Minneapolis Labor Review 113Th Year No

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Minneapolis Labor Review 113Th Year No Labor unions respond to police murder of Daunte Wright — page 6 Minneapolis Labor Review 113th Year No. 11 April 24, 2021 www.minneapolisunions.org Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO 2021 Legislature Governor and Minnesota House ready to enact labor’s legislative agenda; Any action by Senate remains in doubt —See page 5 Labor news updated daily www.workdayminnesota.org Minnesota Workers United photo Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation… Union members urge justice for George Floyd in Derek Chauvin murder trial Follow us on facebook! MINNEAPOLIS — As the Labor Review went to press April 15, closing arguments in the trial of former Minneapolis police offi cer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd were www.facebook.com/minneapolisunions about to begin. The Chauvin trial has brought the deployment of National Guard troops and an increased police presence throughout the metro area. Photo above: On the fi rst day of the Chauvin trial, March 29, union members took to the streets of downtown with other protesters to demand justice for George Floyd, including members from AFSCME Locals 34, 2822, 3800 and 3937, plus Teamsters Local 320, and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. Biden infrastructure plan proposes investment of $2 trillion in job creation PITTSBURGH — Speaking like anything we’ve seen or at the local Carpenters union done since we built the Interstate training center, U.S. President Highway System and the Space MN AFL-CIO endorses Building Trades’ Joe Biden March 31 proposed a Race decades ago.” $2 trillion investment in infra- “It’s the largest American boycott of Speedway gas stations structure and job creation. jobs investment since World “I’m proposing a plan for the War Two,” Biden said. “It will SAINT PAUL — Following the Saint Paul Building Trades’ March 28 announcement of a nation that rewards work, not create millions of jobs, boycott of Speedway gas stations based on parent company Marathon’s labor and safety just rewards wealth,” Biden good-paying jobs. It will grow practices at their Saint Paul Park refi nery, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bill McCarthy issued said. “It builds a fair economy the economy, make us more the following statement: “Generations of Minnesota’s union workers have safely operated that gives everybody a chance to competitive around the world, the St. Paul Park refi nery while providing for their families and supporting their community. succeed, and it’s going to create promote our national security By bringing in underpaid and poorly-trained workers from out of state, closing the doors to the strongest, most resilient, in- interests, and put us in a position Minnesota’s union tradespeople, and going as far as locking out their operations workforce novative economy in the world. to win the global competition in the name of cost-cutting, Marathon has turned its back on working Minnesotans and is It’s not a plan that tinkers around with China in the upcoming putting the surrounding community’s safety at serious risk. The Minnesota AFL-CIO supports the edges. It’s a once-in-a gener- years.” the Building Trades’ boycott of Speedway stations and urges our state’s union members and ation investment in America, un- JOBS PLAN page 7 anyone who cares about working Minnesotans to do the same.” Guest Column Yet another black man murdered by the police “A time comes when silence is be- all of my white allies, those who say they trayal.” are a friend, to take to the streets, to make — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. calls, send e-mails, hold press confer- ences, change laws, and denounce the By KerryJo Felder murder of Daunte Wright. Another black man murdered by the “I’m sorry” only means something if police. it comes with an action. If not, you do not As we sit waiting for justice for one think my children and my husband are black man murdered by the police, worth it and that then makes me not worth George Floyd, we see again, it and so you never were my the murder of another. One ally in the fi rst place. who made it just one year out For those who instinctively of his teenage years, Daunte want to know about a prior re- Wright. cord, or to wait to make a I am livid. judgment until these murdered Marathon, do the right thing To have police simply play Black men have been proven By Ari Kilgore the sky would be clear soon, and recess judge, jury, and executioner worthy enough or human I remember