served as both a warning and a badge of honor.

“She refused to be disre-

nyism, when people in power give jobs, favors or advantages to their friends or close associates — not based on merit or qualifications. “While tariffs can be useful tools in targeted economic policy, Trump’s plans look more like strongman politics than effective governance,” the group said in a recent statement.

spected,” Azzahir said. “Her ferocity may have frightened people, but it also kept us safe. My father worried that she’d get us in trouble, but the white folks stayed away.”

This dual inheritance of gentleness and fire shaped Azzahir’s own organizing style — anchored in love, driven by clarity, and sharpened by memory. “A father’s love is worth your weight in gold,” she said. “We are rich. We will recover. And we shall win.”

While Azzahir’s work began at the grassroots level, its reach has extended into policy and institutional change. The Cultural Wellness Center now serves as a trusted voice in conversations around public health, education, and economic development. It challenges agencies and organizations to reconsider what they value as knowledge and who they recognize as experts.

“Our communities are not void of answers,” Azzahir said. “They’re just often not asked the right questions — or given the opportunity to lead.”

In a city like Minneapolis, where racial disparities are among the most severe in the country, the Center’s work offers a model for what community-led solutions can look like. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, interest in culturally grounded healing practices surged. The Cultural Wellness Center responded

While the protest remained peaceful, it was marked by urgency and deep concern for the direction of federal policy. Cars driving past honked in solidarity. A few drivers slowed down

At a recent telephone town hall, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) responded to a constituent frustrated by trade barriers with Canada, where a $15,000 fee was imposed on a $40,000 project. “Our current trade with Canada and Mexico is being governed by the deal negotiated under Trump,” Omar said, referring to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA in 2018.

Although the USMCA retained many NAFTA provisions, critics argue it has not resolved longstanding disparities in cross-border trade treatment, especially for small businesses. Meanwhile, according to the Center for American Progress, the White House has indicated it would veto the Trade Review Act, calling it an overreach that could “undermine the president’s ability to protect American interests swiftly and decisively.”

Despite the opposition, Klobuchar and her co-spon-

by expanding its offerings and supporting other grassroots organizations through mentorship and collaboration.

The center’s programs emphasize wellness as both a personal and collective responsibility. Participants don’t just receive services — they learn to be stewards of their own health and advocates for their community’s future.

Whether through traditional food practices, intergenerational dialogue, or ancestral research, the center fosters belonging and self-determination.

Looking ahead, Azzahir hopes to expand the reach of the Cultural Wellness Center and cement its role as a national authority on cultural approaches to wellness. But she also knows that true change happens slowly — through stories, through relationships, and through a renewed sense of purpose.

Advocates say they will continue to push for policy reforms at both the federal and state levels, calling for repeal of the Alien Enemies Act, the return of deported individuals like Garcia, and the full restoration of constitutional protections for immigrants.

Chris Juhn is a freelance photographer and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder.

sors believe the bill has momentum. “This is about restoring balance,” Klobuchar said. “Congress should have a say when policies have the power to impact our economy, workers and communities in such far-reaching ways.”

As presidential candidates prepare for the 2026 election cycle, trade and tariffs are once again shaping up to be central policy battlegrounds — particularly in states like Minnesota, where manufacturers, farmers and entrepreneurs alike are feeling the ripple effects.

Comedian Dave Chappelle once described Trump’s trade strategies as “high people ideas,” quipping in a 2017 stand-up special: “I want to wear Nikes — I don’t want to make them.”

For many Minnesotans, the joke hits close to home.

Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at ccombs@spokesman-recorder.com.

“When decision-makers understand that investing in community-led cultural knowledge is an investment in lasting change,” she said, “the payoff to our economy and quality of life will be enormous.”

Her vision is rooted in the belief that when people know who they are, where they come from, and why they matter, they can create the conditions for their own thriving. And when one community thrives, it elevates everyone.

“The story of the Cultural Wellness Center,” Azzahir said, “is the story of retaining and reproducing a personality that knows how to heal, build and lead — not in spite of history, but because of it.” Isabel Chanslor is a consultation specialist in the nonprofit sector and the chief program officer of the Neighborhood Development Center (NDC).

“I’m afraid that the U.S. Constitution is being dissolved.”

Protesters line up on Plato Blvd as cars pass, many showing support. All photos courtesy of Chris Juhn/MSR

Palestinian and Venezuelan flags symbolizing solidarity

The building the Cultural Wellness Center is moving to in June 2025, located at 3800 3rd Ave. So. in Minneapolis

Arts & Culture

TU Dance at age 20: a legacy in motion

By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer

As TU Dance celebrates its 20th anniversary, the acclaimed Twin Cities-based dance company is honoring a legacy defined by bold artistry, cultural storytelling, and community-centered performance. With two decades of movement behind it, the company is using the moment not just to look back, but to leap forward.

