THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
July 16-22, 2020 Vol. 86 No. 50
85Anniversary
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1934 - 20 19
“AS IT WAS SPOKEN ... LET US RECORD.”
Only justice can ease the pain Reopening the schools: Mothers March honored all who’ve lost whether and how family to police violence
opening? Black parents have more to fear from COVID-19. Across the country, Black people are hit with lmost two-thirds of COVID-19 at almost three times White parents who the rate of White people. Black responded to a Min- people suffer 62 coronavirus casnesota Department of Education es per 10,000 people, compared survey said they are comfort- to 23 per 10,000 for White people. able sending their children back Latinx communities see 73 cases to school in September. A slim per 10,000 people. In Hennepin County, the dismajority of Black parents said they were uncomfortable or not parity is much worse: 146 cases sure about sending their children per 10,000 Black people, comback to school. Most Asian and pared to 27 per 10,000 for white Latinx parents responding to the people. Latinx and Asian people survey also were uncomfortable also suffer higher rates of coronavirus infection. or unsure. Data show children are less Are more Black parents actually uncomfortable about sending their children back to school in September? If so, why? And what does that say about whether and how schools should reopen? The Department of Education survey was not a scientific or randomized poll. The vast majority—more than 80 percent—of 130,000 people answering the question were White parents. The state's K-12 student population is only 64 percent White. Nonetheless, the caution that Black parents expressed in the survey is echoed in other surveys around the country. Why would Black parents feel less comfortable about school reBy Mary Turck Contributing writer
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Over 1,000 people marched down University Ave. in St. Paul to the State Capitol for the July 12 Mothers March. Many times their voices go unheard. Of the hundreds of families experiencing such losses, a any families have handful get to tell their stories lost loved ones to the world. Their passionate to police violence. protests, court appointments and
By Brandi Phillips Contributing writer
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demands for justice may then get lost amongst the protests of the people. Community voices sometimes take precedence over the voices of the actual family members. ■See MARCH on page 6
Man who ‘had to do something’ completes 1,000-mile mission
Powered by righteous indignation and a trusty walking stick, Terry Willis embarked June 2 on a 1,000-mile walk from Alabama to Minnesota in silent protest against the recent police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other victims of police violence. Willis completed his historic walk on July 12, capping off the month-long trek with remarks at 38th & Chicago Ave. in South Minneapolis, the site where Floyd breathed his last under the knee of a former MPD police officer.
Courtesy MGN ■See SCHOOLS on page 6
Word on the Street Across the Twin Cities, many residents have begun raising their voices and concerns about recent escalating violence in the communities. One such gathering took place on Friday, July 10 at Guns Down, Love Up, part of a campaign started by the family of late activist Tyrone Williams, who was slain in 2018. Guns Down, Love Up hosted simultaneous rallies
His silent protest against police violence ended Sunday in Mpls
By MSR News Service
likely than adults to get COVID-19. When they get the disease, it is likely to be less severe. On the other hand, some significant cases of in-school outbreaks exist: Three teachers in an Arizona summer school were infected and one died. A single Israeli school reported 130 cases, and dozens of other schools reported infections that led to a second school shutdown there. Reopening schools increases adults at risk of infection. Nationally, almost one in five teachers is 55 or older. Others have medical conditions that put them at risk, or vulnerable family members. Custodians, lunchroom workers,
A 35-year-old Black father and Alabama business owner, Willis heeded the call to action after being stricken by the needless loss of Black life he was seeing in the news. “It made me feel a plethora of mixed emotions: angry, frustrated, confused, sad. This could’ve been me, my family or friends. I knew I had to do something,” Willis said. He began his journey at the Fade Factory Barbershop in Huntsville, Alabama, making a point to honor victims of police violence in various states. Supporters followed him every step of the way online via social media and in-person. ■See WILLIS on page 6
in North Minneapolis and St. Paul to foster community spirit and spread the message against gun violence. Many first responders also attended, including Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo. For this Word on the Street column, the MSR asked community members at the North Minneapolis gathering to share their thoughts on the violence and possible solutions.
Teto Wilson
Photo by Chris Juhn
It’s unfortunate about the violence that has taken place in the Twin Cities. People are dealing with a lot of anger, aggression, hopelessness and disparity... To be able to come up with a solution, we need to get to the root of the problem. A lot of anger is rooted in what we see. We live in a violent country. There is violence all around us. A lot of stuff starts at home and can be addressed at home—lack of love, self-hate and misunderstanding. Spread love!
Pastor Marque Jensen
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Terry Ellis speaks to supporters at the Floyd memorial site. Photo by Steve Floyd Man, it is overwhelming. It breaks my heart just seeing it spreading to so many people. I’m working with Urban Homeworks right now and just talked to a mother today who lives in one of our homes who lost her
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son two nights ago. It’s tearing the community apart. People are afraid to go out. Kids are afraid to play football. And we really need to figure out how to put an end to this. I think it’s coming from a lot of different directions, and I think we need to work together to come up with the solutions. We need to find forgiveness for one another. There’s been a lot of stress and trauma in the community over the last five months, from the time that COVID started to the murder of George Floyd and the uprising
that came after that. So we really need healing within the community—all that pressure and stress is boiling over. There’s also a lot of questions about the role of the police, so we also need to look at political and social situations. But we’ve got to begin to look at our own blocks, communities, and families, holding our children, loving one another and making sure the people around us are getting the mental health, love and support they need to feel validated wherever people are at.
Word on the Streeton p. 6
Brianna X
What is upsetting is the North Side is portrayed as a violent and crazy place. If there was resources put into the community, maybe the portrayal would be different. I think the City needs to move forward. The mayor of Minneapolis needs to redo the proposed budget by taking dollars from the police fund and putting the money into the community. We need to create community-centered activities for our youth. The City needs to invest in North Minneapolis!
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July 16-22, 2020
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The death of Elijah McClain Reflections on living with autism while Black
By Andrew W. Kiragu, MD, FAAP, FCCM Contributing writer Last August, a 23-yearold young man, Elijah McClain, was walking home from a convenience store close to his home in Aurora, Colorado. He had just purchased some iced tea for his brother. He was wearing a ski mask as he often did to keep his face warm because of an underlying blood condition. A resident called the police because they thought he was acting suspiciously. He had not committed any crime and was doing nothing illegal. The police arrived and confronted him. A struggle ensued during which he was placed in a chokehold. When paramedics arrived at the scene, they injected him with twice the usual dose of ketamine for his weight. He subsequently went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and was declared brain dead a few days later. During the altercation with the police, Elijah can
be heard sobbing, apologizing for vomiting after the police choked him, telling them that he doesn’t like being touched and is an introvert, and telling them he loves them. By all accounts, Elijah was a lovely young man with a kind and gentle spirit. One of his massage therapy clients said he “had a child-like spirit who lived in his own little world. He just was who he was.” Recently, a close family friend described to my wife how deeply affected she had been by Mr. McClain’s death. Her son, who is about Mr. McClain’s age, has autism. As she listened to the voice recordings of the encounter, she was moved to tears. She saw many similarities between her son and Elijah, including a sweet, gentle, and innocent disposition and extra sensitivity and discomfort with being touched, particularly by strangers. Loud noises, lots of commotion, and bright lights bother him. She spoke of preparing him for any interaction with the police, who could easily interpret his “difference” as aggression. She reminds him to tell the police that he is autistic and to call his mom. She has made him memorize her number so he can give it to the police. She spoke of his reaction to the killings of Black men and women by the police, and how fearful he is of leaving their home alone. She talked about her fear about how others would see her tall Black son and, not seeing his “invisible disability,” might react in a way that could lead to his being harmed.
