Midway Vaccine bus visits Como Hmongtown Frogtown >>14 NEWS FOR EVERYONE, DELIVERED TO EVERYONE May 2021 Vol. 47 No. 10 www.MonitorSaintPaul.com 24,000 Circulation • Residents push for Rondo land bridge to repair community split GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE CROWD JUBILANT, by Interstate 94 construction Connecting past, RESOLUTE AS CHAUVIN FOUND GUILTY present, future By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN ReConnect Rondo (RCR) is leading the effort to revitalize St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. The non-profit organization and its partners propose build- ing a community land bridge that would cap I-94 for several blocks. Construction of a land bridge would be the first step toward replacing what was lost half a century ago, when con- struction of the interstate de- stroyed the Old Rondo neigh- borhood (see map for details). According to the RCR web- site, Rondo was the center of Rondo native, Mar- African American life in the vin Roger Anderson Twin Cities, with about 80% of the local Black population living there at the time of The crowd at George Floyd Square, the site where former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd, erupts as the freeway construction. It was a hard-working, vibrant guilty verdict is announced on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen) community supported by social clubs, religious or- ganizations, community centers, and a thriving busi- ness community. By JILL BOOGREN Moments later, cheers and shouts the former officers who were charged More than 700 African American families were Hundreds of people poured into of joy erupted in waves as three guilty with aiding and abetting Chauvin in forced to sell their homes in the 1950s, and were 38th St. and Chicago Ave. in South Min- verdicts were read and heard in inter- the murder of George Floyd. People under-compensated for their value. An estimated 300 neapolis anxiously awaiting the verdict vals on mobile devices throughout shared tears and long hugs, restrained small businesses and institutions were also destroyed in the Derek Chauvin trial with the the crowd. “We changed the world on over the past year due to COVID-19, to make room for the freeway. The overall impact re- whole world watching. Eliza Wesley, aka 4/20,” shouted Leon Lyons. as chants of “Say His Name: George sulted in a 61% population loss in Rondo. the Gatekeeper, started a chant that car- Billy Briggs, who had been track- Floyd!” echoed across the intersec- A less disruptive northern route for I-94 was ried across the Square: “Black lives they ing the number of days until and tion. The crowd grew larger and after under consideration at the same time. It would have matter here,” “Black lives they matter through the trial on the former Speed- a sound truck pulled up, it became a followed the rail lines through what is now Ener- now,” and “No justice, no peace!” way sign, replaced those letters with: dance party. “And we gonna prosecute the po- JUSTICE SERVED? Marcia Howard gy Park, and resulted in much less displacement of MORE COVERAGE ONLINE @ lice,” Mileesha Smith added, to ap- led the crowd in a chant “One Down, homes and businesses. www.MonitorSaintPaul.com plause. Three to Go” – referring to Alexander CONNECTING PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE >> 6 Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, ALSO Forging community at GFS >> 2 Frogtown resident receives Chief’s Award for helping young woman in mental health crisis “When I got close enough, I wrapped ONE MOMENT ON A BRIDGE my arm around her back and tried By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN over, and walked across the street. She to console her. I’ve been depressed Turonda (last name withheld by was crying, and had a look of despera- before myself, and I thought it was request) got in her car one afternoon tion. I approached her carefully. There important to talk to her.” ~ Turonda in April 2020, buckled up, and dou- wasn’t much traffic, so it was strange- ble checked to make sure she had ev- ly quiet. When I got close enough, I erything she needed for a visit to her wrapped my arm around her back and tempted suicide herself, in the throes parents. The COVID-19 lock down was tried to console her. I’ve been deeply of an ongoing custody battle and un- just six weeks old. depressed before myself, and I thought treated post-partum depression. She A busy mom of three with a full- it was important to talk to her. said, “In 2006, I didn’t know what time job as a nursing assistant, Turon- “From what she said, she may post-partum depression was or how da had a lot on her