Insight ::: 01.11.21

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Insight News

January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 2• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer

Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 as Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

Building locked down as lawmakers flee chambers By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Thousands of President Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as Vice President Mike Pence presided over the Electoral College vote. Carrying Trump banners and American flags and chanting “Stop the Steal,” the protesters blasted their way into the hallowed halls, breaking windows and shoving Capitol police aside as they sought to push the mob back by unleashing pepper spray. The protesters responded with force, successfully breached the building at several locations. Once the protesters were inside, security hustled Pence away and members of Congress barricaded themselves in various offices. Gunshots also rang out in the hallway near the chambers and more windows were shattered throughout the building. An unidentified woman inside was shot in the neck and later died. The National Guard

joined the Secret Service, FBI, Capitol Police and D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department at the scene. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, ordering all but essential workers off the streets. Nearby agencies from Virginia and Maryland were also called to assist in quelling the melee. Del. Jazz Lewis, senior adviser to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland), worked from home Wednesday and didn’t have to travel to the District. “Unfortunately, my colleagues are all barricaded in the office … for their safety,” said Lewis, who represents Prince George’s County’s 24th District. “I am texting back and forth with them to make sure they are fine. They are good. They are shaking up and scared. No one could have anticipated something like this.” Lewis said late Reps. John Lewis and Elijah Cummings “would be crying right now. This is absolutely ridiculous.” Although Lewis supports law enforcement in protecting the city and Capitol building, he said the protests

by Trump’s supporters reflect a double standard in America. “I do believe if this was Black Lives Matter, then people would have been harmed. It’s not fair,” he said. “We need to start taking these groups [like] The Proud Boys and these white supremacist groups and treating them like domestic terrorists. You have no idea how they could escalate a situation.” Meanwhile, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan posted a notice on Twitter and ordered the state police to assist the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Park Police to help with crowd control. “All Americans should be outraged by this attack on our nation’s Capitol,” Hogan said. “This is a heinous and violent assault on the heart of our democracy. I will not stand for this and neither should any American.” Prince George’s County police also sent officers on standby to assist D.C. police, said media relations officer Antonia Washington. “If activated by MPD, we will aid in securing the area for which we were called to assist,” she said. The protesters were heard frequently chanting, “We took the Capitol.”

Photos and videos of the surreal takeover flooded the internet. A bloodied and critically injured woman was wheeled out of the building, SWAT officers with automatic weapons traversed the halls and authorities reportedly discovered a bomb. While Trump continued to tweet, Presidentelect Joe Biden took to television and addressed the nation, condemning the violence and urging Trump to “act like a man.” “At this hour our democracy is under unprecedented assault unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times,” Biden said, adding that what unfolded was, “an assault on the rule of law like few times we have ever seen it.” The Democrat added that the uprising was tantamount to sedition. “The scenes of chaos at the capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are,” Biden demanded. “I call on this mob to pull back and allow democracy to go forward,” Biden said. “At their best, the words of a president can inspire; at their worst, they can incite.” He then called on Trump to “go on national

television now” to “demand an end to this siege.” The president later released a video asking protesters to go home, but still tossed gasoline into the fire. “I know how you feel, the election was stolen,” Trump said in the video. His predecessor, Barack Obama, condemned the unrest and excoriated Trump and the Congress members who perpetuated the claims of election fraud. “History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation,” Obama said in an issued stated. “But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise. “Right now, Republican leaders have a choice made clear in the desecrated chambers of democracy,” he said. “They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires. Or they can choose reality and take the first steps toward extinguishing the flames. They can choose America.” The later it became, the more protesters appeared to arrive.