Autism According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. It affects one out of every 54 children in the United States. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood and typically last throughout a person’s life. Because autism is a spectrum, each person with autism is different and has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. How people with autism learn, think, and deal with day-to-day issues can range from being highly skilled to extremely challenged. This means that some people with ASD may require substantially more support in their daily lives than others, while some can live entirely independently. ASD is sometimes called an “invisible disability” since people with ASD often do not look any different than anyone else. However, children and adults with ASD may communicate, interact, behave and learn in ways that are different from most other people. Diagnosing ASD ASD can be diagnosed as early as 18 months or even earlier. Unfortunately, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until age four or five, which delays their receiving the early help they need. ASD occurs across all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Several studies have shown disparities in the diagnosis of ASD and found that children from
Courtesy YouTube
Elijah McClain minority backgrounds and those living in poverty or in rural areas are often diagnosed later. Diagnosing ASD can be difficult since there is no actual blood test. Instead, doctors examine the child’s behavior and development and use different screening tools to make a diagnosis. Causes of ASD There are likely many causes for multiple types of ASD. A variety of factors, including environmental, biological, and genetic factors, make a child more likely to develop ASD. A few people have expressed concern that ASD might be linked to the vaccinations that children receive. Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing ASD. Treatment There is currently no cure for ASD. However, early intervention treatment services lead to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism. These services
help children learn important skills and can include therapies to help the child with communication and interaction with others as well for improved mobility based on the child’s needs. Early recognition is, therefore, imperative. Autism and law enforcement Children and adults with ASD are at greater risk for wandering, abduction, physical abuse, and general victimization because of their behavioral and communication differences. They are also involved in interactions with the police as victims or suspects. People with ASD who exhibit unusual behaviors (e.g., hand flapping, pacing, self-harming) have a higher chance of encountering the police. The police may misinterpret the behavior of individuals with ASD as challenging or disrespectful, which may put them at risk for arrest and potentially injury. This is especially true when the person with ASD is Black.
Caregivers of those with ASD should, if possible, teach them how to safely interact with the police. It is also essential that police get training about ASD to limit the chances of causing harm to a person with ASD or arresting them unjustly. What happened to Elijah McClain should never again happen. *Author’s note: Mr. McClain’s family has not indicated that he had ASD or any other disability. Dr. Kiragu is the medical director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Hennepin Healthcare. He is also an associate of the Children’s Respiratory and Critical Care Specialist’s group and provides pediatric critical care at Children’s of Minnesota. Dr. Kiragu is a passionate advocate for children and is immediate-past president of the MN Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a past president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota.
Don’t let COVID-19 keep you from practicing good health Getting routine vaccinations is particularly important
The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA), the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MNAAP) and the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) have partnered to encourage Minnesotans to practice good health and maintain routine childhood vaccinations. Vaccinations in Minnesota and across the country have drastically decreased due
to COVID-19 and fears associated with seeking health care at a physician’s office or other medical clinics. It is estimated that from 70 to 80 percent of Minnesota’s children have delayed physician visits, important vaccinations, chronic health care and routine treatment of everyday illnesses because parents are understandably concerned about bringing their children to the clinic for fear of expo-
The MMA, the MNAAP and the MAFP believe all children should be vaccinated except for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Widespread, high rates of vaccination serve to protect the most vulnerable among us, including newborns, those with cancer and other conditions which impair their immune system, and elderly adults. This “community immunity” serves to protect those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. The safety of vaccines has been overwhelmingly established through decades of research and study. “It is crucial to continue scheduled vaccinations to protect children and prevent diseases like measles Courtesy MGN and pertussis, which can be extremely dangerous in chilsure to the virus. “Minnesota’s physicians dren and easily spread in strongly urge parents to communities,” said Lori Decontinue with their chil- France, MD, FAAP, MNAAP dren’s routine vaccinations president. “Pediatricians and for the health and safety of medical clinics are open and their children, families and prepared to take care of pathe community,” said Keith tients and children, provide Stelter, MD, MMA president. vaccinations, and maintain “Healthcare practices and the recommended schedule clinics are doing their part of preventive and routine to ensure a safe, secure and care.” “I know the COVID-19 healthy environment for papandemic has a lot of patients and vaccinations.”
tients nervous, but now is not the time to stop getting important vaccinations,” said Renee Crichlow, MD, MAFP president. “We all must practice good health, and getting scheduled vaccinations for you and your children is critical to that. Talk to your pediatrician or family physician about the importance of vaccines if you have questions about their safety.” Minnesota’s ‘personal belief exemption’ Under current state law, children must be vaccinated to attend public school in Minnesota. However, Minnesota is one of about 15 states that allow parents to exempt their children from immunization requirements based on their personal beliefs. Statewide, about two percent of children are exempted from immunization requirements. These children are concentrated in certain areas of Minnesota. For example, about 10% of kindergartners in Wadena County have not received their MMR vaccine. Two pieces of legislation that would eliminate the personal belief exemption for vaccine requirements and fund a grant program that supports community out-
reach and education about the importance of vaccines have been introduced in recent sessions. The MMA, MNAAP and MAFP have supported these bills, but neither has been signed into law. The MMA believes Minnesota’s personal belief exemption should be repealed because it puts both the individual’s and public’s health— particularly the most vulnerable among us—at risk. About ‘Practice Good Health’ The MMA this month launched Practice Good Health, a unified effort of its 10,000 physician members to empower Minnesota families to proactively care for their physical and emotional wellbeing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Practice Good Health provides patient clarity and directly supports Minnesota physicians to create the safest possible care environments and experiences. Join the conversation online via Facebook and Twitter and share ways to #PracticeGoodHealth. Resources will be available and will be regularly updated on mmed.org/PracticeGoodHealth.
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The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes and values commentary and feedback from the community. The articles found here are edited for clarity and/or space, but the opinions are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of the MSR.
The real looters and thugs are in the White House and Senate By Dr. Tom H. Hastings During the uprising following the brutal filmed murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Trump called some of the rioters “thugs” and tweeted that “when the looting starts the shooting starts.” Yes, those pikers broke some windows and stole some diapers, some got detergent; one man had a carton of eggs and a young man stole a backpack. These rioters were very disorganized criminals. Meanwhile, organized crime carried on as usual, figuring out how to use punked legislators to enrich the wealthy even more at the direct expense of everyone who pays taxes. The coronavirus bailout funds went in dribs and drabs to some average Americans. I was lucky enough to get $800, and many people I know have gotten nothing. Meanwhile, Trump’s family businesses and his close associates received more than $21 million, and many other wealthy people got huge checks from the “CARES” Act. This is organized crime. Part of the reason Trump was elected in the first place was a scam by Trump crony Roger Stone and Wikileaks and the Russian intelligence operations to steal and make a big “Lock her
up!” deal about Hillary Clinton’s emails. Of course, that was ultimately a series of false claims, a nothingburger that continues to be quashed in courts when it reappears in rightwing zombie acts of endless harassment. As a result of his actions, Stone was convicted in court of seven felonies, all of which related to helping Trump steal the 2016 election. Stealing the U.S. presidency? Now that is organized crime. Getting a big assist from the real crime lords at the Russian GRU intelligence agency, and getting the cooperation of the sloppy data thieves at Wikileaks, now that is a planned master criminal enterprise. With the mob boss in the White House wielding a pardon pen, the circle is complete as Trump commutes the Stone sentences and pardons Flynn. Sorry, mafia, you guys are amateurs compared to Trump, Stone, Flynn, Mitch McConnell, and the crew at the top. Gangsters and thieves everywhere should be taking notes. During the workup to the Republican tax cut bill back when Trump had all branches of government doing his bidding, we heard lots of empty promises about lowered taxes, no impact on the deficit, and increased investment in U.S. manufacturing.
The House Budget Committee assessed the losses to the American workers and middle class alongside the massive gains for the wealthy as the tax law went into effect, and really, that is seriously organized crime, looting from the taxes collected from working Americans at stunning levels. Is this what America wants? Thugs in the White House and Senate? Because that is who is in those places now. A catalog of crimes committed by Trump and associates is thick and growing by the day. It’s governance by gaslighting and ruling by lawlessness. I hope we can get just and correctional about all this in November. Instead of “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” I hope we can vote in much better. “When the stealing ends, the healing mends” feels like a better model. Breaking windows and ripping off cleaning products is beyond stupid but, after all, we only see such riots every 40 or 50 years, while the real looters, the ones in charge, are ripping you off every d**ned day. Dr. Tom H. Hastings is the director for PeaceVoice and on occasion an expert witness for the defense in court.