mind. As she drove have been in an abusive relationship. to get help; I just thought I was a bad across a familiar bridge in her North Maybe she lost her job, or custody of mom. End neighborhood, something caught her children. So many things can go “I was lucky to have a loving sup- Turonda (last name withheld by request) stands with her her eye and she glanced again over wrong that are beyond our control. port system, but I wasn’t telling my family and accepts the Chief’s Award for helping a young her left shoulder. There was a young Suicide can seem like the only option family and friends how depressed I woman in a mental health crisis in April 2020. She has woman standing on the outside bridge in the moment, but it’s not.” was. Women are acculturated to be- dealt with her own mental health struggles and used what rail, apparently ready to jump. When Turonda first experienced lieve they have to be so strong.” she has learned to help the young woman. (Photo submitted) Turonda said, “When people are depression 15 years ago, she felt her suicidal, it’s a cry for help. I pulled life was caving in around her. She at- ONE MOMENT >> 3 Better biking, HOME & GARDEN Teens qualify walking, rolling Watch out for National in St. Paul for jumping worms History Day PAGE 7 PAGE 9 PAGE 12 22 •• May May 2021 2021 www.MonitorSaintPaul.comwww.MonitorSaintPaul.com Phi FORGING COMMUNITY AT GEORGE FLOYD SQUARE Khalar Phi Khalar, a helper One of these helpers is Phi Khalar. They started coming to Left to right: Simya Edwards, Milaen the Square in August, ready to lis- Mullins, Schiantae Mullins, Malachi ten and amplify, in time recog- Mullins, Levi W., NaJee W., from the nizing where things needed to be Metro area of Detroit, Michigan, visit done and stepping up. George Floyd Square. “It gives me “Whether it’s little menial goose bumps bein’ here,” said Mullins. tasks of sweeping up stuff, pick- (Photo by Jill Boogren) ing up garbage, shoveling, I like doing that grunt work,” they By JILL BOOGREN said. But Khalar also helps facili- At the start of the Derek tate ideas that they or others can Chauvin trial, visitors from the follow through on, depending on Metro area of Detroit, Mich., their skill set. Asked what being approached the south gate of part of this community means George Floyd Square at 39th to them, Khalar took a long mo- and Chicago Ave.S. (GFS). They ment to find the words. had just one day left in Minne- Eliza Wesley, aka Gatekeeper, said, "This community is so great and so a part of me." (Photos by Jill Boogren) “It kinda means everything,” apolis and wanted to stop there Khaler said, explaining that before they went home. Both they’ve been part of protests and Black women raising Black chil- As with many others, these the city charter (and therefore cooks, carpenters, welders, elec- campaigns and supported differ- dren, these mothers spoke to the visitors were welcomed by com- public safety) in Minneapolis. tricians, nurses, medics, teachers, ent organizations their entire life. significance of being there with munity member John M. Huerth, artists, photographers, musicians. “The work that residents and just their sons and daughters. who greeted them with a smile, Place of protest They are the deeply faithful and regular people are doing out of NaJee W. said she became as he has done countless times GFS is a place of protest. the secular, the mothers and fa- their own volition, out of their active in Michigan after her son since coming to hold space at On June 2, 2020, after neigh- thers, sons and daughters, cous- own drive, to connect with each asked her, “Would that happen the Square last fall. A Vietnam bors placed makeshift barricades ins and uncles and aunties. They other and know community, it’s to me? Like, will I go out into the Veteran and former teacher who across each roadway leading into are caretakers, collaborators and the most real thing I’ve ever felt streets and get killed like that?” once wanted to be a missionary, the Square to keep harm from change makers who have made in my life. And yeah, it means ev- “My son is going to grow Huerth said his mission now is coming to those entering the me- the choice to come together erything.” up to be a Black man one day. two words: peace and justice. morial, the city of Minneapolis during a pandemic at the epicen- Ever since then, it really touched He uses a holiday lights placed cement barricades – one ter of a global racial reckoning Eliza Wesley, the Gatekeeper analogy to describe his reasons and do something extraordinary my heart. You know, that coul- block north and south on Chi- This sense of community for plugging in to this move- – forge community.