One estimate placed the crowd at about 10,000, while others estimated anywhere between 5,000 and 20,000. Even after police convinced some of the Trump loyalists to leave the Capitol, a large remnant of the crowd remained hours after the rally, prompting leaders from both sides of the aisle to describe the rioting as an unprecedented attack against American democracy. “Today’s violence will never change the results of the presidential election, lead to a second term for President Donald Trump, or interfere with the transfer of power to the Biden administration,” officials at the National Task Force on Election Crises wrote in a statement late Wednesday. “Protest is a fundamental right, violence and mob activity is not — particularly when the goal is to hinder the working of our democratic institutions.” The situation unfolded during what historically had been a peaceful transfer of power in which the Electoral College votes are certified in a

TRUMP SUPPORTER

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Resolve, Resilience, Hope & Healing Culture and Education Editor

By Irma McClaurin, PhD “America, do not despair at the rising tide of elitism, incivility, racial, national and religious intolerance, and good oldfashioned racism and white supremacist thinking that has taken hold of our country at this political moment. We’ve endured worse and still we rose. America, do not despair, because for my 2017 New Year’s Resolution, I resolve, and ask every person reading this to do the same, to be filled with Hope and Optimism and the certainty that we will, through the Power of the People, forge a better, civil and more inclusive America for ALL of us in the present and in the future. Happy New Years. 1/2/2017 (http:// irmamcclaurin.com/2020remix-do-not-despair-america2017-new-years-resolution/ )

amny.com

President elect, Joe Biden and Vice President elect, Kamala Harris

Four years ago, to the day (January 2, 2017), I wrote the above resolute words. Now, as we face a pandemic death surge that shows no signs of abating and a faltering economy, a sitting sociopath President, and better than ever profits for Big Business in the midst of economic turmoil for the average citizen, now more than ever, I must reiterate that this new year of 2021 cannot be a time for despair. America dodged a bullet when its citizen of all political persuasions voted with undeniable resolve to change this country’s leadership. American dodged a race war when the majority of voting citizens, representing the broadest political spectrum, and invigorated by the political leadership of Black women, chose to disentangle themselves from the narcissistic, revengeful, hate-filled and hateful vision of Donald Trump. He does not get a second term to further dismantle the pillars of democracy, imperfect though they are. Yet, in this transition period, Trump

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Insight News • January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 2• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Governor Walz loosens restrictions as he urges citizens to “protect” progress during pandemic

photo/Sarah Danik via Twitter

MPD Released the following statement with the video: “In continued efforts to increase trust with our community, Chief Arradondo has made the unprecedented decision to release officer body worn camera video within 24 hours of this incident. This was done to further aid efforts in understanding and fostering transparency.”

Dolal Idd identified as person killed during traffic stop

Body Cam footage of MPD-involved shooting released Somali-American Dolal Idd, 23, was identified by his family as the victim in the Dec 30th officer-involved shooting. At approximately 6:15 pm CST on December 30th, the Minneapolis Police Department arrived at the Holiday Gas Station near 36th Ave and Cedar Ave. S. following what officers reported as a felony suspect traffic stop. Officers said Idd was the first shooter, and they returned gunfire, killing Idd at the scene. Idd was accompanied by a female passenger who reported no injuries. The officers involved in the incident also reported no injuries. The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident and Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is asking that protestors remain peaceful. Last night, hundreds of peaceful protestors gathered at the scene, just blocks away

from where George Floyd was killed months prior. Protestors gathered to mourn another life taken by law enforcement and chanted with demands for accountability by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Arradondo and the Police Union. The distrust between law enforcement, political leadership, and community residents continues to widen as the deceased’s family alleges that their son was mischaracterized by law enforcement. Idd’s father believes his son was shot and killed while sitting in his car and doesn’t think he initiated gunfire. During a press interview, Arradondo declined to comment about Idd’s background. “I know our communities have been very sensitive about law enforcement coming out and characterizing someone before we have that

information, so I want to be respectful,” he said. Idd’s father also claims that the police mishandled their family during an overnight warrant search of their home, putting grieving family members in handcuffs while the officers searched their home. Police spokesman John Elder reported that Idd fired his gun at law enforcement first, but declined to confirm that a firearm was recovered at the crime scene. Elder also declined to verify if there was a felony warrant for the deceased. Officers Darcy Klund, Paul Huynh, and Jason Schmidt were involved with the shooting and traffic stop, and their bodycam footage has now been released. Go here to view the body cam footage: http://www2. minneapolismn.gov/police/ records/frequent