The new language of vote suppression By Andrew Moss There are many ways to suppress a vote. If you've followed elections in various states over the past two years, you'll recognize such strategies as the purging of voting rolls, the elimination of same-day voting, and the shortening of early voting periods. There's the requirement of government-issued photo IDs, and the disqualification of any voter registrations that lack an "exact match" among government documents required for identification.
needed to justify these methods and to cover up the racism that motivates their use. The language of vote suppression has played a crucial role since emancipation placed the issue of suffrage, the suffrage of a newly emancipated people, at the forefront of public debate. During Reconstruction and in the decades following the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, opposition to Black voting was couched in the rawest of racist terms, accompanying terrorism, murder, poll taxes, and other forms of suppression to roll back the enfranchisement
“The continued insistence that there are material levels of intentional voter fraud is itself a form of fraud.” Then there's the consolidation of polling places in certain districts, the last-minute switching of polling places to confuse voters, and the long lines resulting from these measures and from such other problems as faulty equipment and inadequate staffing and training. There's also, of course, the disenfranchisement of voters who have criminal records. And this is just a partial list. What's often missing, though, from any inventory of voter suppression techniques is mention of an essential ingredient: language. It is language, a specific kind of narrative framing, that's
gained during Reconstruction. By 1901, when Jim Crow segregation had consolidated its grip on the South, an influential Columbia University historian and political scientist like William A. Dunning could write in the The Atlantic that during Reconstruction "negroes exercised an influence in political affairs out of all relation to their intelligence or property," and that "the ultimate root of the trouble in the South had been, not the institution of slavery, but the coexistence of two races so distinct in characteristics as to render coalescence impossible." The language Dunning used
help provide the kind of narrative framing that sustained for decades the apartheid system and the massive disenfranchisement of Black citizens that went along with it. Not until the mid-1960s, when the enormous sacrifices made by civil rights workers began to awaken the nation, did such blatantly racist language begin to lose its currency, at least across much of the nation. With the passage of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in 1965, a broad re-enfranchisement of Black voters began throughout the South, accompanied by a substantial growth in the number of Black elected officials. Yet, if an explicitly racist language could no longer acceptably justify the suppression of Black votes, there were other ways to accomplish the same end. Presidents like Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, who both embraced a "Southern strategy" to secure electoral success, could pay lip service to the VRA while dragging their feet on enforcement. When Reagan was president, for example, his Justice Department approved a discriminatory, gerrymandered redistricting plan for New Orleans. This plan would receive the distinction, or ignominy, in 1983 of being the first approval by the DOJ overturned by court action (Major v. Treen). It took a court to do the job that the administration was charged by the VRA to do. In the past few decades, a new narrative has evolved as a cover for vote suppression. Developed
by conservative writers, it labeled any efforts to counter racial gerrymandering as racial "quotas" or electoral "affirmative action," terms that eventually morphed into the phrase, "perpetuation of racial entitlements." This latter phrase was introduced by Justice Antonin Scalia into oral arguments during the landmark Shelby County v. Holder case (2013), in which the Supreme Court's conservative majority gutted the government's enforcement powers authorized by the VRA. In presenting the majority opinion in that case, Chief Justice John Roberts made a claim that constitutes a second major feature of the new narrative: that enough racial progress has been made to eliminate the need for the VRA's legal remedies. The claim is anything but true. A recent Brennan Center analysis
shows that counties with histories of discrimination have continued to purge voting rolls at elevated rates. Other kinds of widespread abuses continue to take place at the state level, e.g. the withholding in the 2018 general election of 53,000 voter registrations by thenGeorgia Secretary of State (now Governor) Brian Kemp. While Black citizens constitute approximately 32 percent of Georgia's population, about 70 percent of the withheld registrations were of Black voters. Such practices have been justified by the third key component of the vote suppression narrative: the claim of widespread voter fraud. This claim, too, is fallacious, as many voting experts will attest. As Kenneth R. Mayer, a voting expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison declared, “The continued insistence that
there are material levels of intentional voter fraud is itself a form of fraud.” The injustices in our electoral system present an enormous, continuing task to challenge the lies, the racism, and the specific practices of vote suppression— while still motivating voters, particularly young voters, to cast their ballots and secure full representation as citizens of their communities and of the nation. Andrew Moss is a columnist and emeritus professor of English and Nonviolence Studies at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Why unity is like a unicorn By Cherise Ayers A unicorn is a mythical creature, a majestic horse with a single horn protruding from its forehead. It has magical powers and is a sight to behold. Unicorns are staples in fairy tales oft sought after for their magical properties, a sign of good fortune. Because unicorns have their foundation in the real-life horse, the idea of the unicorn itself isn’t so farfetched. A unicorn is an easy thing for children to believe in. Unity is the act of being together and working together for a common goal. It is the opposite of division. It is oneness of purpose. Queen Latifah called for it in 1993, mobilizing Black women and men to join together to respect themselves and each other. Crew teams understand the importance of unity; they must row
Lay and the Quakers, William Lloyd Garrison (founder of the Anti-Slavery Society), and John Brown, who led the raid on Harpers Ferry, are a few who opposed the status quo. Each of the parties in our twoparty government system shows a variety of dissenting positions, and they do not act in a unified manner. Even in the current Republican Party, while most back Trump and his antics, there are still dissenters like Mitt Romney who speak out against him. The Democratic Party once had upwards of 20 candidates in the primary—that’s not unity. In the movies, we only see largescale unity when we are fighting against an alien invader, like in Independence Day. Even then, there were still groups of people who did their own thing and stood on top of a building to welcome the new alien nation. In the event of a real-life alien invasion,
than” because we can’t get unified. The theory is the same as it relates to “Black-on-Black crime.” The “Black-on-Black crime” is often used to somehow justify why we shouldn’t be outraged when the police kill one of our brothers or sisters. It is the reason we deserve to live in poverty and the reason we’re overrepresented in the prison population. It’s the answer to every question about our discrimination. We don’t even value ourselves enough to not commit crimes against each other. Who does that? The answer is: everyone. Every other identifiable ethnic/ racial group does that. People commit crimes against who they know and are around. The Bureau of Justice Statistics says that most crimes are committed by a person of the same race as the victim. Yet, we are led to believe that our people are somehow
To expect us to be a unified group is unrealistic and can make us as a people more depressed about our current situation. in sync. Choirs must be able to sing in unison to make beautiful music. Unity is the basis of teamwork; together everyone achieves more. A team can’t win unless it is working together toward a common goal. Team members must put their own issues aside to come together to win. In the Black community, there is often conversation about the need for unity. “We need to get together.” “We can’t get anywhere because we’re not unified.” “We’re like crabs in a barrel. Nobody wants to see anybody else succeed.” “We need to be more like the (insert other ethnic minority groups here). You see how they pull together and support each other?” These are all things I’ve heard from other Black people as it relates to why the “Black agenda” can’t move forward. While I understand and believe in the beauty of unity, I don’t think it’s realistic when talking about the movement for Black liberation. Here’s why. There are approximately 42 million Black people who live in the United States. This includes around 4.2 million Black immigrants. The continent of Africa has over 3,000 tribes, and they speak over 2,000 languages. Who has ever been able to get 42 million people to rally around a common goal? Is that even realistic? Have other groups of even smaller numbers achieved unity? When slavery was legal, there were White people who were actively against the act of slavery and the benefits that it provided to this nation. Abolitionists were always doing the work of activism in America. Benjamin
I’m positive that there would be parts of our citizenry who would do the same thing. If you dissect other racial/ethnic groups, you will find in-fighting over religious beliefs, land, politics and economics. No one has achieved this unicorn-like unity. Even if they did, it would not be appropriate to compare their struggle to that of the Black community. Let us consider that Black people, specifically the descendants of kidnapped and enslaved Africans, are the only ethnic group in America that came to this country against its will. People of other ethnic groups came to America seeking opportunity; the kidnapped Africans came here to create opportunities for others. There was a systematic plan to keep the Africans from uniting. Harriet Tubman and her harrowing plight led many of the enslaved to freedom, but she knew that everyone couldn’t make the trip, and she was wary to make sure that everyone was not in on the plan. Unity is not possible because we are not a monolith. We represent different cultures, viewpoints, age groups and generations, socio-economic statuses, religions, and we live in different regions of the country. We even have different hopes and dreams for our children. To expect us to be a unified group is unrealistic and can make us as a people more depressed about our current situation. If we have an unrealistic expectation for ourselves and constantly compare ourselves to other groups who have seemingly unified, then we continue to perpetuate the narrative that we as a people are somehow “less
self-hating super-thugs. They also want us to believe that Black fathers are absentee deadbeat dads. We hear it all the time, and our community leaders admonish the men about not being present in the lives of their children. Is this the case for some families? Of course, it is, but the statistics tell a much different story. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black dads spend more time in the dayto-day lives of their children than do men from other ethnic groups. Our fathers are present and accounted for. Now the crazy thing about all of this is that we shouldn’t be as successful as we are. There is no statistical or historical reason that Black people should’ve achieved as much as we have. The odds were completely stacked against us. From slavery to Jim Crow, to mass incarceration, to the decimation of Black Wall Street, to redlining and on and on, the fact that we have been able to achieve a modicum of what we have is a miracle. Maybe that’s why we think unity should be on that list. Unity, while mythical, seems attainable because it looks like something we recognize, just like the unicorn looks like a horse. And while it would be pretty awesome to have a magical unicorn to grant wishes, I think our time is better spent learning how to harness the very real powers of the horse. Cherise Ayers is a Twin Cities resident and career educator. She welcomes reader responses to cherise. ayers11@gmail.com.