Founded in 2004 by choreographers Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, TU Dance has become a national model for how contemporary dance can fuse classical technique with African diasporic traditions and urgent, socially relevant narratives. Its anniversary celebration, set for April 25 and 26 at The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, brings together an all-star lineup of choreographers and works that reflect the company’s core mission and the spirit of return.

“TU Dance has always been rooted in powerful storytelling and social relevance,” said Artistic Associate Laurel Keen, a longtime company member. “This anniversary is very much about returning — returning to the artists who’ve helped shape our identity, and honoring the legacy Toni built when she started this company.”

The program features an ensemble of influential choreographers whose past collaborations with TU Dance helped define its trajectory; these include Ronald K. Brown, Camille A. Brown, Alonzo King, Yusha-Marie Sor-

zano, and the late Alvin Ailey. Brown’s “Four Corners” will return to the stage with its signature themes of spiritual guardianship and global unity. “He created a work for TU Dance before the pandemic, called “Where the Light Shines Through,” and it’s been really special to welcome him back,” Keen said.

Camille A. Brown’s “New Second Line,” a joyful yet poignant response to Hurricane Katrina and the resilience of New Orleans communities, also makes a return. “It’s about how people find joy through grief,” said Keen.

“It’s a beautiful and powerful work.”

Keen herself will perform “Ma,” a duet choreographed by Alonzo King. It’s a deeply personal fullcircle moment for the dancer, who once performed with King’s LINES Ballet in San Francisco.

“I set this piece on TU Dance almost a decade ago,” she said.

“To be performing it now feels like both a homecoming and a tribute.”

The program also features “Witness,” one of the last solos choreographed by Alvin Ailey before his death. Its inclusion is a nod to Pierce-Sands’ early career with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and reflects the foundational influence Ailey has had on TU Dance’s ethos.

“Toni had her professional career in New York with Ailey,” Keen said. “It was really important for her to have Mr. Ailey represented in this celebration.”

Yusha-Marie Sorzano, another former TU Dance and Ailey company member, will present a trio originally choreographed for New York’s “Edges of Ailey” exhibit. The piece continues the company’s tradition of elevating voices that blend technical precision with personal narrative.

While the choreographic styles vary, Keen said a thematic throughline ties the evening together. “There’s a strong emotional arc — threads of celebrat-

Guthrie’s ‘Nacirema Society’ showcases Black womanhood

By Kiara Williams Staff Writer

The Guthrie Theater’s latest production, “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years,” isn’t just a witty Southern comedy — it’s a vibrant tribute to the complexity of Black identity, womanhood and legacy. Set in Montgomery, Alabama in 1964, Pearl Cleage’s play invites audiences into a world where debutantes prepare for society’s most elite cotillion, and a family’s carefully preserved reputation collides with secrets, class tensions, and the politics of protest.

a wealthy Black family preparing their granddaughter Gracie for the Nacirema Society’s centennial ball. But amid the pearls and protocol, scandal brews — including a blackmail plot, longburied secrets, and a determined young woman ready to ditch the debutante dress for protest gear.

While the comedic pacing keeps things light, the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement lends weight to the narrative.

“Set in 1964, Montgomery is more than a location — it’s a reminder,” Agnes said. “There are references to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to Dr. King, to the larger struggle happening just outside these characters’ front

For Assistant Director Vanessa Brooke Agnes, the production is both personal and historic. “It’s not every day that Black women get to see themselves reflected in our best light,” Agnes said. “This story centers us — not in pain, but in joy, beauty and community.”

The production marks the second time the Guthrie has staged a play by Cleage, a celebrated playwright known for her layered portrayals of Black Southern life, womanhood and resistance. Agnes said Cleage’s intentionality is embedded in every scene.

“She wrote this to showcase Black women — to celebrate us, to uplift us,” Agnes said. “The men are there, but this is our story. Our voices. Our traditions. Our legacy.”

The story follows the Dunbars,

doors. One of the younger women in the story attends protests. She wears overalls — the uniform of resistance. It’s all there.”

The play also contrasts two types of Black families: the Dunbars, steeped in status and tradition, and the Campbell-Jacksons, a working-class family rooted more explicitly in the social movements of the time.

“That duality — wealth and working-class, tradition and transformation — reflects the diversity of our community,” Agnes said. “We’re not a monolith, and that’s what makes this story so powerful. It’s a mirror.”

In a significant departure from past productions, “The Nacirema Society” features a predominantly local cast of mostly Black women

ing the human spirit and how we move through joy, grief and healing,” she said. “Those emotions don’t have to be separate. They often live alongside each other.”

Outside the studio, TU Dance faces another kind of balancing act. Like many nonprofit arts organizations, it operates in a shifting landscape where political and funding uncertainties threaten its stability. Executive Director Abdo Sayegh Rodríguez said TU Dance has yet to receive a $15,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant it was awarded for the anniversary production.