Melvin Carter

By Irma McClaurin, PhD By Irma McClaurin, PhD https://corporate. target.com/article/2020/09/lakestreet-letter

Andrea Jenkins

Commentary by Dr. By Aarohi Narain By Mecca Dana Dan Randall Alexa Harry Maya Holly Starks Colbert, Beecham Spencer, Bos Bradley Jr. Josie Johnson By Global Latisha Information Townsend Contributing Architect Howard Mayo Urban Managing Clinic News University Editor Staff Service Writer Contributing Network (GIN)Writer News Service harry@insightnews.com

Please note that the footage is graphic and should not be viewed by children. MPD Released the following statement with the video: “In continued efforts to increase trust with our community, Chief Arradondo has made the unprecedented decision to release officer body worn camera video within 24 hours of this incident. This was done to further aid efforts in understanding and fostering transparency.” Bodycam footage was released underneath Minnesota State Statute 13.82 Subd. 15, but the incident remains an active investigation. MPD reports that additional footage is not available to the public. This story is developing.

Democrats to control House and Senate

Warnock, Ossoff win in Georgia By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia The racial awakening in the United States last year after the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd may have propelled a sweep for Democrats in the January 5, 2021 Georgia Senate runoffs, paving the way for Presidentelect Joe Biden to push his legislative agenda without fear of obstruction. With about 3,000 absentee votes remaining outstanding from Chatham County as of early Wednesday morning, unofficial tallies indicate that both Democrats, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, have defeated Republican incumbents Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. If the unofficial results hold, Warnock will go to Washington as the first Black Democratic senator from the South and Georgia’s first African American senator. Ossoff will also make history, arriving on Capitol Hill as the first Jewish senator from the Peach State. With 98 percent of the results reported, Warnock

defeated his opponent, 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent while Ossoff turned back Perdue 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent, according to CNN projections. The razor-thin margins of victory by both Democrats would be summarized by veteran Black journalist Roland Martin who has been reporting from Atlanta for the past month and posting to his podcast, “Roland Martin Unfiltered.” “We say it like it’s just a passing thought but it’s true, ‘every vote counts,’” he said as Warnock’s victory appeared imminent. The projected wins also sent a resounding message from Georgia to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky): “You’re fired!” The victories mean that McConnell and the Republicans no longer control the Senate. It also puts an end to McConnell’s moniker as “The Grim Reaper” – a title indicating his propensity for ensuring that vital legislation passed by the House would routinely die in his “graveyard.” “Because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator,” Warnock said, a reference to his

As the COVID-19 situation improves by nearly every metric across Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz announced measures that loosen restrictions on important parts of daily life. The Governor also urged Minnesotans to protect the progress made over the past month. “The situation in Minnesota is undeniably better than it was last month,” Governor Walz said. “We have reasons to be optimistic, and Minnesotans’ sacrifice and commitment to their communities helped change the pandemic’s trajectory and saved lives. But we need to protect the progress we’ve made.” The announcement comes as tens of thousands of Minnesotans have received their first dose of the vaccine, COVID-19 cases are down, hospital bed use is declining, and kids are heading back to the classroom. “As we cautiously adjust the dials to help Minnesotans return to important elements of their daily lives, we continue to monitor where we stand,” Governor Walz continued. “Two months ago the pandemic quickly snowballed from manageable to out-ofcontrol. For our students, our small businesses, and public health, we cannot allow that to happen again.” Starting January 11: Indoor dining at bars and restaurants can open at 50 percent capacity, with a maximum of 150 people. Parties

Reverend Raphael Warnock mother made during a victory speech early Wednesday. “I stand before you as a man who knows that the improbable journey that led me to this place in this historic moment in America could only happen here,” he added. “What happened last night was stunning,” Warnock said in his first interview on Wednesday with CNN. Warnock said he plans to return to his pulpit on Sunday morning. “It’s the people who teach you how to be an effective pastor… and an effective senator,” he said. “I don’t plan to become a politician.” He also said that he’s proud of the people of the Georgia and his colleague