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Local artist’s debut release celebrates traditional gospel and family By Marquis Taylor Contributing writer
T
he origins of David Billingsley’s music will forever be linked to family. Introduced to piano at the age of six in his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin, Billingsley’s journey to music began in his grandmother’s living room where she sang spiritual hymns to the delight of the impressionable musician. Paying homage to this time and the spirit of his grandmother, Billingsley has constructed a debut album that is steeped in traditional gospel with elements of soul.
David Billingsley
Affectionally titled “Hymns from Grandma’s Living Room,” this 14-song release is an ode to classic gospel as told through the instrumentation of Billingsley and his piano.
“The title of the album comes from cultivating my gifts in my grandma’s living room, literally,” said Billingsley. “I practiced there every day and my grandma would stop and listen. She’d start crying when singing songs, which made the experience very spiritual and transformational.” Although the entire project is inspired by his grandmother, who passed away in 2006, there is one song, in particular, that reminds him of her. “’It is Well with my Soul’ is the hymn that reminds me of my grandma,” Billingsley shared. “We sang it at her funeral. It tore the church up and it tore my family up. It’s a moment we’ll never forget as a family.” Notable gospel hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “I Surrender All” are also prominent fixtures on the album. Since its May release, the album has slowly gained traction across the Twin Cities and throughout the world amassing more than 10,000 streams thanks to the artist’s online presence. While he has called the Twin Cities home since 2004, Racine, Wisconsin will forever remain dear to Billingsley’s heart as it set the foundation for his career as a musician. “I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be a musician,” recalled Billingsley, who began performing music professionally at the age of 11. “At six and seven years old, I would go to church and see
dudes up there on their instruments and would imitate anything they did. I’d bring my saxophone, tambourine, whatever instrument I had, just to join in with the music. “Once I started playing at my grandma’s house, she would sing right away. The first song I made was ‘This is the Day’ and when I played it, she began to sing along. “That changed my whole perspective on life to where I thought, ‘Wow, you can actually do this! This is an actual communal thing that you do with people whether it’s to help them feel better, be creative, or enjoy life.’ But the first steps to creativity happened right there under my grandma’s tutelage.” Along with his grandmother and a collection of hometown artists, he also cites gospel and soul heavyweights, Kirk Frank-
lin, Hezekiah Walker, Richard Smallwood, and Faith Evans as some of his earliest musical influences. As one of the co-founders of the Twin Cities-based band #MPLS, Billingsley has collaborated with some of music’s most accomplished artists, including Mint Condition front man and St. Paul native, Stokley Williams, whom he has worked with as a keyboardist since 2017. “I remember getting a call from Stoke when I was on vacation in Arizona visiting my family,” said Billingsley. “I was on top of a mountain and he called and said, ‘Hey man, you want to be in the band? You ain’t got to audition or nothing. I’m giving you the throne.’ “So, working with Stokley is like being on a mountain—it’s a dream come true. I tell people that working with Stokley is like
been featured on the front pages of newspapers. I’m trying to create the next Minneapolis Sound because the Sound is in the future.” With a debut album that is being positively received, Billingsley noted that there will be more work on the way in 2020 including a series of follow up albums. He also intends to bring music directly to the people by connecting with the community. “I have a piano and one thing that I’ve thought about doing is Photos by Chino Villatoro with ALTVRA Company creating a protest piano and putting it on wheels and performing music around the city kind of like working with Adrian Peterson. a Kanye West Sunday Service. His work ethic is not human. “With everything going on, I’ve never seen anything like it it’s made me think about how before.” can I reach the people, how can The mentorship he’s received I impact them, and be part of the from Stokley and other trusted community? There are a lot of figures have enabled Billingsley people in Minnesota that don’t to educate the next generation know about me, so I want to look of artists through the Billings- for ways to push the music here ley School of Music and Arts, a and globally.” non-profit organization he established in 2012. David Billingsley’s debut album, “The inspiration behind the “Hymns from Grandma’s Living school started when I was 14 Room” was released in May 2020 years old in middle school and and is available on all streaming didn’t see Black kids like me. I platforms. To learn about David Billtold my family that I was going ingsley, visit his official website www. to start a school for people to billingsleymusic.com. study music who were like me. To learn about the Billingsley “So far, we’ve served thou- School of Music and Arts visit www. sands of kids through perfor- bsoma.org. mances, educational workshops, summer pilot programs, private Marquis Taylor welcomes readers’ lessons, and group instruction. responses to mtaylor@spokesmanOur kids have also performed recorder.com in front of thousands and have
Black writers talk healing and the importance of shared experiences
By Dwight Hobbes Contributing writer
Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks knew the value of Black publishers as both marketers and, importantly, an empowering social and cultural construct. Which is why, in 2002, she turned down a lucrative deal to stay with Harper & Row, going instead with Black publishing companies Broadside Press and later, Third World Press. This sense of commitment to community is carried on with the Minnesota Black Publishing Arts Collaborative. The collective is comprised of seven organizations: In Black Ink, Papyrus Publishing Inc., Strive Publishing, Matter of Africa America Time Corporation, Planting People Growing Justice Press, Vermillion Ink Press and Wise Ink. Thanks to this consortium, today’s writers make it to the shelves of schools, libraries, and, of course, booksellers. The Collaborative’s stated mission is to “jointly address the community needs and amplify the voices of local Black writers.
We must write our own stories… George Floyd and in midst of the storytellers have the power to steadily worsening COVID 19 pandemic. change our current reality.” Rekhet Si Asar, In Black Ink Towards that goal, the Col-
Dr. Artika Tyner at a pre-COVID 19 book signing Submitted photo laborative offered “Black Writers Healing: Challenging Authors and Writers to Testify” on June 27. The two-hour discourse, hosted by In Black Ink, and moderated by Dr. Joi Lewis, convened panelists Carolyn Holbrook, Dr. Artika R. Tyner, Jesse Ross, Keno Evol, Terrance Shambley Jr., Chavah Gabrielle and Tish Jones following the globally decried death of
executive director and Papyrus Publishing Inc. co-publisher, told the MSR prior to the event, ‘This brings awareness to the potential and power of Black people...reclaiming control of our own narratives. With a variety of perspectives about [our] experiences.” Strive Publishing, whose marketing catchphrase is “Breaking barriers, book by book,” spe-
cializes in children’s books and young adult novels, affording kids and teens an invaluable opportunity: seeing themselves, their culture and community authentically represented. During the discussion, founding Executive Director Mary Tarvis commented, “It is important for Black publishers to provide pathways for Black writers. The publishing industry has a history of not valuing the Black voice.” Accordingly, Strive compiled the upcoming “Celebrating the Sistas,” which shares inspirational accounts of women of color in education, politics, business, health, and social services. Contributing to the collection are Dr. Tyner, Commissioner Toni Carter, Rep. Rena Moran, Marcia E. Murray, and MSR Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard. There will also be the short fiction anthology “Story to Story” by emerging authors and illustrators, and multicultural stories that parents and educators can share with young minds. “We know how valuable and important the authentic Black narrative is,” said Tarvis, “a narrative that is not edited to fit the White stan-
dards and not a trending stereotype but powerful, historical, and inspirational. our children need to know our stories.” Dr. Artika Tyner, who manages Planting People Growing Justice Press, takes that as something of a mantra, having written “Joey and Grandpa Johnson’s Day in Rondo” (In Black Ink) and “Kofi Loves Music” (Planting People Growing Justice Press). Dr. Tyner shared on the panel that in the past few weeks, while at functions she’s attended, much of the talk was about salvaging and rebuilding Black communities after the rampant destruction. “Let’s invest millions of dollars in anti-racism, but they never express the why. How did we get to this moment of history?” Clearly, a crucial point to confront. Dr. Joi Lewis (“Radical Healing: The Act of Radical SelfCare”) is CEO of Joi Unlimited and founder of The Healing Justice Foundation. She offered an anecdotal illustration of how to cope in this aftermath of a community crisis. When she was a little girl and skinned her knee, grandmother would get out the alcohol. “‘We have to clean that
out,’ she’d say. “And I could feel the burn, right? She was loving and kind but, it was, ‘We got to get that out of there.’ “Then, after I calmed down from all the crying, she put a little bit more on it. So, I had to go through a process. What I want to put out there is that healing is a process. You have to put a little alcohol on it and clean it out. That is what our writers do. They bring the salve.” Rehket Si Asar reflected on the prospects of another such forum, which drew roughly 150 attendees via Zoom. “Based on feedback, there will be additional events. The thing is we don’t talk to each other enough to move the bar, and the conversations often do not come to a place where we have a shared understanding. “There were follow up discussions that were requested by participants. We would like to do quarterly events, then when COVID is better controlled, inperson.” Dwight Hobbes welcomes readers’ responses to dhobbes@spokesman-recorder.com.