“We applied last year and were approved,” Rodríguez said. “But the contract hasn’t been released. The administration is reviewing them and delaying distribution.”

While the amount may appear modest, Rodríguez said the shortfall affects programming and signals a broader issue. “It won’t kill us — we can survive — but it has affected us,” he said. “We’re fortunate to have a reserve and support from private foundations, but the long-term concern is systemic.”

He pointed to growing political backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the ripple effects it could have on foundation giving and federal grant eligibility.

“The fear in the arts community is that executive orders could influence IRS rules and restrict where foundations can allocate funds — especially to organizations doing DEI work like TU Dance or Penumbra,” Rodríguez said.

Despite the uncertainty, TU

— deserve to be seen.”

“The Nacirema Society” shows at the Guthrie Theater in Min -

Dance remains focused on community engagement and education. The organization offers classes for students of all ages and frequently brings its work into schools and neighborhood programs.

“As executive director, my fo-

laborators. A post-show community gathering will also take place in the lobby, offering space for shared stories and connection.

— a rarity on major regional stages.

“The cast is all Black, with one Black man and the rest Black women,” said Agnes. “That in itself is a celebration. Being in rehearsal with so many talented, brilliant and kind Black women has been a gift. I’m soaking up every moment.”

Agnes noted that the Guthrie’s costume and prop teams went to great lengths to honor the setting with detail and accuracy. “Everything is intentional — the costumes, the set, the books and photo albums. The Guthrie’s shops hand-make everything, and there are so many Easter eggs from 1964. It feels like stepping into a time capsule.”

Though the play touches on themes of protest and social unrest, Agnes said it’s ultimately a joyful story — one that expands beyond what audiences expect from Black narratives.

“Yes, we talk about class. Yes, we reference the civil rights era. But at the heart of it, this play is funny. It’s a farce. There are secrets and missing letters and comedic chaos,” she said. “It shows that Black life isn’t just a struggle. It’s family, it’s tradition, it’s love. It’s complex.”

Agnes brings her full self to the production. As a Minnesota-born theater artist, she’s spent more than a decade directing and recently founded her own company, Dark Muse Performing Arts, in 2020. The organization was born out of the George Floyd uprisings and centers Black and queer healing through the arts.

“I’m a freelance artist, writer and director,” she said. “ I’m currently directing “Romeo and Juliet” at The Loft Stage and “Sanctuary City “at Theatre in the Round. But “The Nacirema Society” — this is special.”

When asked what she hopes audiences will take away, her answer is simple but resonant:

“I want them to feel joy. I want them to see us in our fullness. And I want them to know that our stories — in all their forms

cus is sustainability,” Rodríguez said. “I want to ensure we’re resourced to continue offering performances, classes at our center, and arts education throughout our communities.”

For Keen, the company’s next chapter will continue to center the same values that shaped its beginning — artistic excellence, cultural expression, and belonging.

“TU Dance not only celebrates dance and performance — it cultivates community,” she said.

“Whether it’s a young student stepping into our studio for the first time or a professional dancer seeking meaningful, identityrooted work, TU Dance continues to be that home.”

Founders Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands were unavailable for comment by the informed deadline..

In addition to the live performances, the 20th anniversary celebration will include a commemorative film chronicling TU Dance’s history, with archival footage, interviews, and reflections from past dancers and col-

neapolis April 19 through May 25. For tickets and more information, visit www.guthrietheater.org.

For more information, visit www. tudance.org.

Aria Binn-Zager welcomes reader responses at abinns@spokesman-recorder.com.

Kiara Williams welcomes reader responses to kwilliams@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Monks, Darrick Mosley, Greta Oglesby, Essence Renae, Regina Marie Williams and Dedra D. Woods

The anniversary lineup features a powerhouse roster of choreographers. Courtesy of TU Dance

The “Nacirema Society” cast Courtesy photo

St. Paul arts center a healing sanctuary for Black and brown youth

By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer

In the heart of Saint Paul’s Summit-University neighborhood, a rhythmic pulse resonates through the walls of a former Native American school building — now reborn as the Black Youth Healing Arts Center (BYHAC). What was once a sanctuary for Indigenous children is now a vibrant space extended to the cultural expression, healing, and restoration of Black and brown youth.

On any given day the BYHAC beats the drum of life, offering a wide range of interactive events that promote healing, growth and fun. Despite the name, the space is open to all regardless of age, race or gender

But the space does have its focus: “We are a community arts and healing organization that centers Black and brown youth and their families,” says Dr. Darlene Fry, the founder and executive director of the BYHAC.

Dr. Fry, who with a group of educators in 2012 started the Irreducible Grace Foundation that includes BYHAC, says this branch of the organization was primarily youth-led. “We’ve got young folks from the neighborhood who’ve been part of this work since before we even had a building.”