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Plenty for MN lawmakers to do in 2021, with pandemic response still a top priority

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Ossoff who was mentored by the late Rep. John Lewis. The election, which shifted in favor of Democrats after votes were counted late Tuesday from heavily Blackpopulated DeKalb County, proved karma symbolic for some. Following a neardecade war against the Voting Rights Act and the undisputable suppression of hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of African American Democratic votes, Republicans lost the White House and the Senate, in large part, because traditional red states like Georgia flipped. Democrats also count as the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Representative Rena Moran (DFL) District 65A

Moran: COVID-19 Illuminates disparities, disadvantages By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist

NNPA

of no more than six people must remain six feet from other parties; bar seating is open to parties of two; reservations are required; and establishments must close dine-in service by 10 p.m. Gym capacity remains capped at 25 percent but maximum capacity increases to 150 and classes can increase to 25 people, assuming distancing can be observed. Machines and people must maintain 9 feet of distance. Face coverings are required. Outdoor events and entertainment continue at 25 percent capacity, but maximum capacity increases to 250 people. Social distancing is required. Indoor events and entertainment – like bowling alleys, movie theaters, and museums – may open at 25 percent, with no more than 150 people in each area of the venue. Face coverings are required, and they may not offer food service after 10 p.m.

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. Albert Einstein When Rena Moran walked through the halls of the State Capital Building in 2000, she reflected on scant years earlier having moved from Chicago to Twin Cities with six children, no job, and living in a homeless shelter. She does not shy away from the reality of her journey. Representative Moran is the great-great granddaughter of slaves. Her ancestors, her family, and she must be mighty proud of how far she has come, and how so many in her community have been positively affected by her dedication for change in social justice and racial equality, but more importantly her commitment to help combat the relentless viral enemy killing people by the thousands every day. Rena Moran has been where a lot of her constituents

are today. These are difficult times with overwhelming predicaments where there seems to be little hope in sight. The confluence of results from ignoring and neglecting . . . of the arrogance and disdain of white privilege and power . . . has to be addressed if the Twin Cities . . . if the country . . . is to recover and thrive in a “new normal” and in the new year, Moran says. We should realize by now that we cannot go back. When she walks through the halls of the Capital of Minnesota today, the stunning mother of 7 and grandmother of 8 is greeted as Representative Rena Moran (for a 6th term) by most. She is a powerful voice speaking truth because trusted data cannot lie. The stark disparities impacting African Americans are quite clear . . . not just in COVID19 cases and deaths, but in the huge white-Black gaps in academics, housing, wealth, and opportunities. The headlines read: “Minnesota House passes Rep. Rena Moran’s ‘Crown Act’ prohibiting discrimination

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Advisory group working on phased approach for COVID-19 vaccines in Minnesota

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Page 4 • January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021 • Insight News

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Entrepreneur Audra Robinson inspiring young girls with self-care bath and beauty line This is Kennedy and Keani with, “Black Girl Interviews.” We are taking time to meet with Black entrepreneurs to hear more about what it is they do or create. Recently we met with a local Minnesota-based entrepreneur, Audra Robinson who created her own line of self care items with her animated character “Rocky Robinson.” She has body wash, lotion, lip balm, and hand sanitizer. Rocky Robinson is a fun character, and the best part is she looks like us! Rocky Robinson has textured hair, brown skin, and Black features.