6 July 16-22, 2020
WILLIS Continued from page 1 Willis arrived in Minneapolis on Saturday, July 11 and held a public meet-and-greet— while also getting trimmed up—at Clientele Barber Shop on the North Side. On Sunday, July 12, Willis concluded his venture walking with 500-600 supporters the final seven-mile stretch from the Mall of America in Bloomington to Floyd’s memorial in South Minneapolis. With the aid of two men flanking each side, Willis arrived at his destination late afternoon. It was both a jubilant scene and an emotional one. Willis addressed his supporters and also led them in a moment of silence to honor Floyd. At one point, the triumphant sounds of the late Nipsey Hussle rang through the speakers, much to
the delight of the crowd. Willis was also presented with a “Terry Willis Day” proclamation signed by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Willis said he was overwhelmed by the support. "I'm no celebrity,” he said to the crowd. “I'm no superhero; I'm just a regular man who's seen a man get murdered, and I had to do something." Next, Willis will continue the marathon for social justice as he sets his sights on establishing a nonprofit called The Dal House. According to the “1000 Mile March for Change, Justice, and Equality” GoFundMe page, the aim of the initiative will be to empower juvenile delinquents and people with a criminal history with “a trade that will subsequently allow them to open their own businesses and employ others.” So far the effort has raised more than $42K.
SchooLS Continued from page 1 and others also will be exposed to children and to one another. Reopening schools multiplies the ways coronavirus can spread through the community.
Continued from page 1
The argument for reopening schools Black students have been badly served by public schools in Minnesota. Educational disparities rank high on a long list of racial disparities in the state. Ironically, that may be an argument in favor of reopening those same schools. Students suffer when schools are closed. On-line schooling is worse for most students, with "attendance" lagging and lack of in-person contact with teachers and with peers. Just over half the respondents to the Department of Education survey reported bad or very bad experiences with online learning this spring. The American Association of Pediatrics cites negative educational and social impacts of school closing. They recommend
Pastor Edrin Williams
March
Word
on the
It's been really hard to see all the community violence over the last several weeks on top of everything else we've been dealing with this year with COVID, George Floyd. I think there's a lot of hurt in the community right now, and people don't have
Street
enough healing spaces… As far as solutions, one, we need to give people opportunities, economics. People need jobs, a living wage; people need to know that the police is not out to get them, they are actually working for us for the good of the community. We need resources here in North Minneapolis. We need activities for kids. We need better schools. The violence is a symptom of the fact that our community doesn't feel cared for and hasn't been properly cared for in a long time.
Lynne Crockett The violence in the community is absolutely unacceptable. The adults in the community are upset; we are organizing or getting a petition to get some changes at the 4th Precinct. We don’t feel that we are receiving any justice. We’re out here alone and we are just trying to find out who is responsible for stepping up and holding people accountable. In the meantime, the community is getting ready to step up. We have to create opportunities and give hope in the community. If there is no hope, people have nothing to look forward to. Our youth in the community are gems
Continued from page 1 Protests, phone calls and hashtags that honor victims soon fade away, leaving family members with only memories and frustrations with police departments, government agencies, and the criminal justice systems. To give these families support, agencies including MN Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, the Justice Squad, and other groupings of families and anti-police violence organizations from around the country came together under the umbrella of Take A Knee Nation. The “National March for Mothers” held July 11-12 provided workshops to help families and community members heal from the trauma that comes with police violence. Saturday’s events consisted of an early morning press conference followed by a welcome
reopening with safety measures in place. Parents need schools, too. They need to work at paid jobs to maintain their families. They need to work at the unpaid jobs of parenting and keeping homes together. The added burden of providing the education and socialization that kids get in school is just too much. Black parents are overrepresented in low-paying but essential jobs. Inflexible work schedules leave them less time for homework help. Low pay means less money to spend on educational resources, from speedy internet to books to tutoring. How to reopen? Planning for reopening raises huge questions. How can a high school that has 30 students in a classroom with 28 desks plan for social distancing? What happens with music classes, given that singing greatly increases virus transmission? What kind of rules govern bathroom breaks and hand-washing? Who responds to sick students in schools that do not have nurses? from Olivia House, who stressed the importance of listening to the voices of women of color, especially Black women. Fazayah Augusta spoke on “ways to deal with stress and trauma.” Four workshops helped attendees learn ways of coping, organizing, telling their stories, and understanding the history and role of the police. One workshop was presented by Sisters of the Movement, an organization founded by the sisters of people who have died at the hands of police: Allisa Findley (for Botham Jean), Amber and Ashley Carr (for Atatiana Jefferson), and Victoria Davis (for Delrawn Small). K.C. Fox, a social activist and crisis strategist, was also present to support the sisters. Unable to attend were Tiffany Crutcher (Terrance Crutcher), Shante Needham (Sandra Bland), and Natasha Duncan (Shantel Davis). Ashley Carr, sister of Atatiana Jefferson, told attendees, “A lot of people are just in this movement
CDC guidelines recommend strategies to decrease risk. Some of their recommendations: six feet of space between desks; face masks for everyone; one student per row on buses; extra cleaning and disinfecting everywhere; small groups at lunch time; limited sharing of electronic devices, books, and learning aids; daily health screening for everyone. The entire guidance document covers nine pages. These changes cost money. Schools don't have money to follow the guidelines. Logically, the federal government could provide emergency aid, as it did to airlines and other businesses. President Trump has a different idea. Instead of talking about reopening risks and resources, he ordered the CDC to change the guidelines.
of Education (MDE) will announce its decision by the week of July 27. That decision could call for all schools in the state to follow the same scenario, or for different districts to follow different scenarios. No plan will look like September 2019. In-person reopening might require additional locations to allow more space for social distancing. It might mean keeping groups of students together all day (cohorting). Hybrid learning could mean all students getting equal in-school time. Or it could mean prioritizing students who have special needs or who need extra help for in-school time. Whatever plan is approved, the devil will be in the details of how each district, school, and classroom implements plans to protect students and the community.
Counting down to Labor Day In Minnesota, schools have been ordered to prepare three Mary Turck welcomes reader plans for September: in-person responses to mturck@spokeslearning for all students, or hy- man-recorder.com brid learning with strict social distancing and capacity limits, or distance learning only. The Minnesota Department for the fame. They just want attention on themselves. Some of the people who claim to support us have never even contacted us. “If you really want to help... contact the families. Wait about a month and then contact the families,” Carr said. “Even if you do not get a response right away, contact the families.” Her sister Amber (who is 11 months older than Jefferson) added, “Because the phone calls do stop.” Findley chimed in, “But the pain never ends.” Angelique Negroni-Kearse, wife of Andrew Kearse, spoke passionately about her experiences after her husband died from a heart attack while pleading for help in the back of a Schenectady, New York, police car. “I miss my husband,” she said. “I miss him being a father to our children. I miss the one person that I knew would always be there for me.” Negroni-Kearse succeeded in getting the Andrew Kearse Act passed by Congress. It will hold
police officers in New York accountable for denying medical care to people in police custody. Saturday’s events convened with a dinner featuring the tastes of Minnesota, a discussion of the groups’ demands, and concluding resolutions from the panelists. Attendees were also able to visit the South Minneapolis site honoring victims of police violence. Sunday’s activities featured breakfast for community members and a march to the Minnesota State Capital from Dale and University Ave. in St. Paul, which honored all the victims and families affected by police violence. Sisters of the Movement welcomes volunteers and membership donations. Contact them at www.sistersofthemovement.org. Brandi Phillips welcomes reader responses to bphillips@ spokesman-recorder.com.
and need to be polished. We need to take advantage of them and help give them the opportunities, resources and tools to help make them successful. We got to be strong and hang in there. Don’t let people from outside come in and take over or speak for us. We are capable!