Fry, who during her teach-

ing times saw the large racial disparities of on-time graduation rates between African American, American Indian, and Hispanic students to their Caucasian and Asian counterparts, says this space is dedicated to taking care of the underserved. Fry says she is aware of the harm that systems have caused the communities they serve, which is why liberatory practices are core to the BYHAC programming. “We focus on mindfulness, affirmation arts, and breathwork. Our goal is simple: We want this space to be their space — their own, where they feel seen and they feel like

they truly belong.”

Outside, an elder named Tim with a green thumb tends to a flourishing garden in partnership with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. “Gardening is one of our most popular summer activities,” says Jan Mandell, program coordinator.

Mandell says the current programming is a reflection of community desire. “What I usually do is meet with young people or those involved in the programming to ask them what they want,” explains Mandell.

“We live in the same neighborhoods. We understand the politics, the pain, and the beauty.”

“We were sitting in the Space for Grace [the homework support room] doing homework when one of the kids said, ‘We want ceramics.’ And I was like, ‘Okay.’”

When the youth dream, the BYHAC finds a way to deliver. Thanks to a partnership with COMPAS, a 40-yearold organization connecting professional teaching artists

with community programs, ceramics became a reality. “Our youth board worked with them, and because they did, we were able to secure a grant,” stated Mandell.

This grant brought in Sayge Carroll, a Black ceramicist and owner of Mudluk Pottery Studio in Minneapolis. “She’s teaching ceramics, but she also shows our youth what they could become, whether that’s as artists, healers, or whatever they aspire to be,” Mandell adds.

Approximately 85% of the BYHAC’s programming is supported by private grants. “We received sewing machines and arts supplies funded by a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield.” From community sewing machines to mindfulness circles, every corner of this center thrives because of passion, partnerships, and the love of the community.

vestment is worth the risk.

“The youth wanted a gym, a theater, a recording studio, even a bus,” Mandell beams.

“And now we have it, through community partnership and funding.”

In a hallway, a mural donated by activists from George Floyd Square honors Gianna Floyd and the movement that awakened many. Elsewhere, piles of children’s books from local author Dr. Artika Tyner lined the walls as a reminder that reading is resistance and literature is liberation.

Visitors will also find specific rooms named after elders such as director, playwright and actor Marion McClinton; community educator Mary K. Boyd; and the Leroy and Gloria Thomas room. These individuals helped broaden the BYHAC’s vision and mission.

Visitors will find a kitchen area for cooking classes offered

“We live in the same neighborhoods. We understand the politics, the pain, and the beauty,” Fry explains.

Just two and a half years ago, the BYHAC made a significant transition, moving from a church space to its current building. This transformation was about a new location and the realization of a bigger dream, and she says the collective in-

by chef LaChelle Cunningham, a space for ceramics, and an unfinished recording studio.

One of the BYHAC’s most popular offerings is the drum circle led by local artist Tearra Oso, a passionate Afro-Puerto Rican artist and culture keeper. She teaches traditional music rooted in the rhythms of enslaved West Africans. “We make up new songs, but they

carry those old rhythms in Spanish, Creole and Yoruba,” Oso says. “It’s all mixed in.” Oso’s connection to the drum circle is personal. Having started these gatherings while pregnant, she says, “It’s changed my bloodline — how we react, how we heal,” referring to the impact sound and community had on her wellbeing up through the birth of her son.

The BYHAC also pulls from the community to reflect their historic work. In partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, the BYHAC has initiated a film and archival project to trace the rich history of the building. Once known as the Red School House, this site was a refuge for Indigenous families whose children had been neglected by the public school system. Murals left by the building’s founders speak volumes about this legacy. “They took their kids and left the school system to form their own,” Mandell explains. “We’re keeping that legacy alive.”

One way they keep legacy alive is by communing. The BYHAC will host an urban teen wellness bash May 3 for ages 13-19. The bash invites community youth for open mic and talent shows, along with free T-shirts, free snacks, and free cooking or yoga sessions — and free entry.

At the BYHAC, culture isn’t just preserved — it’s practiced. Healing isn’t just an abstract goal — it’s a daily rhythm. And whether it’s through affirmation, drumming, poetry, gardening, or sewing, everyone who walks through those doors contributes to the center’s ongoing symphony of healing and growth.

For offerings or more information, visit irgrace.org.

Aria Bins-Zager welcomes reader responses at abinns@ spokesman-recorder.com

BYHAC’s weekly drum circle teaches traditional music rooted in the rhythms of enslaved West Africans. All courtesy photos

Children gather weekly for ceramics with Sayge Carroll.

BYHAC Executive Director Dr. Darlene Fry (l) with community elder. The center offers weekly sewing classes.

No rush to judgment in Texas stabbing

By Lawrence Ware

For those not paying close attention, the issue of Black Texas teenager Karmelo Anthony’s alleged stabbing of high school football star Austin Metcalf during a busy track meet seems cut and dry: Anthony murdered someone and he should pay the consequences. At least that’s what the MAGA faithful would have you believe.