the smoke becoming so would be extra fun tomorrow. She gave with the lives of another hu- enough to earn your empathy thick, I was afraid to drive home later me a faint smile, and pushed her little man being is not to be ex- is wrong. And it means that that day. brother onto the bus. cused. Neither are the lies you both dehumanize Black It was late April, and at the time, I was No person should have to worry about they give when they commit murder. bodies and don’t know Black people. This almost one year out of high school, work- the safety of their family members, hud- I will not accept the lies, but it is not can be applied to every ethnicity. ing at an elementary school in Duluth, dled in the corner at work, refreshing up to me in this land we call America. It I see a few people and a few organiza- Minnesota. The teacher’s lounge was their phone waiting anxiously for bad is up to our white allies, for they are the tions out there doing the real work that needs abuzz with the news that the Superior news. Children shouldn’t have to be majority of those in power who can to be done. Just like we do for elections, ed- refi nery — the one just down the hill and herded inside to avoid smoke that makes change our laws. ucation has to be done. Conversations need over the bridge — had gone ablaze. it hard to breathe, scared that the world is If white people come out and make a to be had. People need to be “touched” at A woman stood in the corner of the ending. Workers shouldn’t be subjected line, the police think twice before ram- least three times to make it count. lounge, obsessively checking her phone. I to the disastrous outcomes of hasty deci- paging forward with their tear gas, their People need to stand up where they found out later that her husband worked sions. No communities should be sub- rubber bullets, their tanks, and eventually are for each other, no matter how uncom- near the site, they lived not too far from the jected to an explosion, worrying about and fi rstly, their real bullets. fortable it is. Otherwise, hate wins and site, and she was worried for her family. who is making it out alive, if they can go This conversation is for white people black men are murdered for various lies I felt wholly unequipped to sit with home, or if they even have a home to go to have with other white people. Like my and the murderers are protected by blue my students — ranging from kindergar- to anymore. It’s imperative we take bold black husband and I will give our chil- and we then embrace a “race” war. ten to third grade — and explain to each action to ensure that a refi nery explosion dren “the talk” as we try to ensure that Then what? Your uncle? Your son? and every one of them again and again never happens again. they live a long life, white people must Your mother? Your brother? Your grand- why their recess had to be inside that day. Workers at the Marathon refi nery in talk about valuing everyone and instill in mother? Your father? Your sister? Your That the smoke was too thick, and we St. Paul Park who are Teamsters Local those around them that all men are creat- cousin? Your aunt? Your grandfather? wanted to make sure that they were able 120 members are organizing for safety ed equal — and then stand for it, because Mad? to breathe clean air, so instead of playing and have been locked out of their jobs by we have hundreds of years of instilled I am livid. outside today, it was a movie day in their Marathon, which is prioritizing profi ts hate in many instances. classrooms. over safety. Marathon needs to do the Minneapolis almost had it right. Space “If you are neutral in situations of On afternoon bus duty that day, I re- right thing: get folks back to work and do and justice was needed. What they didn’t injustice, you have chosen the side of member a sibling set, waiting anxiously what’s right for the safety of our commu- count on is other white agitators and the oppressor.” for their bus to come. The fi fth grader nities — so what happened in Superior black haters coming in from out of town — Archbishop Desmond Tutu looked up at me and asked if the world doesn’t happen in Minnesota. to draw wedges on already tender ethnic was ending. She was anxious from the Ari Kilgore is an intern at the Minne- soil that we have been tilling for some KerryJo Felder has worked as an or- energy of the adults and the smoke in the apolis Regional Labor Federation. She is time now. ganizer for the Minneapolis Regional La- air. I gave her a hug and told her that, no, a senior in peace and justice studies at But, here we are again, and I call on bor Federation, AFL-CIO since 2013.