It is hard to find products that are branded for young, Black girls. When we found Rocky Robinson we were so excited. This was fun for us, and wanted to buy the products. When we met with Audra she explained that she always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur since she was young. Even though her path took her to corporate America, she never lost site of her dream to create her own product. She taught us that even though we may have something in mind, your product can change and evolve. It was very fun to talk

photo/itsmerocky.com

Audra, founder of Rocky Robinson, was born a dreamer, and it was her imagination, creativity and vision that brought Rocky to life.

photo/R. Rabb

Kennedy and her older sister Keani

to Audra Robinson, and it was a

good example for us to learn that people can do anything they put their minds to. We really liked that there is an option with her product to do a product purchase as a donation. You can buy a self-care set that can be donated to a girl on the buyer’s behalf. This is a great way to support a Black-owned business, and contribute to a young person who can benefit from the product. Meeting with Audra Robinson was so important for us as young Black girls. She reminded us we can do anything

we put our mind to, and it is important to not get discouraged when we hit road blocks. There is always a way that you can make your dream come to life. Check out her products on www.itsmerocky.com or on Instagram @youresocuterocky. Keani is an honor roll student who loves basketball, traveling, and writing. Her favorite places to visit are HBCU’s!! Kennedy loves reading, writing, and swimming. School is her favorite place to be and loves to learn.

Plenty for MN lawmakers to do in 2021, with pandemic response still a top priority By Mike Cook, Minnesota Session Daily With a looming state budget deficit and increased wants from many, the 2021 legislative session won’t be easy. Coronavirus isn’t helping either — both with dollars and operations. But the work must be done. “We need to have a strong pandemic response and we need to have a very strong economic security approach to providing the basics in families’ financial lives in Minnesota coming out of this pandemic,” said House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley). House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) agrees Minnesota’s pandemic response and economic recovery are amongst key issues legislators must address. “I’d like to see the Legislature rise to the level of performance that this pandemic and the response to this pandemic call for, and really match the governor and show him that we’re here, we’re ready to lead, we’ve got the right ideas to get Minnesota through this,” he said. The state’s fiscal year ends on June 30, meaning a balanced budget must

Trump Supporter From 1 joint session of Congress. However, just before the joint session, Trump led a rally nearby speaking for well over an hour. At its conclusion, he urged his supporters to express their discontent at the Capitol.

be completed to maintain operations. Unlike what politicians in our nation’s capital are wont to do, the state cannot simply add to its credit card debt. Released Dec. 1, the state’s latest budget and economic forecast shows a projected $641 million surplus for the current biennium that ends June 30, 2021. However, a $1.27 billion budget shortfall is forecast for the ensuing two fiscal years. So how will the DFL-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate craft a nearly $50 billion state budget for that two-year period, while also rectifying the projected budget deficit? That should be the crux of the 2021 legislative session. Leaders say everything is on the table. Spending cuts? Tax increases? Fund shifting? Delayed school payments? Use state reserves? Winkler said more federal stimulus dollars could “dramatically” affect such decisions. “It’s too early to decide we’re ready for a certain set of cuts, a certain set of tax increases or a certain set of budget shifts. All of that is still way up in the air,” he said. “I will say that our caucus is absolutely committed to providing high-quality public services for Minnesotans. We

have the resources in Minnesota to do it, and we can’t afford to cut back on education or health access or child care access or all of the things that Minnesota families depend on and use to create more opportunities, more economic growth, more security for their family and communities.” “Raising taxes in an economic recovery will simply turn us around backwards and set us back and cause more harm to our economy, more job losses,” Daudt said. Status quo spending could be victory for many entities for whom the state’s checkbook funds some — or much — of their activity. “People should be measured with their expectations of what can and will happen,” Daudt said. Will those decisions be made by May 17, the constitutionally mandated date for adjournment? In four of the last five budget-setting years, a special session was required to complete the passage of budget bills. Members took part in seven special sessions in 2020; however, that was mainly due to the governor expanding his executive orders to battle COVID-19.

