THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
August 20-26, 2020 Vol. 87 No. 3
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Serving the Community for Years
86
“AS IT WAS SPOKEN ... LET US RECORD.”
Homeless advocates, Mpls police clash over encampments
Photos by Chris Juhn Minnesota Rep (District 62B) Aisha Gomez talks to police who carried out forced removals at at Powderhorn Park.
Homeless supporters at Powderhorn Park clear mace from their eyes after being sprayed with the chemical by Minneapolis police.
Park Board scrambles to find solutions By Analise Pruni Contributing writer
lence protests. Some of those dispossessed by these events he housing crisis in utilizing homeless shelters, have turned to camping out Minneapolis is cer- and some supportive hous- in Minneapolis parks. In South Minneapolis, the tainly not new. How- ing was damaged in the fires ever, the COVID-19 pandemic and riots in the wake of the numbers of people living in has discouraged people from George Floyd anti-police vio- parks increased as a result
T
Local election results include surprises By Mary Turck Contributing writer Marking her landslide victory, Congressmember Ilhan Omar tweeted Tuesday night: “In Minnesota, we know that organized people will always beat organized money. “Tonight, our movement didn’t just win. We earned a mandate for change. Despite outside efforts to defeat us, we once again broke turnout records. Despite the attacks, our support has only grown.” Omar’s victory over a well-funded primary opponent followed primary wins
by two other members of “The Squad,” the four firstterm progressive women of color who were targets of President Trump’s vitriol during the past two years. Both Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan also won over primary challengers. Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley does not face a primary challenge. In the Minnesota legislature, progressive challengers defeated incumbent DFL representatives in four primary contests, all in what are con-
sidered “safe” DFL districts. South Minneapolis, District 62: 30-year-old Omaar Fateh, son of Somali immigrants, defeated State Senator Jeff Hayden, who has served in the legislature since 2008, first in the House and then in the Senate. More than half of the district residents are people of color and about one in four are immigrants. Fateh, who won the DFL endorsement, ran a campaign marked by strong grassroots organizing and calls himself a Democratic Socialist activist. In North Minneapolis District 59B, Esther Agbaje, who
MSR file photos
(l-r) Rep. Ilhan Omar, Esther Agbaje and Omar Fateh
of evictions from the Mid- As a result, the housing crisis town Sheraton Hotel located has been partially shifted onto near Lake Street. Between the shoulders of the Minne200-300 people experiencing apolis Parks & Recreation Board homelessness had been stay- (MPRB). Early Friday morning, August ing there, many of whom relocated to Powderhorn Park. 14, a crowd of people gathered at ■See ENCAMPMENTS on page 5
Many view historical Harris selection as hopeful sign for Black women Racist, sexist attacks widely denounced MSR News Service Last week, history was made as an African/Asian American woman, Kamala Harris, was selected as the vice presidential running mate for Democratic Party presidential contender Joe Biden. Harris is the first African American or Asian American to be named on the Democratic Party ticket for vice president. Harris was sworn into the U.S. Congress as a senator in 2017, becoming only the second African American woman and the first South Asian American senator in history. Harris’ parents are of Indian and African backgrounds and immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. Harris had previously put her hat in the ring to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, but she fared poorly in the primaries. Harris’ nomination has met with positive reactions by many in the Black community similar to Barack Obama’s reception when he was named his party’s representative for president. Many have talked about how her selection is a sign of progress for African
Kamala Harris American women. Harris relates in her official biography that while growing up in Oakland as a Black child, she had “a strollereye view of the Civil Rights Movement.” Through the example of courageous leaders like Thurgood Marshall, Constance Baker Motley, and Charles Hamilton Houston, Harris said she learned the kind of character it requires to stand up to the powerful and resolved to spend her life advocating for those who could not defend themselves.
■See ELECTION on page 5
MSR file photo After earning an undergraduate degree from Howard University and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings, she began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, Harris became the district attorney of the City and County of San Francisco. Among her achievements there, Harris started a program that gives first-time drug offenders the chance to earn a high school diploma and find employment. ■See HARRIS on page 5
Back-to-school puzzle an ‘unsolvable Rubik’s Cube’ Keeping kids safe is also slowing their learning
PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
By Charles Hallman Contributing writer
tion Association (NWEA) defined “a COVID-19 slide” as students showing patterns of academic setbacks due to schools being closed for nearly six months. The National Urban League said during a June educational virtual panel discussion that “longstanding [educational] inequities have been exacerbated and created uncertainty in the academic progress of the most vulnerable students, including students of color” because of distance learning due to COVID. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guideA June study by the non- lines for opening up schools despite fears among many parents, teach- profit education research consists of five scenarios: iners and others over group Northwest Evalua- person teaching, part time or
Minneapolis and St. Paul are among many U.S. school districts that are starting the 2020-21 school year with more distance learning, which began when schools shut down in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the debate over distance learning and its overall impact on students has not quieted down
reopening schools. It seems that just as many want their school-age children back in the classroom. An Axios.com article says that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to “the sudden, dramatic disruption of education” since the state shutdown in March. The article adds that as a result we can expect “deep social and economic repercussions for years, if not decades.”
“Going back to school feels very scary, so unstable.”
hybrid schedules, distance learning, and two scheduling levels where elementary school students are in school more often than older students. “There will be no sense of normalcy” no matter what scenario is used, said Minneapolis Public Schools’ Mi-
chael Walker, one of the panelists of the August 12 African American Leadership Forum (AALF) virtual forum that discussed the COVID’s impact on children as the new school year approaches. Walker is the director of MPS’ Black Student Achievement Office. He said, “It is in ■See SCHOOL on page 5