Recommended publications
  • Unprovoked Assault of Lt. Nazario and Needless Death of Daunte Wright Underscores Need for Police Reform UNPROVOKED ASSAULT of LT
    Chattanooga News Chronicle - April 22, 2021 Page 8 Chattanooga News Chronicle - April 22, 2021 NATIONAL Unprovoked Assault of Lt. Nazario and Needless Death of Daunte Wright Underscores Need for Police Reform UNPROVOKED ASSAULT OF LT. NAZARIO AND NEEDLESS DEATH OF DAUNTE WRIGHT THROW YET MORE LIGHT ON AN ALREADY-GLARING NEED FOR POLICE REFORM N E W Y O R K ( N a t i o n a l U r b a n L e a g u e ) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc traffic stop. the officers, and that Derek Chauvin continued using H. Morial issued the following statement in response “Our hearts are with the family of Daunte Wright, deadly force long after even the possibility of a threat to the killing of Daunte Wright and the assault of taken at just 20 years old, by an officer so poorly- had passed. Video of Daunte Wright’s fatal shooting Army Lt. Caron Nazario by police in Minnesota and trained and so eager to use excessive force that she and Lt. Nazario’s vicious assault make it clear that Virginia: allegedly mistook a gun for a taser. neither of them posed a threat to the officers who at- “Our sympathy and support goes out to Lt. tacked them. “Over the last few days the nation once again Caron Nazario who was pelted with death threats and “Also swept aside is any excuse for the Senate’s watched a young Black man, pulled over by police conflicting demands before his unwarranted and un- delay in passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing in what appears to be a pretextual stop, shot to death provoked assault.
    [Show full text]
  • The Aftermath of the Derek Chauvin Trial Helping Employees Through Racial-Trauma
    Hot Topic The Aftermath of the Derek Chauvin Trial Helping Employees Through Racial-Trauma WE EMPOWER INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES Since the 2012 police shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, many companies have recognized the impact race-based incidents, subsequent protests, and intense media coverage have on their employees, especially Black employees. The death of Breonna Taylor by police officers in Kentucky on March 13, 2020, the killing of George Floyd by former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin May 25, 2020, and the killing of Daunte Wright by another Minnesota police officer on April 11, 2021 have raised the level of fear and anxiety for Black Americans to new heights. The verdict finding Chauvin guilty on all counts may serve as a step against systemic racism, but the path to healing is long and it does not diminish the trauma these deaths have caused. As Seramount CEO Subha Barry stated, “One conviction does not begin to put a dent in the systemic racism that our Black brothers and sisters have endured over the years, but it is a move in the right direction.” While racism has existed for many centuries, these recent experiences have escalated racial-trauma in the Black community. Mental Health America defines racial-trauma as the “mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes.” When people feel the effects of racial-trauma, they start “paying” emotional tax -- the need to protect oneself from unfair treatment by spending time and energy to prepare for potential acts of bias, exclusion, or discrimination.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 Winter/Spring Silha Bulletin (791.1Kb
    A PUBLICATION OF THE SILHA CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF MEDIA ETHICS AND LAW | WINTER/SPRING 2021 Members of the Press Detained and Targeted with Use of Force by Police, Despite Court Order he trial of former Minneapolis Police Department the finding inBranzburg v. Hayes, 408 U.S. 665, 681 (1972) that (MPD) officer Derek Chauvin, charged with second- “without some protection for seeking out the news, freedom of degree murder, third-degree murder, and second- the press could be eviscerated.” She also cited American Civil degree manslaughter after he pressed his knee into Liberties Union of Illinois v. Alvarez, 679 F.3d 583, 597 (7th Cir. the neck of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, 2012), in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Twho died at the scene in May 2020, began on March 29, 2021. It held that the First Amendment “goes beyond protection of the continued through mid-April. Meanwhile, on April 11, 2021, a press and self-expression of individuals to prohibit government Brooklyn Center, Minn. police officer, Kimberly Potter, shot and from limiting the stock of information from which members of killed Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, during a traffic the public may draw.” stop. Potter claimed to have accidentally grabbed and used her Second, Wright rejected the defendants’ argument that “the gun rather than a taser. In the course of these events, protests press had no right to ‘remain in an active dispersal area’” and that arose once more in the Twin Cities. Although the initial protests such orders “render[] the press’s news-gathering activities no were generally peaceful, a significant law enforcement response longer a ‘protected activity[.]’” She reasoned that because most of followed when tensions escalated.