We also have Terrance K. Williams, a proud MAGA shuck-and-jiver, posting videos going on and on about how sad he is that Metcalf lost his life, while wearing the reddest “Make America Great Again” hat you’ve ever seen — without considering that what happened might have been a bit more complex.

The story is too complicated for these simplistic takes. We should not rush to say that Anthony is completely innocent, but we also have to protect him from people who want to throw him in jail without hearing all the evidence, as almost all of the conservative commentators seem to want to do.

There are three reasons why this case is far more complicated than the good folks on Fox News want to make it out to be.

What happened is likely wildly different from what was reported.

Initially, we were told that Metcalf simply asked Anthony to move, and Anthony was so angered that he took out a

knife and stabbed the victim. But anyone who said that is a liar and the truth ain’t in them.

Anthony’s family insists that it was raining and their son went under the tent because he needed shelter. Metcalf apparently didn’t like that and confronted Anthony, leading to some kind of altercation that led to Austin being stabbed. Of course, none of us were in the tent to see what happened, but what we can’t do is allow white folks to throw a Black kid in jail without him getting a fair trial.

the man who killed Trayvon Martin and started the Black Lives Matter Movement? Yeah, he claimed self-defense and got off. That should work with Anthony…especially in Texas.

But, of course, it probably won’t. Because...well…you know why.

Metcalf’s father said he does not want race brought up in this case.

Jeff Metcalf told Fox News, “This was not a race thing. This was not a political thing. Please do not comment if you do not know what happened. Try not to turn this into a racial thing. It was not.”

Except that’s an impossibility: A Black kid is accused of killing a white one. Conservatives brought race into this. We must protect Anthony and make sure he gets the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law.

By Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back

The day after Donald Trump won the 2024 election, the 10 richest people in the world — including nine Americans — expanded their wealth by nearly $64 billion, the greatest single-day increase in recorded history. Since then, an unholy marriage of billionaire investors, tech bros, Christian nationalists, and, of course, Donald Trump has staged an oligarchic assault on our democracy.

If the nation’s corporate elite once leveraged their relationships within government to enrich themselves, they’ve now cut out the middleman. We’re living in a new Gilded Age, with a proto-fascistic and religiously regressive administration of, by and for the billionaires.

With the wind at their backs, leading elements in the Republican Party have rapidly eschewed euphemisms and political correctness altogether, airing their anti-immigrant, anti-Black, and anti-poor prejudices in unapologetically broad and brazen terms. The effect of this, especially for the most vulnerable among us, is seismic.

During the first two months of the second Trump administration, we’ve witnessed nothing less than an escalatory war on the poor. The attacks are many-pronged.

Rural development grants, food banks, and environmental protection measures have all been slashed in the name of “ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs.” Planned Parenthood and other life-saving health care services for poor and marginal-

ized communities have been defunded. Homelessness has been ever more intensely criminalized and Housing First policies vilified.

The Department of Education, which has historically provided critical resources for low-income and disabled students, has been gutted, while the barbaric conditions in overcrowded immigrant detention centers have only worsened. Billions of dollars in funding for mental health and addiction services have been revoked.

As

Worse yet, these and other mercenary actions may prove to be just the tip of the spear. Tariff wars and potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP could leave both the lives of the poor and the global economy in shambles.

This volatile moment may represent an unprecedented, even existential, threat to the health of our democracy, but it is building on decades of neoliberal plunder and economic austerity, authored by both conservative and liberal politicians. Before the 2024 elections, there were more than 140 million people living in poverty or one crisis away — one job loss, eviction, medical issue, or debt collection — from economic ruin.

In this rich land, 45 million people regularly experience hunger and food insecurity, while more than 80 million people are uninsured or un-

derinsured, 10 million people live without housing or experience chronic housing insecurity, and the American education system has regularly scored below average compared to those of other nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Amid tremendous social and economic dislocation, traditional American institutions and political alignments have steadily lost their meaning for tens of millions of people. The majority of us know things aren’t well in this country. We can feel it, thanks not just to the violent and vitriolic political environment in which we live, but to our bank statements and debt sheets, our rising rent and utility bills.

As the hull of our democracy splinters and floods, the question remains: How do we chart a more just and humane path forward? There are no easy answers, but there are profound lessons to be learned from the past, especially from movements of poor and dispossessed people that have inspired many of this country’s most important moments of democratic awakening.

This is a portion of Liz Theoharis and Noam SandweissBack’s “The Power of the Poor” in “Trump’s America,” originally published on LA Progressive. For the full article or more information, visit www.laprogressive.com.

Anthony wasn’t a thug or a gang member.

He said he felt scared and defended himself. If this was premeditated murder, then why did he go immediately to the police as soon as he left the tent? Something doesn’t add up. The same logic that protects white citizens when they shoot unarmed (mostly Black) folks should work for Karmelo.