Photos and interviews by Nikki Love
Marques Armstrong speaks from the back of a pickup truck to community members who showed up to protest and demonstrate against community gun violence.
Minneapolis Police Chief Mederia Arradondo spoke to community members before the start of the march. “I’m not for the abolition of the police, but I am for the restructuring because there is a lot of problems with policing,” the chief said. All photos by Chris Juhn
July 16-22, 2020
7
More Mothers March photos
Ashley Dubose sings on the steps of the State Capitol building in St. Paul during the Mothers March.
Protesters dance in the streets as they approach the destination for the march to the State Capitol building in St. Paul during the Mothers March on July 12, 2020.
A protester watches and listens to speakers before the start of the Mothers March in St. Paul.
All photos by Chris Juhn
Pastor Georgia Breedlove from Atlanta, Georgia prays on the steps of the State Capitol building in St. Paul during the Mothers March as they close the event out in prayer.
8 July 16-22, 2020
BULLETIN Sound off on police reform at a Brooklyn Park listening session The City Council in partnership with the Human Rights Commission want to hear from Brooklyn Park residents about police reform and racial justice. What changes do you want to see in our city? All are welcome and the city council especially looks forward to hearing from our Black/African American residents and other communities of color. You can attend the meeting for another district if you are unable to make your own. Not sure which Council District you live in? Find out using the neighborhoods page: gis.brooklynpark.org/neighborhoodinfo. Where: Community Activity Center, 5600 85th Ave. N,, Brooklyn Park When: Thursday, July 23, 6:30-8:30 pm To limit the spread of COVID-19, the City is following social distancing guidelines. All participants from different households will be seated at least 6 feet apart and will be required to wear a mask. Masks will be available upon request. There will also be a virtual meeting in August. More information to come soon. Space is limited due to social distancing guidelines so please RSVP at bit.ly/PoliceReformBrooklynPark2
Cub Foods opens ‘community markets’ to fill Mpls. food desert after riots Community members in Minneapolis scrambling for fresh food after businesses along Lake Street were ravished by recent rioting can now shop at Cub Foods’ new pop-up tent market. Cub Foods opened the Community Market, a 13,000 square ft. shop full of fresh fruit, dairy, meat, and other essential items, on Wednesday, July 8. The store also includes a pharmacy. The tented market is set up in the parking lot of the larger Cub Foods store off of E. Lake Street, which is temporarily closed for repairs. Other nearby stores that offer groceries, Target and Aldi’s, remain closed due to looting and property damage. The pop-up shop is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday through Sunday. Cub is also offering free hourly bus rides to its Quarry store on New Brighton Boulevard in Northeast Minneapolis for people who need a fuller shopping experience. Cub has plans to open a similar pop-up shop in North Minneapolis on West Broadway later this month. Northside shoppers in need will be offered free rides to the full Cub Foods store in Crystal. Find more info at www.cub.com/stores/view-store.1001037.html.
—Information and graphic provided by the City of Brooklyn Park
The new pop-up market is set up in the parking lot of the bigger store on 2850 26th Ave. in Mpls. Paige Elliott/MSR
The City of Minneapolis wants to hear from you! The City of Minneapolis is redesigning the way mental health 911 calls are handled and is soliciting opinions of residents. Send in your experiences and make your voices heard to create the city and communities that you want to see. Share your thoughts by completing a 10-min survey at this link bit.ly/MentalHealthMPLS
Have you had items stolen, property damaged, or experienced a traffic issue? The City of Minneapolis is redesigning the way 911 calls about non-emergency crimes are handled. Share your thoughts by completing a five- minute survey at this link: bit.ly/ NonEmergenciesMPLS.
—Information and graphics provided by the City of Minneapolis.
Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
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MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 3744 4th Ave. South • Minneapolis, MN 55409 Phone: 612-827-4021 • Fax: 612-827-0577
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cecil e. NeWmaN
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Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church
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Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8:00 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:
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At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904 www.bethesdamnonline.com bethesdamn@prodigy.net Sunday Service Times: Early Morning Service 9 am Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm Children's Bible Class 7 pm
2600 E. 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 www.greatfriend.org Phone: 612.827.7928 Fax: 612.827.3587 info@greatfriend.org Sundays 8:00am Sunday School 9:30am Worship Service The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody
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July 16-22, 2020
Legals and Classifieds CONDEMNATION STATE OF MINNESOTA IN DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FILE NO. 27-CV-20-8674 The Honorable David L. Piper State of Minnesota, by its Commissioner of Transportation, Petitioner, vs. Scott W. Baker, et al. Respondents. IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDEMNATION OF CERTAIN LANDS FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY PURPOSES NOTICE To the Respondents hereinabove named: You, and each of you, are hereby notified that on October 16, 2020, at 10:00 o’clock am., or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard, before Judge David L. Piper, in the Courthouse at Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, the above named petitioner will present to the above named Court a petition now on file herein for the condemnation of certain lands for trunk highway purposes. A copy of said petition is attached hereto and incorporated herein. YOU, AND EACH OF YOU, ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED, That at the above time and place the above-named petitioner will also move the court for an order transferring title and possession to petitioner of the parcels described in the petition in accordance with Minn. Stat. §117.042, as of November 19, 2020. YOU, AND EACH OF YOU, ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED, that all persons occupying the property described in the petition must VACATE THE PREMISES AND MOVE ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM SAID PREMISES ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 19, 2020. All advertising signs or devices located on the property being acquired must be removed by November 19, 2020. YOU, AND EACH OF YOU, ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED, that (1) a party wishing to challenge the public use or public purpose, necessity, or authority for a taking must appear at the court hearing and state the objection or must appeal within 60 days of a court order; and (2) a court order approving the public use or public purpose, necessity, and authority for the taking is final unless an appeal is brought within 60 days after service of the order on the party. Dated: 7/08/20KEITH ELLISON, Attorney General, State of Minnesota, s/ Erik M. Johnson, ERIK M. JOHNSON, Assistant Attorney General, Atty. Reg. No. 0247522, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1800,St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2134 (651) 757-1476 (Voice) (651) 297-1235 (Fax) erik.johnson@ag.state.mn.us ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER CONDEMNATION STATE OF MINNESOTA IN DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF HENNEPIN FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT State of Minnesota, by its Commissioner of Transportation, Petitioner, vs. Scott W. Baker and Scott Moller, as trustees of Scott Ward Baker Revocable Trust u/a dated June 5, 2000, American National Bank of Minnesota, doing business as American National Bank, County of Hennepin, also all other persons unknown claiming any right, title, estate, interest or lien in the real estate described in the Petition herein, Respondents. IN THE MATTER OF THE CONDEMNATION OF CERTAIN LANDS FOR TRUNK HIGHWAY PURPOSES PETITION To the District Court above named the State of Minnesota brings this Petition and respectfully states and alleges: I. That Trunk Highway numbered 12, being Route numbered 10, has been located according to law and passes over the lands herein described. That it is duly covered by Right of Way Plat Order numbered 98158. II.That the Commissioner of Transportation deems it necessary that the State of Minnesota for trunk highway purposes obtain the lands herein described in fee