PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
Inside this Edition...
THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
September 23–29, 2021
Vol. 88
Read about the Black Master Storytellers Festival on page 7.
www.spokesman-recorder.com
NO. 8
On police amendment,
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE The power structure and its allies (like the mainstream press) should stop trying to confuse the issue
Through its editorial board and narrative slant, I think the Star Tribune coverage has been biased against the people’s vote on the public safety,” said Minneapolis film maker, artist, story The mainstream press purportedly has been attempting to bring clarity to the proposed teller D.A. Bullock. “From that shameless PR charter amendment put to Minneapolis vot- piece they featured on Judge Anderson, front ers on the election ballot as a way of fixing the page above the fold, to their generous coverage problem of police and public safety. However, of Don and Sondra Samuels as “trusted voice” it seems their efforts at “clarity” have added still more confusion to the effort. The measure was organized by YES Minneapolis and supported by the Minneapolis City Council. It proposes to address the issue of police misconduct by reorganizing the structure of the MPD and create in its place “a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach purpose of the city’s police department.” By Henry Pan The Minneapolis Star Tribune in particular Contributing writer appears to be in opposition to the measure while not directly saying so. The Strib has also dvocates for police reform gathered at spent lots of ink either unintentionally or inHennepin County Government Plaza tentionally obscuring the community’s conon Friday, Sept. 17 to celebrate a victory cerns around police misconduct. in a legal battle to include a controversial meaSuch misconduct, witnessed worldwide in sure on the city’s ballot. The measure, which apGeorge Floyd’s murder, is after all what the pears on the ballot in Minneapolis as Question amendment was proposed to address, if not indi- 2, would if passed reorganize the city’s police derectly, it was clearly what motivated its creation. partment and put it under a yet-to-be-created Before voters could go to the polls and de- Department of Public Safety, as well as elimicide for themselves, the Minneapolis Star Tri- nate a minimum police staffing requirement. bune declared in so many words that people are Rev. JaNaé Bates, who is leading the Yes for on the whole opposed to the charter amend- Minneapolis campaign in support of Question 2, ment. At least that is what can be inferred from congratulated rally participants. “I don’t think the lede in a story that ran in Sunday’s paper y’all understand what I’m saying. You all, your titled, “Minnesota Poll: Most Minneapolis vot- work, your dedication, your love for people, your ers want reform, not fewer cops.” ■See RALLY on page 5
By Mel Reeves Community editor
and de facto proxy for Black people in Minneapolis. They have avoided the scrutiny that is the benchmark of the fourth estate.” According to the lede in writer Kelly Smith’s story, which was supposedly based on a poll of Minneapolis citizens, “a clear majority of Minneapolis voters oppose reducing the size of the city’s police force, and that feeling is especially
Supporters rally for public safety measure
MN Supreme Court restored the question to the ballot
A
Yes for Minneapolis rally
Photo by Henry Pan
strong among Black voters.” “They are putting on a full-court last-minute press trying to influence the outcome through what is presented as a neutral and objective poll,” said one observer and Minneapolis resident who wanted his name withheld, when asked his thoughts on the article. “It’s like saying, hey, most of your fellow citizens are on the side of a no vote, so you should be too. It’s a scare tactic to steer people away from the public health approach.” The poll, which took into account the opinions of 800 Minneapolis residents, was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla and paid for by a combination of news agencies including KARE 11, MPR News, Star Tribune and PBS’s FRONTLINE. But the poll raises a big question: Why feature so prominently at the top of Sunday’s front page a survey of 800 prospective voters just as the people are preparing to vote if not to influence the outcome of that vote? “A poll is only as good as the questions asked and the context of the reporting on the opinion thereafter. In terms of policy, I’m not so much interested in the percent of opinion, but knowing why folks hold an opinion. Are they believing lies? Do they know the facts? Have they been frightened into decisions (fear is a form of coercion),” observed Bullock. Smith did not reiterate the facts that the proposed charter amendment allows for a police force and does not call for abolishing the police. Nor does it call for defunding the police. The article appears to have pulled away the ■See CHARTER on page 5
MPD accused of hiding police misconduct evidence Body cam footage showing officers’ assault withheld over a year
By Niara Savage Contributing writer Jaleel Stallings, a Black St. Paul man charged with second-degree murder after he unknowingly fired at Minneapolis police officers during a night of protests last year, was recently acquitted of all eight charges stemming from the incident, following a July trial. Stallings, a 29-year-old Army veteran who claimed he fired at the unmarked vehicle in self-defense on May 30, 2020, can breathe easier after his acquittal by a Hennepin County jury. However, the case raises serious questions about the efficacy of the Minneapolis Police Department. Officers’ intentions Five days after the death of George Floyd and amid escalating
