June 20-26, 2019 Vol. 85 No. 46 www.spokesman-recorder.com • THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
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‘WE MUST CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISE’
AssAults on BlAck Bodies continue
NAACP: Keep speaking out against police misconduct By Stephenetta Harmon Editor-in Chief The NAACP Minneapolis has called for an apology and additional action from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office after the arrest of two Black women last month by sheriff’s deputies. Makala Moore, 19, and Taylor Kueng, 20, were charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of the legal process after speaking out against the May 31 detainment of two Black men on Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall for an open bottle infraction. The men, who the women did not know, were not charged or arrested. In a video of the arrest, captured by Kueng, Moore exclaimed, “You’re hurt-
ing me, you’re hurting me,” as one of the deputies throws her to the ground. “Two men take me down, put their knees in my back, twist my wrists, [while] I’m wearing a dress,” said Moore at a June 14 press conference addressing the “violent mishandling,” in her words, that she and Kueng endured. An officer is then seen in the video threatening Kueng with a Taser after she resists arrest. When asked what she is being arrested for, the officer replies, “Because.” “We want the sheriff’s office to apologize to these young women — and to Black people — because we recognize this is a systemic issue,” Leslie Redmond, president of the Minneapolis NAACP, told the MSR.
“For every Makala and Taylor, there are 1,000 other Makalas and Taylors that the NAACP doesn’t know about,” continued Redmond. She added that she wants the officers disciplined and actions put in place to better address police interactions with people of color.
Blacks being wrongfully arrested with unnecessary force in Minnesota is nothing new, says Mpls NAACP President Leslie Redmond. “We know police officers and sheriff officers in Minneso-
sounded across the country for these violent police interactions. A June 17 episode of former CNN contributor Roland Martin’s Facebook Live “Daily Digital Show” addressed the issue with attorney Keith White. He represents Nicholas Simon, a 17-year-old teen who was assaulted and falsely charged by the New York Police Department June 12 while ta know how to police. They walking down the street just don’t know how to do it dribbling a basketball. when it’s Black bodies,” she “This is the type of policsaid during a press confer- ing that’s allowed to go on in ence (see adjacent story). marginalized communities,” Alarms continue being ■ See AssAults on page 8
“We must question their authority. We must record.” “We also want them to have better protocols when people do come to them with these issues,” she said, in addition to funds for culturally-based training. “We want them to put the money where ■ See NAACP on page 8
THE OMAR AGENDA
Congress. Because there is so much noise on whether I should get conplatforms to instead focus on public MSR: How has it been making alli- demned for this or that, there are so many of them that are constantly apances in Washington, D.C.? policies. The conclusion of a In this week’s continuation of the Ilhan Omar: That really has been proaching us that want to have a contwo-part conversation same conversation with the MSR, one of the greatest opportunities versation, that want to make sure we Omar talks about her work with the we’ve found in the last four and a half are able to deliver for our district and By Solomon Gustavo the country [and] make sure we feel Contributing Writer supported. As mentioned in last week’s conSo, a lot of conversations that we versation with U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar wouldn’t have been part of, maybe not [The Omar effect], she remains a beaeven our first term, we’re in the center con of controversy. The same week of it because of the increased scrutiny the previous article was published, around our place in Congress. she was fined for misuse of campaign funds, which was attributed to tax accounting errors and travel. Upon the release of the findings, she released a statement that reads in part, “In addition to complying with the Board’s findings, I plan on closing the account from my State House race and distributing the funds to organizations that help train first-time MSR: What kind of work have you candidates to run for office — so that the next generation of candidates and Photo by Associated Press been doing with the Black Caucus? IO: We’ve been on a tour visiting diftheir teams know how to adequately track and report campaign expenses.” Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), months. Because we ran on a real- ferent communities. They’re coming It also prompted a local news out- how they are working on intention- ly aggressive platform, there were so to our community in Minneapolis at let to publish a scathing commentary ally connecting with Black media and many organizations in the state and the end of August. We’ll have a weekon her work. Yet, Omar continues digging in on issues directly affecting around the country that endorsed our end to talk about the opportunities to keep her responses to controver- Black (African and African American) campaign. We’ve been able to feel re- that exist within the Black community in Minnesota and talk about some ally connected. sy measured (as the statement above) communities. Same here with our colleagues in of the challenges. and using her live and social media
Our focus will be around that unfulfilled promise of prosperity and looking at what kind of economic prosperity the Black community can have, where are the opportunities and where are the challenges. We’re going to talk about Minnesota being one of the more segregated states when it comes to education. We just had the anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education, so we are going to revisit that conversation and look at what the education gap looks like, and at schools that are real successes.
“You cannot really be able to lead a healthy, fulfilling life if you don’t feel you have justice.” I was just in Richfield High School; they have an 80 percent graduation rate, which doesn’t really happen in many parts of the district. They have a Black principal. So, maybe [we’ll be] having a conversation with her about why that is possible for them and how we can duplicate that in other parts of our district. ■ See OmAr on page 8
BLACK BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: BODY LOVE Mixing up skincare and aromatherapy The most successful businesses tend to solve a problem. Sabrina Jones’ problem was eczema and dry, over-sensitive skin. Her solution: Body Love Products. Unable to wear products with fragrances, Jones created her own line of bath and body products incorporating aromatherapy, pure essential oils, and all-natural ingredients. For 20 years, she has worked in child protection and training, which she said also informs her creations. “I work in a very stressful environment,” said Jones. “How can I combine two things that can help me and deal with not only the wellness of my skin, but also [serve] as a mood stabilizer?” We chat here with this rising entrepreneur about her skin and wellness line and goals for growth and longevity.
Sabrina Jones
Photo by Desiree L. Wells
products and accessories [for] those that suf- JS: It’s my body butters. I have eight different fragrances, and my body butters are multifer from dry skin, inflammation, blemishes. use, so you’re able to use them on your hair, MSR: What inspired you? ■ See BBs on page 8 SJ: I just wanted to be able to have something that anyone could use — from an infant to someone in their 90s — anyone dealing with acne or inflammation, or just wanting a product that can help stabilize their mood, hence the aromatherapy piece. When I became pregnant with my first child, that pushed me forward in really creating my product.
MSR: How did you figure out how to mix this stuff up? SJ: I’ve always been a creative person. It’s really working around your scents, so I just get different scents together that I would like and play around with it. That’s the fun part. I work MSR: What is Body Love? Sabrina Jones: I provide unique aromather- with shea butter, and I break that down, and apy, wellness, and stress relief solutions for then I just start mixing. your skin. I handcraft a variety of aromatherapy body butters, hair and facial treatments, MSR: What’s your top-selling product?
Submitted photo