Kyle Rittenhouse. Remember him? The white kid who shot and killed two people because they were protesting the shooting of a Black man? He got off for self-defense. What about George Zimmerman,

This whole situation is a tragedy. Metcalf died and Anthony’s life will never be the same. But in a different era, they would have hung Karmelo Anthony on the steps of the courthouse without a second thought; with the administration we have, we need to protect Anthony and others from suffering a fate near it.

Lawrence Ware is a professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University and co-director of the Center for Africana Studies. This piece was originally published in The Root. For more information, visit www.theroot.com.

By Ezra Klein

The emergency is here.

The crisis is now. It is not six months away. It is not another Supreme Court ruling away from happening. It’s happening now.

Perhaps not to you, not yet. But to others. Real people. We know their names. We know their stories.

The president of the United States is disappearing people to a Salvadoran prison for terrorists, a prison known by its initials — CECOT. A prison built for disappearance. A prison where there is no education or remediation or recreation, because it is a prison that does not intend to release its inhabitants back out into the world. It is a prison where the only way out, in the words of El Salvador’s so-called justice minister, is a coffin.

On Monday, President Trump said, in the Oval Office, in front of the cameras, sitting next to President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, that he would like to do this to U.S. citizens as well.

Archived clip of Donald Trump: “If it’s a homegrown criminal, I have no problem. Now, we’re studying the laws right now. Pam is studying. If we can do that, that’s good. And I’m talking about violent people. I’m talking about really bad people. Really bad people.

Every bit as bad as the ones coming in.”

He told Bukele that he would need to build five more of these prisons because America has so many people Trump wants to send to them.

Archived clip of Donald Trump: “Why? Do you think there’s a special category of person? They’re as bad as anybody that comes in. We have bad ones, too. And I’m all for it. Because we can do things with the president for less money and have great security. And we have a huge prison population. We have a huge number of prisons. And then we have the private prisons, and some are operated well, I guess, and some aren’t.”

process that system affords. In our prisons, prisoners can be reached by our lawyers, by our courts, by our mercy. In El Salvador, they cannot. Names. Stories. Let me tell you one of their names, one of their stories, as best we know it. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia is from El Salvador. His mother, Cecilia, ran a pupuseria in San Salvador. A local gang, Barrio 18, began extorting the business, demanding monthly and then weekly payments. If the family didn’t pay, Barrio 18 threatened to murder Kilmar’s brother Cesar or to rape their sisters. Eventually, Barrio 18 demanded Cesar join their gang, at which point the family sent

Then

to

Why do we need El Salvador’s prisons? We have prisons here. But for the Trump administration, El Salvador’s prisons are the answer to the problem of American law.

The Trump administration holds the view that anyone they send to El Salvador is beyond the reach of American law — they have been disappeared not only from our country but from our system — and from any protection or

Cesar

America.

Barrio 18 demanded the same of Kilmar, and Kilmar, at age 16, was sent to America, too.

This is an edited transcript of an episode of “The Ezra Klein Show.” You can listen to the conversation by following or subscribing to the show on the NYT Audio App,

Employment & Legals

State of Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name

Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333

PREP

Continued from page 12

“If you notice,” Flint said with enthusiasm and passion, “the players, coaches and officials are all female, African American and people of color. I think it is important to create opportunities for ourselves.”

The showcase featured games for 6th grade, 7-8th grade, 9-10th grade, an 1112 game and a three-point shooting contest.

There are some who are grateful that Flint has continued the mission to create opportunities for girls. One such person is former Min-

SOE

Continued from page 12

and show that it is possible

“to choose coaching as a path that they can make as a career. It’s something that when they’re playing, most times they’re not thinking about [coaching] until later on when they’re getting to their senior year and they’re not willing to give [tennis] up after they graduate.

“That’s how it started for me,” she admitted, “and it’s just good to have that rep-

neapolis Roosevelt boys basketball standout Sam Willis. His daughter, eighth-grader Kiera Willis, who played guard on Benilde-St. Margaret’s Class 3A state championship team last month, participated in the showcase, playing in three games.

“This is her first time in the showcase,” Sam Willis said. “I didn’t even know anything about it until this year. I wish I would have known about this sooner.”

The Tripple Threat Showcase was a success. Flint says she will continue to provide opportunities and experiences for youth in the future. If Saturday’s showcase is any indication, the future is brighter than ever.

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

resentation for both men and women because both Gabby and I, we did both.”

“I’m just super excited and grateful to be here,” said Moore, “and grateful to be in the Big Ten and do this alongside a teammate, a friend, and someone I call family. Just very proud of our conference for having a very big diversity inclusion piece in our sport and in other sports, but also just to be leading in this sport as a Black woman.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

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FLAG FB

Continued from page 12

in 2024, interest in girls flag football has increased dramatically at the high school level, and to see such a high number of schools participating this year is a tremendous sign for future growth.”