    [Show full text]
  • A Better Path Forward for Criminal Justice: Chapter 1 Police Reform
    A Report by the Brookings-AEI Working Group on Criminal Justice Reform CHAPTER 1 Police Reform by Rashawn Ray and Clark Neily ecent incidents centering on the deaths of unarmed Black Americans including George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Elijah McClain, Breonna Taylor, William Green, and countless others have continued to apply pressure for wide sweeping police reform. To some, these incidents are the result of a few “bad apples.”1 To others, they are examples of a system imbued with Rinstitutional and cultural failures that expose civilians and police officers to harm. Our article aims to combine perspectives from across the political spectrum on sensible police reform. We focus on short-, medium-, and long-term solutions for reducing officer-involved shootings, racial disparities in use of force, mental health issues among officers, and problematic officers who rotten the tree of law enforcement. Level Setting Violent crime has significantly decreased since the early 1990s. However, the number of mass shoot- ings have increased and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security report being worried about domestic terrorism, even within law enforcement. Nonetheless, despite 6 A REPORT BY THE BROOKINGS-AEI WORKING GROUP ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM recent increases that some scholars associate with COVID-19 spillovers related to high unemployment and underemployment, violent crime is still much lower than it was three decades ago. Some scholars attribute crime reductions to increased police presence, while others highlight increases in overall levels of education and employment. In the policy space, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 are often noted.
    [Show full text]
  • Contractor Selected for Elementary School
    TOOELE RANSCRIPT Hogan smashes T homerun in win over S 5A Spanish Fork T C See B1 BULLETIN S TUESDAY April 20, 2021 www.TooeleOnline.com Vol. 127 No. 93 $1.00 Contractor selected for elementary school struction, according to Michael Groundbreaking date set for April 26 Garcia, TCSD construction coordinator. TIM GILLIE highest scoring contractor The groundbreaking for the EDITOR among the three contractors new school is set for April 26 at Twenty Wells Elementary that submitted bids that were 6 p.m. at the school site at 636 School has a contractor and reviewed by a school district E. Nygren Street in Grantsville. a groundbreaking ceremony committee. Twenty Wells Elementary ready. Mahas’ bid was $17.9 mil- School is one of three schools The Tooele County School lion. Hogan and Associates to be built with the $170 mil- Board unanimously approved Construction bid $18.5 million. lion bond approved by voters Bud Mahas Construction of Hughes General Contractor bid in the November 2020 elec- Salt Lake City as the contractor $18.3 million. tion. for Twenty Wells Elementary The project budget is for Also included in the bond School during the school $20 million, but that figure was $100 million for a new board’s meeting on Tuesday includes furniture, fixtures, high school in the Overlake night. equipment, utility fees, and area by the Home Depot store COURTESY TOOELE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Bud Mahas was both the architectural fees, which are Architectural rendering of Twenty Wells Elementary School. The school will follow the basic floor plan of most of lowest bidder as well as the not included in the bid for con- SEE SCHOOL PAGE A8 ® the elementary schools built by the school district recently.