Rudy Giuliani, the president’s lawyer, called for “a trial by combat” against lawmakers who were certifying the Electoral College votes. “I could never have imagined a day like this,” said Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff for President Barack Obama and one-time mayor of Chicago. “Never could you have imagined seeing the security of the U.S. Congress

not only being breached but the lives of members of Congress being threatened like this,” Emanuel remarked during a live interview on ABC News. After watching African Americans protest the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and scores of others, many Black communities called law enforcement’s initial response tepid at best. “So, imagine Black folk was in this mix,” Public Enemy frontman Chuck D remarked. The “Don’t Believe the Hype” superstar then posted a video of the Capitol’s unrest. He questioned:

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Mixed government continues The DFL continues to control the House, although

Resolve From 1

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is doing all he can to leave the proverbial Rome (e.g., the Presidential apparatus of federal agencies) in ruin. He is pardoning his political cronies on an unprecedented scale. And no Republican will speak up and speak out about the damaging he is doing. Donald Trump is not just a sore loser, he is that bully who disrupts the game, then runs off with the ball and the trophy that he is convinced (in his personal paranoia delusions) should have been his. This new year of 2021 cannot be an ordinary year in which we rest on the laurels of having made the correct political decision to overturn the current presidential lunacy and voted in President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. We see them as America’s Obi-Wan Kenobi’s and expect great things; they are our only hope at a time when it might seem easier to give into despair. While this BidenHarris duo will do their best to return this country to some semblance of normalcy— whatever that means in a world racked with a pandemic and an immeasurable and unprecedented death toll— we all must recognize that this country in the throes of a scorched earth campaign by a very sore loser, President Donald Trump. Donald Trump has used the American presidency as his personal and private slush

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By ByLee Harry H. Jordan Colbert, Jr. Minneapolis Juneteenth Managing Editor Committee - 2018 harry@insightnews.com National Juneteenth Film & Bicycling Commissions

results of the November election tightened the gap from 75-59 to 70-64. Meanwhile, the Senate continues to be controlled by Republicans, 34-31-2. Sen. Tom Bakk (I-Cook) and Sen. David Tomassoni (I-Chisholm) have left the blue side of the aisle to form an independent caucus. Members finish a roll-call vote during the seventh special session of the year Dec. 14. Most representatives participated remotely. Photo by Paul Battaglia Twenty-one House members will be freshmen, with a dozen of those being DFLers. In addition to nine first-term Republicans, Rep. Matt Bliss (R-Pennington) and Rep. Keith Franke (R-St. Paul Park) also return after winning back seats both lost in 2018. November’s election featured partisan rancor that showcased a political divide across the state and country with accusations aplenty that each side has moved further from the center of the political spectrum. In 2021, can Minnesota legislators on each side prove bipartisanship is possible? They have many opportunities. In addition to the budget, myriad issues could come into play, including: further helping small-business owners financially hurting from COVID-19, stripping the governor’s executive powers,

election updates, additional law enforcement changes, race relations, climate change, school funding and tax adjustments for the state’s poorest and wealthiest residents. Redistricting is also up for discussion. Based on the new census numbers, the once-a-decade activity involves redrawing legislative and congressional boundaries to create districts that are nearly equal by population. This is expected to create larger geographic districts outside — and small geographic ones within — the population-heavy Twin Cities metropolitan area. In recent decades, the Legislature has failed to reach agreement, and a bipartisan panel within the court system has completed the task.

“Would they drop a bomb on ’em like Wilson Goode did?” “As a part of both Million Man Marches in D.C., we aired differences to the world knowing that we were watched,” Chuck D continued. “A brother didn’t even take a piss on a tree. Yet, all the Nation of Islam and Minister Louis Farrakhan have gotten was grief and misinformation from many factions here in the U.S.A.,” he said. Tracy Fredericks, one of Chuck’s followers, noted: “We [Black people] would never have made it inside the Capitol Building.” Morgan Cherry, a

District-based political activist, agreed. “These Trump supporters, who are about 99.9 percent white, have gone where no Black demonstrators could have gone – and ambushed the Capitol Building,” Cherry said. Dr. Ebony Hilton, a prolific physician at the University of Virginia, asked why there had been no arrests. “Where are the handcuffs? Where are the arrests? Where is the tear gas?” Dr. Hilton demanded. “Did we use up all of the rubber bullets at the peaceful Black Lives Matter rallies because our Capitol Building is under siege? When

are law and order going to show up?” Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) called on officials to bring in the National Guard to secure the Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi eventually did just that. “I’ve never seen anyone be able to breach the Capitol like this,” Bass said. “The president of the United States incited this riot and someone needs to go over to Pennsylvania Avenue and arrest him.” Staff writers William J. Ford and Dorothy Rowley contributed to this story.