During a March 30 media day, the MSR talked to several players and coaches.

“I really hope to find new friendships, get new experiences,” said Kiara ColtonSpearman, a senior at Two Rivers High School.

Said Renee Pettis, Minneapolis North parent: “I think we have a group of girls that are naturally athletic, and so they do well in any sport that they pick up. So, I’m excited to see how this season will go.”

“I’ve always wanted to play flag football, so it’s a good opportunity that it came right before I graduate,” said North’s JaShaya Simmons. “I played basketball and volleyball, and I did track.”

Richfield senior Esther Aminga said, “I joined because I knew it’s gonna be

a new community, a new place for us, especially females, to live out a sport and to show who we really are as a team, and we can do what the boys can do.”

“I’m excited,” added 11th grader Jae Lang, Minneapolis Roosevelt. “I’m just excited to play a new sport. I’ve never played football before.”

Two Rivers Coach Kimber Scott pointed out, “We had over 82 girls interested in playing with us. We’ve got 50 jerseys, we got a varsity and a JV, so it’s going to be fun.”

“I didn’t think that we would have as big of a turnout as we did,” recalled Pettis. “We had a lot of girls sign up and were excited to participate. They’re excited to take on this, this next chapter, and see what they can accomplish in flag football.”

The new flag football high school league will feature doubleheaders each Sunday for four Sundays; then playoffs on Sunday, June 1; then the state championship game on Monday, June 9. All games will be played at the Vikings’ Eagan practice field.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Continued from page 12

things like that. My mother’s a nurse, and I’ve seen her work for free and donate her time to different [causes].”

respective track events this outdoor season: She was a 2024 Academic All-Big Team member and reached the NCAA as a member of the Gophers 4x100m relay team. Her main event is the 100m hurdles.

events during his redshirt season in 2024, competing in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. “Personally, I’m doing all right. There’s definitely things to improve on. It’s a lot of fun for me.”

Dunigan.

Black’s time is winding down, she concluded. “I graduate on May 9, and then I’ll be getting married, working in a full-time ministry, and then law school,” said Black proudly.

Both Black and Dunigan are heavily involved in their

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com. VIEW

“For me, waiting for a breakthrough,” said Black. “Couple things to work out.” Dunigan competed in four

Both athletes are doing well in the classroom. “Hopefully I’ll be graduating with my medical laboratory science degree in 2027,” said

Sports

Triple Threat Showcase a success

he gymnasium at the High School for Performing Arts in St. Paul was packed last Saturday evening for the Triple Threat Girls Basketball Showcase.

The crowd was as loud as ever. The coaches’ energy and enthusiasm were matched by the players, who also displayed dedication, teamwork and hustle.

Though former University of Minnesota women’s basketball standout and Triple Threat CEO Crystal Flint serves as the director of Conway Recreation Center through the Sanneh Foundation, she appeared to be in her element, doing what she does.

Flint was hosting the annual showcase featuring some of the metro area’s up-andcoming hoopers grades 6-11.

The Boston, Massachusetts native, who as a player

helped the Golden Gophers’ women’s team earn their firstever NCAA tournament bid in 1994, renamed the event after taking over the then-Shooting Stars Clinic created and facilitated by former Minnesota State High School League Associate Director and former U of M player Lisa Lissimore and former teammate and Gopher great Linda Roberts.

Since taking over, Flint has continued to promote the original mission of Lissimore and Roberts. She made it clear to the capacity crowd that the showcase was created to give

innesota and Illinois in women’s tennis have met 32 times since 1991. However, the 33rd meeting on April 11 was the first time ever that both schools’ squads were coached by Black women.

Lois Arterberry (Minnesota) and Gabrielle Moore (Indiana) once were college teammates at Southern University, an HBCU. “I was a junior when she came in,” said Arterberry of Moore. “So we had the opportunity of playing two years together and winning two championships.”

The Gophers-Hoosiers match at the Baseline Tennis Center also was the first time the two Southern alums coached against each other.

“It’s a historical moment,” stressed Moore as the two coaches talked to the MSR afterwards. “Especially not just two teams but two Black coaches that also played together and competed together to be here.”

When Arterberry got the Jackson State head coaching job, she sought out Moore to join her on the staff. A season later, Moore succeeded her as she left for another HC job.

“I needed an assistant, and for me [Moore] was the perfect person to call,” recalled the Gophers’ second-year coach. “We work together. It was good for me to just be able to help her to get to the Division I level, and like she said, pull each other along as we go.”