unrest in the city, Minneapolis police officers took to the streets with orders from their superior, Sgt. Andrew Bittell. Before the unmarked cargo van turned down the street where Stallings and other demonstrators were gathered after curfew, Bittell instructed the officers to “drive down Lake Street. You see a group, call it out. OK, great! F*** ’em up, gas ’em, f*** ’em up.” Speaking to his SWAT unit, Bittell added, “The first f***ers we see, we’re just hammering ’em with 40s.” When the unit fired a hail of rubber bullets from the unmarked vehicle toward Stallings and other demonstrators standing in a parking lot, Stallings was struck in the chest. Fearing he was bleeding out and that those firing what he thought were real bullets might be White Suprem-
acist aggressors with bad intentions, that he only realized he had been Stallings returned fire. Gov. Tim firing at police officers when the SWAT team jumped out of the vehicle. He dropped his weapon and laid on the pavement. Body camera footage published by the Minnesota Reformer in early September shows members of the SWAT team jumping out of the vehicle and running toward Stallings, who was on the ground. Officers Justin Stetson and Bittell kicked and hit Stallings in the head and body repeatedly until Bittell instructed, “That’s it, stop it.” But Stetson didn’t stop hitting Stallings until Bittell physically intervened, saying, “Stop, Jaleel Stallings File photo stop. It’s OK,” grabbing Stetson’s hand. Stallings was arrested and charged Walz’s warning that White Suprem- with two counts of attempted secacists were in the area looking for ond-degree intentional, non-premedtrouble rang in the back of his mind. itated murder, two counts of firstStallings testified during the trial degree assault, deadly force against
Hallman selected for Title IX Honor Roll athletes and leaders and members of the Title IX Honor Roll. Hallman was one of 50 individuals selected. The colorful bus is decoFor decades MSR sports columnist Charles Hallman rated with the honoree’s name has been the voice of wom- displayed and pictures of the en’s accomplishments in the featured athletes and leaders. field of athletics. Now, after 40 years in the field of journalism, the Detroit, Michigan native is being recognized for his dedication and hard work by his selection to the Land O’Lakes, Inc. Title IX Championship Tour Title IX Honor Roll. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation that helped pave the way for equal opportunities for women, the bus tour was created to make stops at different sporting Charles Hallman venues to honor 11 Title IX Photo by Angie Andresen By Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald Sports columnist
It’s been quite the journey for Hallman, who honed his journalistic skills at Michigan State University while dabbling in some campus activism. “I worked at a campus radio station as a news reporter, he said. “We even started our own Black campus newspaper called The People’s Choice.” It was during his time with The People’s Choice that Hallman learned all he needs to know about journalism. “I learned how to edit, layout copy, write headlines, and write stories and columns,” he said. “All my print work came from The People’s Choice.” After graduating from MSU in the late 1970s with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and spending ■See HALLMAN on page 5
police officers, two counts of seconddegree assault, use of a dangerous weapon, one count of second-degree rioting, and one count of intentional discharge of a firearm. His mugshot shows evidence of the injuries he sustained from being hit by the officers. Evidence withheld Although prosecutors are required to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense under the Brady rule, Stallings’ attorney Eric Rice told the Minnesota Reformer that when he requested Brady material, including disciplinary records from the five officers involved in the case, he was told there were none. However, records show that two of the five had been disciplined before. Stetson had been admonished for failing to report his ■See STALLINGS on page 5
McDonald receives Outstanding Media Service Award its annual award that has been presented since 2015. The first two years there was only one Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDon- recipient before the award was ald has for several decades put split into two divisions: print a weekly spotlight on local male and electronic. McDonald (print) and retired and female high school athletes and their accomplishments on WCCO host Dave Lee (elecand off the athletic stage, athletes who perhaps would be virtually ignored by other local media. For his tireless efforts, McDonald in 2020 was honored by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) with its Outstanding Media Service Award. “Recipients are known for their passion, endless enthusiasm, and knack for heartfelt storytelling of the journeys of the participants, member schools and their communities,” Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald said the MSHSL’s description of Courtesy Lifetouch Studios By Charles Hallman Sports columnist
tronic) were last year’s winners. The two would have been honored at halftime of the Class AAA boys’ basketball championship, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. McDonald is the first Black media member honored by the MSHSL. “It always feels good to be recognized for things that you do. Writing about high school sports for as long as I have is a nice achievement,” admitted McDonald, whose Prep Scene has been a regular weekly fixture on the MSR sports page since 1996. Unlike other media, he makes sure that each prep youngster’s name mentioned is highlighted in bold black type. “I didn’t think I’d be writing this long,” said McDonald, a ■See McDONALD on page 5