    [Show full text]
  • June 2021 | Issue 37-6 MINNESOTA
    MINNESOTA WOMEN’S PRESS Reconstruction womenspress.com | June 2021 | Issue 37-6 MINNESOTA “[Is it] possible for a people to rule WOMEN’S PRESSPOWERFUL. EVERYDAY. WOMEN. themselves, justly and fairly, and as equals, through the exercise of judgment and care?” — Jill Lepore PHOTO SARAH WHITING SARAH PHOTO What’s inside? Editor’s Letter 3 A New Reconstruction Era Tapestry 4–5 Where Have You Found Community? Family 6–8 Revitalization, With Language and Child Care Transforming Justice 12–14 Conversation With Robin Wonsley Worlobah April Chouinard (l) and Ashley McCarthy, Page 18 Money & Business 15–17 Building a Better Twin Cities Contact Us MWP team Healing Trauma 18–19 Creating a Village 651-646-3968 Publisher/Editor: Mikki Morrissette Submit a story: [email protected] Managing Editor: Sarah Whiting Home 20–21 Finding Shelter Subscribe: womenspress.com/subscribe Business Strategy Director: Shelle Eddy Advertise: [email protected] Digital Development: Mikki Morrissette Greater Minnesota 22–23 Why I Am Reclaiming Community Donate: womenspress.com/donate Photography/Design: Sarah Whiting Health 26–27 Find a copy: womenspress.com/find-a-copy Associate Editor: Lydia Moran Measuring Racism Minnesota Women’s Press has been sharing the Advertising Sales: Shelle Eddy, Ashley Findlay, stories of women since 1985, as one of the longest Ryann Swimmer Policy & Politics 28–29 continuously published feminist platforms in the An Essential Ingredient for Rural Connection Financial Operations: Fariba Sanikhatam country. It is distributed free at 500+ locations. GoSeeDo 33 Our mission: Authentic community-based journalism This month’s writers: April Chouinard, Northern Spark, NAMI Hope for Recovery Grace Enfield, Elaine Evans, Elicia Kortus, Jenn that amplifies and inspires the stories, action steps, Lamb, Larissa Little, Ashley McCarthy, Stephany and leadership of powerful, everyday women (cis and In the News 35 Morgan, Sheila Regan, Ruvarashe Tsoka, Anne trans), nonbinary people, and trans men.
    [Show full text]
  • Performative Symbolic Resistance: Examining Symbolic Resistance Efforts of Black Professional Athletes Through a New Methodological Analytical Framework
    PERFORMATIVE SYMBOLIC RESISTANCE: EXAMINING SYMBOLIC RESISTANCE EFFORTS OF BLACK PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES THROUGH A NEW METHODOLOGICAL ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK by Alicia Hatcher July, 2021 Director of Dissertation: Michelle F. Eble, PhD Major Department: English This dissertation introduces the concept of Performative Symbolic Resistance ( PSR ) as a way to describe and analyze the individual acts and performed by activists in their efforts to bring awareness to and combat social injustices. I define Performative Sy mbolic Resistance ( PSR ) as the use of a specific nonverbal motion(s) or act(s) as a languaging strategy to symbolize protest against a socially constructed system of oppression. This project situates Performative Symbolic Resistance ( PSR ) as 1) a denotativ e term used to name the strategy(ies) social activists use as they seek acknowledgement of and redress for social ills, 2) an illustrative term used to describe a strategy social activists use as they seek acknowledgement of and redress for social ills, an d 3) an analytical tool that scholars of rhetoric and technical and professional communication ( TPC ) can use in their continued efforts to examine how performance, performativity, and symbolism are and can be used to engage in acts of resistance. It is based on the idea that an individual can use their physical body to perform resistance while simultaneously using specific spaces, and acts to 1) symbolize an idea or ideology and to 2) create or perpetuate a re sistant rhetoric. I offer it as a tool that can be used 1) to acknowledge and privilege rhetorical acts by groups of people who are discounted and even demonized, and 2) to further decolonize the rhetoric often used to describe the acts of protestors and a ctivists as they attempt to combat systemic and socially perpetuated oppressions .