simple absolute, together with the following rights: to acquire a temporary easement in those cases which are herein particularly mentioned. It is the intention of the above-named petitioner to move the court for an order authorizing the Court Administrator to accept and deposit in an interest bearing account payments from the petitioner to the court pursuant to Minnesota statutes. Further, it is the intention of the above-named petitioner to move the court for an order transferring title and possession of the parcels herein described, prior to the filing of an award by the court appointed commissioners, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §117.042. The petitioner reserves its right to recover costs of clean up and testing and all other damages arising from the presence of pollutants, contaminants, or hazardous materials on the property described herein, from all potential responsible parties, including respondents herein where appropriate, in a separate legal action to the extent permitted by law. III.That the following described lands in these proceedings taken are situated in Hennepin County, Minnesota; that the names of all persons appearing of record or known to your petitioner to be the owners of said lands or interested therein, including all whom your petitioner has been able by investigation and inquiry to discover, together with the nature of the ownership of each, as nearly as can be ascertained, are as follows: FEE ACQUISITION, Parcel 267 C.S. 2713 (12=10) 904 S.P. 2713-123RW All of the following: That part of the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 30, Township 118 North, Range 23 West, shown as Parcel 267 on Minnesota Department of Transportation Right of Way Plat Numbered 27-232 as the same is on file and of record in the office of the County Recorder in and for Hennepin County, Minnesota; containing 112219 square feet, more or less; together with other rights as set forth below, forming and being part of said Parcel 267: Temporary Easement: A temporary easement for highway purposes as shown on said plat as to said Parcel 267 by the temporary easement symbol, said easement shall cease on December 1, 2023, or on such earlier date upon which the Commissioner of Transportation determines by formal order that it is no longer needed for highway purposes. Names of parties interested in the above described land and nature of interest: Scott W. Baker and Scott Moller, as trustees of Scott Ward Baker Revocable Trust u/a dated June 5, 2000 Fee, American National Bank of Minnesota, doing business as American National Bank Mortgage, County of Hennepin Taxes and Special Assessments WHEREFORE, Your petitioner prays that commissioners be appointed to appraise the damages which may be occasioned by such taking, and that such proceedings may be had herein as are provided by law. Dated: 06-16-2020 KEITH ELLISON Attorney General, State of Minnesota, s/ Erik M. Johnson, ERIK M. JOHNSON, Assistant Attorney General Atty. Reg. No. 0247522, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1800, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2134 (651) 757-1476 (Voice), (651) 297-1235 (Fax) erik.johnson@ag.state.mn.us, ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER 100730 MINN. STAT. § 549.211 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The party or parties on whose behalf the attached document is served acknowledge through their undersigned counsel that sanctions may be imposed pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 549.211. Dated: 06-16-2020 KEITH ELLISON, Attorney General, State of Minnesota s/ Erik M. Johnson, ERIK M. JOHNSON, Assistant Attorney General, Atty. Reg. No. 0247522 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder July 16, 23 and 30, 2020 From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder PHONE: 612-827-4021 FOR BILLING INQUIRIES & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT ACCOUNTING DEPT
LEGAL NOTICES SIZE: 6 COL X 17.5 RATE $15.53 PCI (1ST RUN) SUBTOTAL: $1630.65 RATE $10.35 PCI (PER ADDITIONAL RUN) $ 1086.75 X 2 SUBTOTAL: $2173.50 Total: $3804.15
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Continued on p.9
July 16-22, 2020
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Legals and Classifieds Continued from page 10
Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation/Articles of Incorporation Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 317A The individual(s) listed below who is (are each) 18 years of age or older, herebyadopt(s) the following Articles of Incorporation: ARTICLE 1 - CORPORATE NAME:
#2ndChanceProject
ARTICLE 2 - REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT(S), IF ANY AT THAT OFFICE: Name Address: 1601 Park Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55404 USA ARTICLE 3 - INCORPORATOR(S): Name: Address: Carlton Jessup 1601 Park Avenue South Minneapolis MN 55404 DURATION: PERPETUAL If you submit an attachment, it will be incorporated into this document. If the attachment conflicts with the information specifically set forth in this document, this document supersedes the data referenced in the attachment. By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath. SIGNED BY: Carlton Jessup MAILING ADDRESS: None Provided EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: jessup5027@yahoo.com Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder July 9 & July 16, 2020
Mitchell Palmer McDonald’s column will return next week.
From Classified SOE Department/MN
Ben off the shelves, but we still want police accountability,” continued Bryant. Continued from page 12 Spokesman-Recorder “The key is that we don’t get PHONE: 612-827-4021 distracted. We mustn’t lose sight issues unless pushed to the wall, FOR BILLING of what the goal or the game like watching a Black man being INQUIRIES really is.” kneed to death by a policeman. & TEARSHEETS Which is, according to Bryant pointed out that it is not PLEASE CONTACT Bryant, a new power-sharing that simple unless you are socialACCOUNTING DEPT model in this country, not just ly conscious or at least not scared in sports but in American soto have everyone know it: “How ASSUMED NAME: ciety overall. This might be much money and power do you RATE 2 WK RUN harder than toppling statues. have if you lose everything by TOTAL: $150.00 “What does taking this serithe taking to the streets calling for just opening your mouth? “Why is advocating for Black change moment we are presently ously really mean?” he asked. people a death sentence, a set- in, the author-ESPN.com senior “One of my big fears is that Please proof, respond with email confirmation to display@ up?” he questioned. “Why is it writer warned against distrac- you are going to have more spokesman-recorder.com that every time you do some- tions from the main reason for sloganeering, more cosmetics, thing to move closer to Black peo- over a month of protests. “You [but] the same people are gople, you hurt yourself financially can take Aunt Jemima and Uncle ing to be in the same position, or they penalize you or punish you?” When asked to comment on
“Why is advocating for Black people a death sentence, a set-up?”
Fitz Continued from page 12 conference games only this fall. Stanford has already decided they will drop 11 sports programs in 2021. What about the SEC, Big East, Big 12 and ACC? University schools have to decide to open up first. College students like Minnesota’s 45,000 still pay to attend for housing, classes and activity fees. That's how the universities survive. However, they
can't cash in on billions of revenue dollars and streams from football and basketball. Not without fans in the stands and TV contracts with ESPNFOX, CBS, ABC, NBC and others with student athletes not playing. Pro Sports and NCAA universities have many different sets of issues, problems, headaches, challenges, all brought on by the public health crisis COVID-19. The PGA Tour without fans has gone four weeks with few problems; still no fans and a few
players and caddies testing positive for the coronavirus. Tiger Woods will play next week at the Memorial for the first time in five months. He might play the following week here in Blaine at the TPC 3-M Open. It's time right now for the conference commissioners, athletic directors and coaches to start dealing with the reality. Because of so much uncertainty amidst the huge national spike in positive coronavirus cases, the college football season is slipping
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making the same money… They might be nicer, but the power structure is not changing at all. “I think it comes down to structures, empires and risk,” Bryant surmised. “Full Dissidence” is like his previous book, a quick but serious and worthy read for all us dissidents. “I felt it was there to just say it and spell it out loud.” Bryant said Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
away. Larry Fitzgerald is a longstanding contributing columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. He can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGYAM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on “Almanac” (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.
