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Counting down to our 90th Anniversary
May 23 - 29, 2024
Vol. 90
No. 43
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
H i s to r i
ca l Capsule
Majority of Minnesotans favor Fair Housing Editor’s Note: This Minnesota reported 64 percent of the H is torica l Capsul e Spokesman-Recorder article was state population now favors a published on March 24, 1961. It law to outlaw discrimination speaks to how long Fair Housing in housing in contrast to two has been a critical discussion in years ago when only 46 perthe state and that the Spokes- cent favored such a measure. man-Recorder has recorded the Legislators who claim to a C issue from the outthe al psule represent to r i c set. It also spoke to H is views and attithe power of the This newspaper tudes of their conPhotos by Chris Juhn era’s religious orgastituents should believes the nizations. take cognizance biggest factor of the fact that has been the the majority of our good mapopulation now jority of the decision of the feels that legislapeople of Minnefour principal sota are in favor e tion is necessary M S religious faiths p su l a half years, a powerful act of to the world as George Floyd dies that transcend grief and of fair housing leg- R H i s t o rical Ca to halt the present to back such remembrance takes place in Square. A makeshift group call for justice. islation. This fact restricted housing South Minneapolis at the in- of percussionists, known as This musical tribute has be- was revealed Sunopportunities of legislation. tersection of 38th Street and Brass Solidarity, gathers and come a steadfast ritual that day, March 19, in a the state’s racial Chicago Avenue, also known fills the somber air with melo■ See FLOYD on page 3 report by the Minand religious minesota Poll, the most norities. reliable barometer of public It is to the credit of the ■ See HISTORICAL on page 5 opinion in these parts. The Poll
George Floyd:
His death moved the world
But the community he died in is standing still By Al Brown Assignment Editor very Monday at 5:30 pm for the last two and
Former President Trump’s visit draws supporters, detractors By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor ormer President Donald Trump’s visit to Minnesota last Friday was met with supporters and protestors just outside of his appearance at this year’s annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner in St. Paul. Trump flew into the state just after attending his son Barron’s high school graduation in West Palm Beach, Fl. after he was granted the day off by the trial judge. During his appearance at the dinner, the former president stated that he could win Minnesota in November’s presidential election against President Biden, although he lost by seven points in 2020. “This November, the people of Minnesota are going to tell Crooked Joe Biden—right? ‘The Apprentice’? ’You’re fired!’” Trump said, a callback to his catchphrase on his television show. The last Republican to win Minnesota in a presidential election was Richard Nixon in 1972. Trump fared better against Hillary Clinton in 2016, coming within 1.5 percentage points of beating her.
Congressional showdown gets personal
By Stacy M. Brown
nighttime session of the House Oversight Committee intended to discuss a resolution recommending that Attorney General Merrick Garland be held in contempt of Congress descended into chaos amid personal attacks and partisan bickering. The rare evening session Demonstrators and Trump supporters gathered on Kellogg Street in front of the St. Paul Riv- took a contentious turn when erCentre during the former president’s appearance at a campaign stop. Photos by Chris Juhn MAGA Republican and fervent Donald Trump supporter Minnesota Abortion Action immigrants and Muslims as predatory crisis pregnancy cen- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Committee (MNAAC), Minne- unconscionable, but also criti- ters or anti-abortion centers Georgia, in a personal attack, that she described as preying responded to a question from sota Immigration Rights Action cized Democrats. “We’re here to say no to his on immigrant communities by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (DCommittee (MIRAC), and the Texas) with a remark about her Council of American Islamic Re- campaign in general,” she said. exploiting language barriers. Crull stated that the best appearance. “I think your fake lations Minnesota (CAIR-MN) “But we are also critical of the co-organized the demonstra- Democrats. We are here to say strategy for dismantling the eyelashes are messing up what tion outside the St. Paul River- no to any sort of genocidal par- systemic issues moving for- you’re reading,” Greene lashed Centre on Friday afternoon to ty, whether it be Republicans or ward would be to collaborate out, injecting a personal note Democrats, as far as the ongo- across issues between groups into the proceedings. denounce Trump’s presence. of people. Democrats immediately Olivia Crull is an organizer ing situation in Gaza.” “Building a movement that reacted negatively to the reCrull underlined the imwith MNAAC who served as a spokesperson for the demon- portance of advocacy groups has values that are aligned and mark, with Rep. Alexandria stration. She was also a mar- working together on intersec- solidarity interwoven across or- Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) leadshall, donning a reflective vest tional issues to solve complex ganizations is what we need to ing the charge. She demanded to help direct people in the issues. She referenced the time fight people like Donald Trump,” that the unhinged Greene area. Crull referred to Trump’s when MNAAC and MIRAC she said. “Because if we don’t retract her comments and ofpolicies regarding women, worked together to oppose ■ See TRUMP on page 5 fer Crockett an apology. “That
Jasmine Crockett, Rep-TX Courtesy of NNPA is absolutely unacceptable,” Ocasio-Cortez declared amid the crosstalk. “How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person?” Greene, undeterred, taunted Ocasio-Cortez, asking, “Are your feelings hurt?” OcasioCortez responded sharply, “Oh, girl? Baby girl, don’t even play.” Just minutes later, Greene, of all members, launched a personal attack on Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence, challenging her to ■ See SHOWDOWN on page 5
Kayaker Devin Brown to challenge the mighty Mississippi By Tony Kiene Staff Writer
a mark currently held by Traci the water. “I was working reLynn Martin at 55 days. tail in Manhattan,” she explains, And just like the river she “but I was depressed. So I deometime this Memorial is setting out to conquer, cided to quit my job.” Day weekend, Northside Brown’s path to this moment Brown returned to the resident Devin Brown has been long and winding. summer camp she attended will begin her journey from the A native of Glenridge, New during her teen years, this headwaters at Lake Itasca to Jersey, Brown first fell in love time on staff as an Adventure Mile Marker Zero in the Mis- with the natural world as a Trip Leader, where she helped sissippi River Delta, near the youth attending the Frost Val- to guide a new generation of point where the “Misi-ziibi” ley YMCA summer camp in campers on kayaking trips (meaning great river), as the the Catskill Mountains of New along the coast of Maine. “I felt completely grounded Ojibwe people called it, meets York State. the Gulf of Mexico. “We did a lot of hiking and on the water. I knew that I Brown is poised to make backpacking back then. And needed kayaking in my life,” history by becoming the first we splashed around in the lake says Brown. “Everything was Black woman to solo kayak a little bit. There was some beautiful. I was aware of my body, perfectly in tune with the entire length of the Missis- kayaking,” Brown reminisces. Yet it would still be a few my thoughts. I was able just to sippi River—2,340 miles—and she seeks to do it in record years before Brown discov- be myself.” When that summer was Devin Brown time for a female solo kayaker, ered her true calling was on
over, Brown refused to do anything else career-wise until she found something that “felt right.” That’s when she was reminded of a previous business trip she had taken to the Twin Cities, a trip that just happened to coincide with the Minneapolis Aquatennial. To say that she became enamored with the City of Lakes at that time would be quite an understatement. “It was incredible to me that someone could just walk from their home to Lake Harriet and kayak,” Brown affirms. “The Aquatennial fireworks show rivaled anything I’d seen in New ■ See BROWN on page 5 Photo by Sarah Whiting Photographic