    [Show full text]
  • 1413 Reflection on Insurrection (Police, White
    #1413 Reflec*on on Insurrec*on (Police, White Supremacy and their Champions) JAY TOMLINSON - HOST, BEST OF THE LEFT: [00:00:00] Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of the Le; podcast in which we shall learn about the insurrec>on and police violence through the lens of White supremacy and the rise of the likes of Tucker Carlson who has become the leading spokesman for laundering White supremacist talking points through a marginally respectable facade. Clips today are from All In with Chris Hayes, a progressive faith sermon from Dr. Roger Ray, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, The Thom Hartmann Program, The Medhi Hassan Show andThe Muckrake Poli>cal podcast. And stay tuned at the end of the show for a big announcement about our first ever live event that you will be able to join and par>cipate in for free from the comfort of your own home. That's coming up on May 10th, and there's a link to detail's in the show notes. You can register just to be reminded there, but again, it's free. And as I said, I'll tell you all about it at the end of the show. But for now, enjoy. Jan. 6 would have been a massacre if police had reacted like it were a BLM protest - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 4-14-21 CHRIS HAYES - HOST, ALL IN WITH CHRIS HAYES: [00:01:02] Today was a wrenching day in the Minneapolis area where the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin con>nued as his lawyers put forward their defense for the killing of George Floyd, all the while, in the streets, people are out mourning, angry, protes>ng, chan>ng, trauma>zed about the police shoo>ng and killing of Daunte Wright just a few miles away.
    [Show full text]
  • Jared Goyette, Craig Lassig, Michael Shum, Katie Nelson, Tannen Maury
    CASE 0:20-cv-01302-WMW-DTS Doc. 96 Filed 04/14/21 Page 1 of 21 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA Jared Goyette, Craig Lassig, Michael Court File No. 20-cv-01302 (WMW/DTS) Shum, Katie Nelson, Tannen Maury, and The Communications Workers of America, On behalf of themselves and other similarly situated individuals, Plaintiffs, v. City of Minneapolis; Minneapolis Chief of Police Medaria Arradondo in his individual and official capacity; Minneapolis Police Lieutenant Robert Kroll, in his individual and official capacity; Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington, in his individual and official capacity, Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matthew Langer, in his individual and official capacity; and John Does 1-4, in their individual and official capacities. Defendants. MEMORANDUM OF LAW IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST DEFENDANTS JOHN HARRINGTON, MATTHEW LANGER, AND JOHN DOE __________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Local, national, and international press have gathered in Brooklyn Center to report on the protests arising from the recent police killing of Daunte Wright. The Minnesota State Patrol has targeted these journalists with arrest, chemical weapons, “less-lethal” ballistics, and orders to “disperse” and cease reporting. This despite the fact that curfews imposed by Brooklyn Center and Hennepin County exempt journalists, and there is no evidence any journalists have been CASE 0:20-cv-01302-WMW-DTS Doc. 96 Filed 04/14/21 Page 2 of 21 involved in incitement or violence or have otherwise impeded the activities of law enforcement. If journalists are exempt from the curfew order, and are not impeding the function of law enforcement, there can be only one purpose for the actions of the State Patrol, and that is to stop journalists from reporting on the protests in violation of the First Amendment.
    [Show full text]
  • Chauvin Convicted of Murder
    P2JW111000-5-A00100-17FFFF5178F ***** WEDNESDAY,APRIL 21, 2021 ~VOL. CCLXXVII NO.92 WSJ.com HHHH $4.00 DJIA 33821.30 g 256.33 0.8% NASDAQ 13786.27 g 0.9% STOXX 600 433.80 g 1.9% 10-YR. TREAS. À 11/32 , yield 1.562% OIL $62.44 g $0.94 GOLD $1,777.30 À $7.90 EURO $1.2038 YEN 108.08 What’s Chauvin ConvictedofMurder News Ex-officer faces 40 Business&Finance years on top count in Floyd killing, a case anadian National Railway that incited unrest Cmade aroughly $30 bil- lion bid forKansas City South- BY JOE BARRETT ern, kicking off abidding AND JACOB GERSHMAN warfor arailroad operator that has already agreed to a MINNEAPOLIS—Derek sale to Canadian Pacific. A1 Chauvin wasconvicted of three counts, including murder Netflix said first-quarter charges, in the death of subscriber growth was George Floyd, aBlack man weaker than expected. The whose death last May while in firm’sshares were 8.4% lower policecustody wascaptured in after-hours trading. B1 on video that went viral and Boeing boardcast avote set off asummer of unrest of confidenceinCEO Calhoun over law enforcement’s treat- by extending his job forupto ment of people of color. five years. Boeing said CFO Thejury, whose members’ Smith will retireinJuly. B1 names haven’t been released, deliberated formorethan 10 Apple unveiled asubscrip- hoursovertwo days.Without tion podcast servicethat asking the judgeasingle ques- deepens itscompetition with tion, they filed back intothe Spotify, plus upgrades to Hennepin County Government itsiPadand iMac lines. B1 Center on Tuesdayafternoon to Foxconn is scaling back acourtroom under tight secu- plans for an LCD plant in rity and Covid-19 restrictions.