From Classified Department/MN Spokesman-Recorder PHONE: 612-827-4021 FORSubscribe BILLING INQUIRIES NOW! & TEARSHEETS Get CONTACT your PLEASE subscription ACCOUNTING DEPT today by calling DISPLAY EMPLOYMENT 612-827-4021 SIZE: 2 COL X 2.75 INCHE RATE PER COL. IN or$38.25 by going SUB TOTAL: online $210.38 to MSRnewsonline.com
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Please proof, respond with play@spokesman-recorder We are also inviting our c web site for 2 weeks for a tion with purchase of prin
12
July 16-22, 2020
NFL hiring needle still stuck on White
Sports startup faces major challenges
Fitz Beat Larry FitzgeraLd
F
our months ago on March 12 the entire sports world stopped playing games because of the coronavirus pandemic. We have endured a lot of pain and suffering since then. Last week, MLS restarted but has already been forced to pull out of its return tournament due to positive COVID-19 cases. Remember a month ago when Florida reopened first and invited everyone to come and do business? Now, over 30 states, many of them red states, and just as many cities are spiking, coronavirus positive tests booming. Florida had 11,433 cases in one day and is averaging over 10,000 positive cases daily. Last week was the worst week on record with74,000 positive tests in one day. And Disney World has reopened. We have lost 135,000 American lives to the virus. Over three million have tested positive in the U.S., and Arizona, Texas, Florida and California are surging. It's freighting. Starting up the sports industry is not easy when people
are testing positive in record numbers and hundreds of lives are still being lost daily. Our national leadership void being misled by Donald Trump has deceived millions into gathering socially, drinking and partying as if COVID-19 were behind us without a mask and spreading the virus at an alarming rate. Starting up has headaches and unknown challenges. MLB and Third in a multi-part series. the Twins’ 60th season starts it's 60-game 30-team sprint on July 24. The NHL is jumping right into the acial hiring and “ocStanley Cup playoffs on August 1 cupational mobility” with all the games in Canada; the always have been Wild will play Vancouver. challenging for the National MLB had 71 players last week Football League. A historicaltest positive for COVID-19. Imag- ly all-White power structure ine if that were the NBA—they and its slave-master mentalwould stop the Orlando bubble ity most likely top the varied return plan for 22 teams and eight reasons. games now. Last week in the Ivy The Institute for Diversity League, the first Division 1 Con- in Ethics in Sport (TIDES) ference made the decision not to gave the league a B in racial play any games this fall. hiring and a B-minus overall The conference of course does in this year’s Racial and Gennot award athletic scholarships der Report Card, but noted, and has no cable TV network like “People of color and women the Big Ten Conference, the num- are seriously under-repreber-one revenue generator in all sented in significant decisionof college sports. With 14 schools making positions at the team the Big Ten decided they are go- level.” TIDES’ latest racial ing to play a 10-game schedule breakdown is as follows: only against Big Ten schools. No • 10 percent of the league non-conference games. Big Ten office staff is Black Commissioner Kevin Warren • 11 percent of team sesaid, "We may not have a college nior administrators is Black football season in the Big Ten." • Almost nine percent of Big Ten athletes choosing not other administrators is Black to compete this year won't lose • 7.1 percent of team vicetheir scholarships. The Pac 12 is presidents is Black following the Big Ten plan with
R
■ See Fitz on page 11
but rather posed interesting questions on such topics as authoritarianism masquerading as patriotism; the myth of integration; and a warning that power don’t give up without a fight.
Howard Bryant
The Minnesota Vikings media guide has 10 Blacks among the approximately 120-130 front office personnel, and none in senior administration positions. Between 1963 and 2020, only 18 different Blacks have been NFL head coaches compared to 28 Whites, says the 2019 NFL Diversity and Inclusion Report. Also during that span, 115 Whites have been hired as head coach (HC), offensive coordinator (OC) or defensive coordinator (DC) after being hired once as a head coach, and 27 Whites after a second opportunity.
Center at the University of Central Florida. His group has been analyzing occupational mobility patterns and their impact on Blacks and other coaches of color reports since 2013. “We are still trying to get our head around what is preventing men of color” from getting football’s three most influential on-field leadership positions, he added. Between the 2019 Super Bowl and this year’s title game, only seven men of color were hired to fill front office vacancies. That good ole boy network is not just prevalent in the NFL, but in all aspects of American society when it comes to racial hiring. Also, PWM (primarily White media) practice what is essentially “racial profiling” in promoting Whites for coaching jobs, using such adjectives as “excellent” and “up-andcoming” for them but not for
“The last two years we have seen a drop in coaches of color.” Only 11 head coaches of color from 1963 to 2020 have gotten head coaching “second chances.” “The last two years we have seen a drop in coaches of color,” Central Florida Associate Professor Dr. C. Keith Harrison recently told the MSR. He co-authored the annual report and is director of the Paul Robeson Research
versity needle as proponents hoped. Earlier this year, the league voted to tweak it. Now at least two POC must be interviewed for HC jobs, and at least one POC for coordinator,
Dr. C. Keith Harrison Courtesy of Central Florida football operations, and GM positions. “Will that help?” we asked Harrison. “We don’t need a new normal, but a new culture,” he said. “We can move forward… When we start to do that, then we can get on the road [to change].”
Blacks. “Until people who make decisions are comfortable Next: The NBA and the with different [people]… that’s White Supremacy,” WNBA said Harrison. Charles Hallman welcomes Not even the famed reader responses to challman@ “Rooney Rule,” in place since spokesman-recorder.com. 2003 mandating that teams interview at least one Black candidate for coaching openings, has moved the NFL’s di-
New Gopher soccer coach faces a ‘new normal’ first season in MN
Author says ‘To be Black is to be a dissident’ Not having games to cover since March has been no problem for this sportswriter. It provided more time to read, especially books by Black authors. Howard Bryant’s last two books, “The Heritage” (2018) and “Full Dissidence,” released over a year apart, easily could be a two-book set. We read the former last year in about two days—it was that good—after checking it out of the library, and bought “Full Dissidence,” which was released in January, last week from a local book store. Bryant’s very first sentence in his fifth book sets his 10-essay agenda: “To be Black is to be a dissident,” which means to protest against official policy. He doesn’t provide answers
• 6.3 percent of GMs is Black • Six percent of C-Suite positions is Black • Zero Black presidents/ CEOs • Nearly 60 percent of its players are Black, but only three Black head coaches.
“Both this [book] and “The Heritage” overlap,” said Bryant in a recent MSR phone interview. “When I worked on “The Heritage,” “Full Dissidence” is what I had in mind, but I ran into a problem when I was writing it.” He devoted more instead to the history of Black athlete activism and when it stopped among the modern Black pro athlete. Today’s Black pro athletes are making loads of dough, but in reality, “There is a huge gap between millions versus billions,” Bryant contends. “Michael Jordan is a billionaire, but look at how much money he made for other people.” Some have been disappointed that many Black pro athletes aren’t speaking out on social is-
Photo courtesy of Howard Bryant
■ See SOE on page 11
By Charles Hallman Contributing writer The Big Ten’s 2020 fall sports season will consist of conference games only for football, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball. “It will be an interesting season,” said first-year Minnesota Assistant Soccer Coach Maya Hayes in an MSR phone interview last week. Hayes, the Gophers’ first female assistant coach of color, joined the program July 1 after two seasons as an Auburn graduate assistant coach while she was completing her master’s work on adult education. Before her coaching career took off, Hayes was a four-year starter and three-time All-American soccer player at Penn State (2010-13), where she set a 2011 single-season record for points (70) and goals (31). Both feats led the nation as well. She said she chose Penn State because the soccer program was led by women: “I wanted to be coached by a female,” Hayes recalled. “Up until that point, I hadn’t had the luxury of that. The schools I was looking at had female head coaches, and that was important to me.” The young woman also
how you were as a person and “I don’t think any entity is putting helping you grow and develop the athletes in any harm’s way,” she said. “Hopefully we will into that person.”
Maya Hayes “I always thought that would be my path,” she said of coaching. Gopher Coach Stephanie Golan also was an influencer, albeit from a distance, Hayes noted. She was impressed with Minnesota’s “team culture, bluecollar mentality” that the players displayed on the field. Therefore, when the opportunity came to
“Hopefully we will see a controlled environment as much as possible.” played in two FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup tourneys (2010, 2012), and was the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NWSL draft by Sky Blue FC, where she played from 2014-18. “I can say I played soccer for a living and got paid to do so,” Hayes said proudly. She said she always saw coaching in her life, which is why she pursued kinesiology for her bachelor degree. Her college coaches also were big influences in this regard. “It was more so the relationships they intentionally built with their players and making sure their players felt valued,” she recalled. “It was to them
Courtesy U of M see a controlled environment as much as possible.” Atlanta Dream owner draws fire U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) is the Donald Sterling of the WNBA. Sterling was booted out of the NBA several years ago for his racist views and forced to sell the LA Clippers. Some are advocating the same for Loeffler, an Atlanta Dream co-owner and a staunch supporter of the current president. Last week Loeffler said she opposed the WNBA’s social justice initiatives in support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The W is 75 percent Black. The Dream players came out against Loeffler in a joint statement saying, “Our team is united in the Movement for Black Lives.” The Atlanta players didn’t demand Loeffler sell, as others have done, but she wrote in an editorial, “I’m not going to give up on the team because of my personal or political views.”
join Golan’s staff, Hayes said it was too good to pass up. “Getting to know her and the rest of the staff, there is a connection that was immediately made,” Hayes said. “Her (Golan’s] core belief is my core belief.” Nonetheless, soccer, a sport Hayes has played since age eight, still needs diversity. “The sport in general doesn’t have a lot of athletes of color,” she said. “That is the same thing [in coaching]. It Charles Hallman welcomes is something I obviously have reader responses to challman@ gotten used to at this point.” Hayes is looking forward to spokesman-recorder.com. her first season in Minnesota despite the uncertainty of the times.