“It’s good that we can have that representation,” continued Arterberry, who as well as at Jackson State (both men’s and women’s) also coached at Eastern Illinois and St. Thomas before being hired at Minne-

sota in 2023. Now in her first season at Indiana, Moore also did double duty at Jackson State coaching both men and women, then only the women’s team at McNeese State before being hired by the Hoosiers for this season. Not only are Arterberry and Moore the Big Ten’s only Black women tennis head coaches, but also the only Black coaches of any sport at their respective schools. The two are among nearly 15 total Black female head coaches in

60-80 yards long and 20-30 yards wide, and 10-yard end zones. Each player wears a flag or flag belt.

51 schools compete in first statewide high school girls flag football league Black tennis coaches celebrate their historic matchup

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

On Sunday, April 27, the state’s first high school girls flag football league begins its season with 51 high schools competing on five consecutive Sundays this spring.

A year after the Minnesota Vikings piloted a four-team high school program in 2024, including a 12-game regular season and a championship game at the team’s Eagan practice field, the NFL club this year will contribute $600,000 to support the new league and the participating high schools. Since the idea for flag football first emerged in the 1990s, the NFL has supported

There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the school year and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players.

This week: track athletes Zariyah Black and Jordan Dunigan

he Big Ten this year established the Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award to recognize conference student-athletes

— a male and female nominee from each member school

“who strive to have a positive impact not only in their chosen sport but also within their

NFL FLAG, the pro football league’s official flag football program, with 1,800+ leagues and 750,000 youth ages 4 to 12 across the country in all

50 states. Minneapolis Public Schools in 2022 also piloted a middle school girls flag football program, and eight other school districts also had a mid-

dle school program in 2024. Among the basic flag foot

ball rules: Two teams of 5-8 players play on a rectangular playing field usually around

Vikings Vice President of Social Impact Brett Taber said in a release, “This is an exciting time for women’s and girls’ flag football in Minnesota. Since testing the pilot league

all three NCAA divisions, not counting Black schools.

“It’s very important,” said Moore. “I think it gives other Black coaches a vision of [how]this is where they could be. We’ve worked our way from the ground up to be here.”

The host school, Minnesota, secured the doubles point for only the second time this season in Big Ten play and defeated visiting Indiana 4-1.

“This match for us was not only important obviously within our conference, but I think it was an important match for us as coaches, always rooting for each other,” said Moore. “We knew it was going to be a battle, but I think that the togetherness of seeing Black women leading in this sport is a huge, huge thing for us.”

togetherness of seeing Black women leading in this sport is a huge,

Arterberry added that seeing her and Moore on the sidelines hopefully will encourage young Black tennis players, especially in college,

“To see such a high number of schools participating this year is a tremendous sign for future growth.”

community,” says its website. UCLA is one of four new Big Ten schools, and Jackie Robinson was the school’s first four-sport letter winner (football, basketball, track and field and baseball). He later became even more legendary for breaking Major League Baseball’s longtime color line in 1947, as well as for his social justice activism after he retired from baseball.

The four main criteria for the Robinson award are demonstrated impact — significant and tangible contributions to community projects; ability to work effectively with others, including peers, organizations, and community members; consistency and commitment in community service activities; and raising awareness and advocating for important groups or causes.

Senior Zariyah Black and redshirt freshman Jordan Dunigan are Minnesota’s two Jackie Robinson award nominees. Last week we talked

to both Gophers before they headed to their track practice.

Both Black, a Gibsonville, N.C. native, and Dunigan, a Woodbury High School graduate, quickly stressed that what they do off the track wasn’t intended to get them recognized by the school or the Big Ten.

“The greatest gift that I’ve learned to give people is your time.”

“When they first introduced the Big Ten Jackie Robinson award, I said, ‘Wow’ that’s really cool, something I want to win someday,” admitted Dunigan. When school officials asked him to submit a video and other documents, “I just kind of freaked out,” he added.

“I got an email asking me

to share some of the outside things that I do communitywise,” recalled Black.

Although two other Big Ten athletes were named firsttime winners of the Robinson award, the two Gophers pointed out that they are humbled with the experience of being the school’s first-time nominees. They will be formally honored soon at an athletics department staff meeting.

“My faith is really huge,” explained Black, who is active in her church. “It’s my everything.

“The greatest gift that I’ve learned to give people is your time. It’s not about how much you can donate, how much you can participate, but generally showing people that you care.

“Like Jordan said, it’s not really a thing that you have a checklist of everything you’re done,” she reiterated.

“It’s kind of the way that I’ve always been,” added Dunigan, whose off-campus activities include serving meals and

speaking to youth. He pointed out that he watched his parents get involved in various community activities and they brought him along.

“We’ve

also seen [his father] do a bunch of different kids camps,

gone to homeless shelters and fed people. I’ve

Crystal Flint Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Lois Arterberry (l) and Gabrielle Moore Photo by Charles Hallman

Esther Aminga JaShaya Simmons Kiara Colton-Spearman

Coaches LaMont Weaver II, Kimber Scott

All photos by Charles Hallman

Jordan Dunigan (l) and Zariyah Black Photo by Charles Hallman