fund and rewards grab bag. He has positioned his children such that these no-nothing spoiled brats might have political careers—I pray not—beyond his presidency. He has imbued them with political capital of the magnitude that no previous president has ever attempted. He has weakened the operations of the federal government by firing anyone who disagreed with maniacal decisionmaking, and placing the threat of losing their pension in the minds of 160,000 people who are career civil servants. Many government employees have had to go along to get along. The characteristics described above—the threat of losing a job, inability to disagree with the person who has power, and revengeful behavior, are all the signs that define an abusive relationship. America has been in an abusive relationship with Donald Trump for four years! There is no other way to describe it. He has emotionally belittled this country and manipulated its resources and power such that only those whom he anoints or chooses come out on top.

To heal from abuse, first America must acknowledge that what occurred was real. We must also be wary of Trump’s co-conspirators—the MAGA segment of our society who will remain in perpetual denial that he did anything wrong. The reason is clear: for Trump’s MAGA supporters to admit that they embraced an abusive leader would pitch them in a moral crisis that they are unwilling to face—like the Germans and others who are Holocaust deniers, insisting that the documented atrocities are fabrications. They will deny, deny, deny that Trump did any damage at all. But the proof is visible to anyone who is interested in the truth and facts. Second, we as a country must launch a campaign of healing like nothing ever ventured. We must not erase the history, but make the events that led to Minneapolis Burning (and all the other examples of policesanctioned violence against Black people) visible—so that we never forget. We can take a lesson from Germany where the total history is taught. As Lizzie Widdicombe discussed in her article, “What Can We Learn From the Germans About Confronting Our History?”, whatever we do should be, like the Germans, “deeply informed” by our history. We must engage in acts of Vergangenheitsaufarbeitung (working off the past). She also notes that “…the country pauses to perform… ‘public rites of repentance.” (https:// www.newyorker.com/culture/ cultural-comment/what-canwe-learn-from-the-germans-

about-confronting-our-history )

Let

the Healing Begin But the domination, the denigration, and the intentional racial pitting of one group against another has come to an end; but let us be very conscious that the aftermath of Trump’s narcissistic and power-driven leadership will reverberate long after the man’s departure. This country is emotionally broken. We must rebuild the spiritual esteem of democracy.

Openness and transparency Although vaccines have begun to be administered in Minnesota, the continuing battle against COVID-19 is altering House and Senate operations. In an era where Zoomtype meetings have replaced much physical interaction, House hearing rooms are expected to remain dark with members meeting remotely through the 2021 session. The Senate plans for a more hybrid model. “We’ve been operating this way, remotely for eight or nine months. I

photo/Andrew VonBank

Travis Roline, administrative assistant for the Chief Clerk’s Office, adjusts nameplates on the House voting board Dec. 29 in preparation for the start of the 2021 legislative session. think we have figured out how to handle committee hearings, how to handle floor sessions, how to make sure we’re giving the public notice and provide an opportunity for input,” Winkler said. “… We may make mistakes along the way in a virtual, pandemic environment and we want to hear from people if they feel like we need to do a better job or be more open or be more transparent in some ways. We really want feedback on that.” To help with access, the House has expanded the number of simultaneous committees or divisions it can webcast live from a maximum of two to five. “I’m hoping the last month we can actually be here in person, but I think that might be a little optimistic,” Daudt said.

