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Inside this Edition... Read about The Sound of Gospel page 6.
Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence.
January 9 - 15, 2025
Vol. 91
No. 24
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
January 2025 King’s fight for justice is a universal struggle By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer n 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” a speech that condemned not just the Vietnam War but also the moral failings of a nation consumed by militarism, racism and materialism. His message challenged Americans to prioritize justice and King challenged Americans to speak out against universal injustice. humanity over profit and power. Getty Today, as Black Minnesotans
speak out about the ongoing violence in Gaza and the persistent killing of Black Americans by police, King’s words resonate with renewed urgency. Dr. King’s critique of the Vietnam War was rooted in his belief in the interconnectedness of struggles across borders and communities. “I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being subverted.” These ■ See MLK on page 5
City, DOJ agree to police reforms
when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. During Trump’s first term, he Minneapolis City his administration sought to Council voted unani- end DOJ investigations into mously on Jan. 6 to en- police violence cases across ter into a sweeping agreement the nation, including in Chicawith the U.S. go where an ofDepartment of ficer shot Laquan In the deal Justice to overMcDonald 16 struck, the MPD times while the haul longstandagrees to better teen walked ing racist polictrack and away from poing practices investigate police that culminated lice. The Chicago misconduct, rein in the murder of Police Departin the use of George Floyd. ment concluded force, and The deal’s final the incident improve officer terms, known as was a justifiable training. a consent decree, homicide; activresulted from ist demands for a DOJ investigation into the dash-cam footage, released a Minneapolis Police Depart- year later, led to a first-degree ment concluded in June 2023. murder conviction. Once approved by the court, Following November’s presidential election, the goal was the agreement is binding and to get the document filed in enforceable by law without federal court and signed off by the possibility of interference a judge no later than Jan. 20 by the DOJ or any other entity. By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor
Celebrating King’s legacy through service
King warned of a nation approaching “spiritual doom” if it continued to prioritize militarism and oppression over social uplift. Getty
Love First Executive Director Satara Strong-Allen. Love First focuses on building a schoolartin Luther King to-success pipeline by providJr. Day is the only ing educational programming, federal holiday des- resources, and mentorship for ignated as a national day of youth ages 16-24 to dismantle service. The reason is self-ev- barriers experienced by many ident: Service to others is the Minnesota youth. A few miles north in Wacomost important and profound way communities and individ- nia, an organization of educauals can honor his legacy. tors and community members The King Holiday and Ser- are volunteering their time vice Act, co-authored by Sen. to teach their communities’ Harris Wofford (D-Penn.) and youngest learners about the Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), was legacy of Dr. King. ROAR signed into law by President (Residents Organized Against Bill Clinton in 1994 and en- Racism) Waconia is hosting its courages all Americans to hon- annual MLK event featuring a Mayor Jacob Frey, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke or King through service and story walk and multiple educaof the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Police community engagement. This tional stations that give learnChief Brian O’Hara announce the agreement. Clint Combs year, organizations are serving ers an innovative look into the their communities through ed- activist and humanitarian’s life Council members spent struck, the MPD agreed to ucation, fellowship, and King’s — including lessons he learned along the way. most of Monday behind closed better track and investigate most important value, love. “The interactive stations de“Our goal is to not only doors reviewing the 171-page police misconduct, rein in the document before voting 12-0 use of force, and improve of- serve the community but cre- signed to show Martin Luther ate solutions with them and King in his many facets were to approve the agreement. ficer training. Councilmember Michael Ra“I gave very clear direction inspire them to create a bet- set for people to expand their ■ See LEGACY on page 5 inville was absent. In the deal ■ See DECREE on page 5 ter village for our youth,” says By Margaret Sullivan Contributing Writer
Racism in Minnesota
Cries for help are ‘coming from everywhere’ for help, and I want to make staying professional as she resure that we address these cords information, but admits, complaints,” James says. “Some of these calls and the Second of a two-part story On James’ desk are numer- things that you hear, it touchous brightly colored Post-It es my heart.” Pastor Richard Pittman Sr., f you call a Minnesota Notes derived from calls. She NAACP branch you will distributes the messages to current president of the St. probably speak with Pat- the appropriate NAACP chair Paul NAACP, wanted an ofrica James. Though she an- member. If your call is not fice presence, so besides answers the phone for the St. returned, “I will call them to swering calls, James accepts Paul branch, only about a third make sure that you are con- walk-in visits. Among the of the roughly 100 calls the of- nected, and you get heard.” many complaints she’s heard, Before James, Yusef Mgeni here are two examples from fice receives each month are and other St. Paul NAACP Mankato and Belle Plaine. from St. Paul residents. “It’s coming from every- members would answer voicewhere,” she says of the calls. mails. The concerns range from Racism in Mankato “Sioux Falls, Red Falls, Roch- complaints against law enRoger Wesley was a caller ester, Mankato, Duluth,” and forcement to child protection who moved from the Twin Citsome cities James has never services. Education concerns ies because there were few heard of. “I have a map where include K-12 and post-sec- job opportunities. He moved I mark it.” ondary systems. In health care, to Mankato, completed his She hears the caller’s relief “Black women working within GED, and found two jobs. “I that someone is listening, and health care, they are feeling was doing well for myself for a The Minnesota NAACP remains active responding to reports it’s not uncommon for callers discrimination,” says James. while,” he says. Drazen Zigic to cry. “People are crying out One day a few hours before of racism from across the state. She keeps her composure, By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer
he had to work, he went to the hospital because of pain from what he believed was a hernia. After a long wait, he received no treatment. “I got up and I just said, ‘Forget it,’” he says. “I raised hell a little bit, you know, I cussed and fussed a little bit.” He continued complaining to his wife while they were in the parking lot. A couple of days later he received a letter in the mail stating that he was charged with a terroristic threat. “I was disorderly because I was in excruciating pain,” he explains. “I couldn’t get medical assistance.” According to Sec. 609.713 Subd. 2, a person who makes a terroristic threat “communicates to another with purpose ■ See RACISM on page 5