    [Show full text]
  • Hawk Students Walk out to Protest Area Killing
    The Class Minnesota of 2021 The Wild poised prepares its for deep run exit during during the challenging NHL post- times season Page 4 QuillMon., May 24, 2021 Vol. 57, No. 8 Page 9 Robbinsdale Cooper High School chs.rdale.org/the-quill 8230 47th Ave. N., New Hope, MN 55428 ALSO INSIDE The shooting of Daunte News HAWK STUDENTS WALK OUT Wright by Brooklyn Center police officer prompts pro- TO PROTEST AREA KILLING tests across the Twin Cities to take action. “Our school board-ad- opted equity policy states in part, ‘we commit to Seniors wrap up ensuring fairness, equity tasks to graduate and inclusion as essential principles of our district.’ I From finishing up their am proud that we celebrate credits to turning in our diversity, promote jus- their Chromebooks, tice and respect all people twelfth graders must and students. Our Unified complete many items District Vision empowers prior to commencement students to amplify their voice. We support the First Page 2 Amendment rights of stu- dents and their desire to peacefully demonstrate Graduation in their efforts to affect change,” Burrage said. In order to ensure dis- trict and building support for the walkout, student organizers worked with Cooper administrators on the protocols for the event. “The leadership from Seniors share our Student Council ap- their future plans proached me about having Photo by TARNUE DAVID a student walkout given the Whether it is joining the The protest, which took place April 19 at the Cooper stadium during seventh period, attracted hundreds of students. recent events and how it is military, attending col- affecting our community,” lege or taking a gap year, By SANDY VUE police brutality, and once it the Cooper stadium at 1:20 students the space to be Cooper Head Principal Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • April 2021: Onward. Always
    ONWARD. ALWAYS. Last week, a jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd—a verdict that offered a moment of accountability but from a system that can never deliver justice. As ACRE noted: “Abolition is the justice we deserve.” At around the time that the verdict was delivered, 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant had her life taken by police. In April alone, these agents of white supremacy also murdered Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, Trayvon Chadwell, Anthony Alvarez, Iremamber Sykap, and other individuals whose futures were stolen. There is no reforming this system. It costs us too much. And over and over again, it entrenches a broader value system borne from racial capitalism that puts property over people. In response to the police killing of Daunte Wright, President Joe Biden said that his death was “tragic” but that “there is absolutely no justication— none—for looting. No justication for violence.” Yet protestors and organizers who envision a world without racial violence and trauma are repeatedly confronted with state violence and trauma. As we grieve and rage, we must continue onward. Onward to defund, onward to investments in true public safety, onward to abolition, onward to our liberation. Black people and other communities of color depend on it. Support the work of organizers in Minnesota and elsewhere in building their team. Black Visions is a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence, and they’re hiring! https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/jobs Combating Corporate Concentration Monopoly power yet again dominates the US economy and has made our society unsafe for workers, consumers, and communities—leaving people of color most at risk of its harms.
    [Show full text]