PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
Inside this Edition...
THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
December 9–15, 2021
Vol. 88
www.spokesman-recorder.com www.spokesman-recorder.com
No. 19
p o t te r Tr i a l b e gi n s Only one Black juror to sit on controversial Potter case
By Mel Reeves Community Editor
Y
ou can’t remove race from this,” said anti-police violence activist Toussaint Morrison of the Kimberly Potter trial. “It seemingly tips it in the favor of the defense.” Only one Black juror, a mother and teacher, was chosen for the jury panel that will decide the fate of former
Brooklyn Center police officer Potter, who shot and killed Daunte Wright on April 11 of this year. Potter told authorities that she meant to shoot Wright with her taser and not her service revolver. She is on trial for first-degree and seconddegree manslaughter. “In less than two minutes her chief was able to put out propaganda that said she didn’t know her left from her right,” said Morrison while shak-
ing his head. “She had been on the force longer than Daunte had been alive. It comes off as intentional, or at the least it’s definitely manslaughter.” The trial marks the second time in a year that all eyes will be on the Twin Cities as the U.S. justice system and the system of policing are again in the spotlight. And again there is palpable pessimism on the part of many in the community. “I am going to hope for the best
and prepare for the worst,” said Amity Dimock, whose son Kobe DimockHeisler was killed August 31, 2019 by Brooklyn Center police. According to Dimmock, former officer Potter was the first ranking officer on the scene, and she told the officers to turn off their body cameras, for which she was later reprimanded. “I never have confidence in the system,” said Dimock. “I have concerns about the demographic of the jury,
MN launches nation’s first task force on missing Black women
MGN By Paige Elliott Digital Editor
M
innesota has become the first state in the nation to launch a panel addressing the disproportionately high number of missing and murdered Black women and girls. On Nov. 29, Gov. Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan,
flanked by victim advocates, lawmakers, and public safety officials, including Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL-Mendota Heights) and Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, held a ceremonial bill signing at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis to launch the nation’s first Missing and Murdered African American Women Task Force.
The 12-member task force, established with bipartisan support in the legislature’s 2021 Public Safety and Judiciary Omnibus Bill, will report recommendations back to the legislature in an effort to end violence against African American women and girls in Minnesota. The panel consists of victim advocates, law enforcement representatives, and court officials who
met for the first time at the signing. “We know African American women and girls are disproportionately subject to violent crime,” Gov. Walz said. “That’s why we took action and established a first-in-the-nation Missing and Murdered African American Women task force.” In 2020, almost 34% of the missing women in the U.S.
were Black, according to the National Crime Information Center of the FBI, while Black women comprise just 13% of the female population. “We are seeing African American women killed in numbers we’ve never seen before,” Commissioner Harrington said at Monday’s press conference. “Despite the small number of African Americans in Minnesota, 30% of the victims in domestic violence settings are African American women.” A recent Violence Free Minnesota’s (VFM) report found disproportionate numbers of Black and Native domestic violence homicide victims compared to statewide demographics. “In 2020, 40% of domestic violence homicide victims were Black, while comprising less than 7% of Minnesota’s population. “Four women were pregnant at the time they were killed by a current or former intimate partner, and three of them were Black,” read the VFM report. “These violent disparities are attributed to histories of colonization, chattel slavery, genocide, generational trauma, and ongoing systematic oppression.” ■See MISSING on page 5
African nations punished for warning the world of omicron virus Travel bans called unfair, ineffective by many health experts
By Niara Savage Contributing Writer Some infectious disease experts critical of the United States’ travel bans on African countries say the measure intended to curb the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus is ineffective and reveals an anti-African bias. “Scientists in Southern African nations revealed the presence of the omicron COVID-19 variant, but the good deed was punished with worldwide travel bans,” read a statement that appeared on the World Health Organizations (WHO) website November 28. “The World Health Organization (WHO) makes clear that the rationale for the ban is of dubious benefit and needlessly harms the targeted nations.
the variant is already here, because we are seeing community transmission in the U.S.,” said Dr. Priya Sampathkumar, an infectious disease specialist with the Mayo Clinic. South African scientists first detected omicron late last month and reported the variant to the World Health Organization on Nov. 24. By Nov. 26, the WHO publicly identified omicron as a “variant of Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Dr. Cameron Webb Dr. Priay Sampathkumar WHO photo Photo courtesy of Dr. Cameron Webb Photo courtesy of Mayo Clinic concern,” saying it appeared to display a “big jump in evolution” compared to previous versions of the virus. Dutch health authorities announced last week that they found the new omicron variant of the coronavirus in “The role of rich nations in cans who are now the target peared when Africa became cases dating back earlier last month, indicating that it was hoarding vaccines and the of blame,” the WHO state- the focus of attention.” “While we were busy ban- already spreading in western continued patents on vac- ment continued. “Pledges ■See OMICRON on page 5 cines increase harm for Afri- to ‘follow the science’ disap- ning travel from South Africa,
“I think this actually sets back public health.”
and it’s not close to Brooklyn Center’s demographic.” Recent data shows Blacks or African Americans make up 29% of the city’s population. “I’m kind of afraid there are some jurors who believe police can do no wrong,” Dimock said. “I am afraid that some people have not revealed their hand so they could get on the jury.” Jury selection for the trial went rather quickly and was uneventful as ■ See POTTER on page 5
St. Paul School Board votes to close, merge schools Painful cuts forced by ‘current enrollment reality’ By Feven Gerezgiher Contributing Writer The St. Paul School Board voted 5-2 on Dec. 1 to approve a revised version of Envision SPPS, a series of school closures and mergers intended to address declining enrollment and to provide a “well-rounded education” district-wide. The move will close five schools at the end of the 2021-22 school year and one the next year. Envision SPPS impacts 2,165 students, 6% of the district’s enrollment, with a higher rate of Black students being impacted than the district average. Many parents in attendance for the vote declined to comment to
Joe Gothard, St. Paul Schools Superintendent MSR file photo the MSR, citing overwhelming feelings of exhaustion and disappointment. The decision follows weeks of emotional testimony by St. Paul families and educators that packed public hearings in opposition to the proposal. “I know that no matter what the data say, closing a school is traumatic for students, families and staff,” wrote St. Paul Superintendent Joe Gothard in a release. “Closing schools is the last thing that I, members of my leadership team, or board members want to do. But when our current enrollment reality is negatively impacting our ability to provide every student with the education and services they need and deserve, something has to change.” At the meeting, board members expressed how difficult the decision was to make. Board Member Jim Vue sought and failed to pass a motion delaying closures another year. “It doesn’t end here. You have been heard,” said Board Member Janelle Foster, speaking to families about the many concerns expressed ■See SCHOOLS on page 5