Owning Our Stuff—the Past America must embark on a similar path of dealing with our past and recognizing the resurgence of racism and white supremacy activities in our present. We must fashion and teach to the children radical American history that tells the entire truth--the good, the bad, the ugly, the contradictions, the resistance, and the resilience. Both slavery and slave resistance must be taught. Both police killings of unarmed Black people using the lame excuse, “I feared for my life,” and the protests and civil unrests of 1919, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the urban disruptions in 1960 and 70s, and most recent #BlackLivesMatter social justice challenges in the streets of Minneapolis and Rochester (as well as other cities and other countries) in 2020 must be taught. If we are to heal as a country, there is no room for partial histories. So, I do not side with anyone who seeks to remove information from textbooks or school curriculum—acts of violence and repression must be discussed and analyzed, not buried or erased. We need to know how the Daughters of the American Revolution launched one of the best PR campaigns in America’s history with their array of Confederate statutes that turned the Southern states’ defeat into hero worship with

RESOLVE 5


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Insight News • January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021 • Page 5

Best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey has died

Resolve

Eric Jerome Dickey, 59, has died. The best-selling and awardwinning author of 29 novels and other creative projects passed away on Sunday, January 3 in Los Angeles. Dickey’s books have sold more than 7 million copies worldwide. According to Memphis’ Commercial Appeal, the author’s 1996 debut as a novelist, “Sister, Sister,” was named one of the ‘50 Most Impactful Black Books of the Last 50 Years’ by Essence magazine, and USA TODAY included him on its list of ‘100 Black Novelists and Fiction Writers You Should Read.’” Born and raised in

From 4

Walz From 3 Youth and adult organized sports have resumed practice as of January 4 and games resume January 14 with spectators, following the appropriate capacity limits for indoor or outdoor venues. Interregion tournaments and out of state play are discouraged. Pools opened on January 4 for some activity and may now open, like gyms, at 25 percent capacity. Wedding receptions and other private parties may resume with limits. If food and drink are served at the event, then they are limited to two households or 10 people indoors and 3 households or 15 people outdoors. If there is no food or drink, they are covered by event venue guidelines. Any related ceremony – like a wedding or funeral ceremony – is guided by rules for ceremonies and places of worship. Places of worship remain open at 50% capacity but without an overall maximum capacity.

Warnock From 3 Warnock, 50, the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached and served as pastor, will serve for a two-year term in a seat which became vacant after former GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson retired early. Ossoff, 33, who owns a production company that makes documentaries, ended the hopes of the 77-year-old Perdue for a second six-year term. Both elections required runoffs after no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in November’s general election. More than three million Georgia residents flocked to the polls before Tuesday’s runoffs, contributing to an historic voter turnout for a runoff election. Each of the four candidates received more than two million votes in the tight contests. The election came as Trump continued to ramp up unsubstantiated claims of

Moran From 3 based on hairstyle.” Seems kind of strange that it would take the passage of an Act for a person of a different ethnicity to be who they were born to be. While the state’s Human Rights Act already prohibited discrimination based on race, discrimination of someone wearing their hair in a culturally appropriate manner like braids, dreadlocks, or twists - the CROWN ACT (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) would extend this protection to many areas of law covered by the MN Human Rights Act including public services and accommodations, education, housing, and employment. “The CROWN Act will empower future generations to not be ashamed of how their hair looks or worry about what people in powerful positions might think of it, but instead give our youth the opportunity to fully embrace their heritage. All Minnesotans should be proud of their heritage which is reflected in their natural hairstyles, Representative Moran continues. No one should be forced to change their natural hair just to conform to antiquated norms and standards or unjust policies at school or work.” The issue of Black hair (which most whites will never fully understand) gained increased attention when film director and father, Matthew Cherry accepted an Oscar for

photo/wikipedia

Author Eric Jerome Dickey, 59, had been battling cancer for years.

Memphis TN, Dickey moved to Los Angeles to begin a career as a software developer, but took a detour into the entertainment field as a standup comedian, and ultimately as a writer. His novels opened the door for a developing urban fiction genre, where characters were everything from criminals to hardworking men and women - everyday people his fans could relate to. All but the first two made the New York Times list. Dickey was a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Kappa Eta Chapter. Services will be private due to the coronavirus.

As some restrictions loosen, Minnesota faces challenges to protecting the recent progress made. Some other states are seeing the virus surge. Public health experts, including Dr. Fauci, are warning of the potential for a postholiday wave of cases. Concern remains about the emergence of a new, more contagious coronavirus variant spreading around the world. As the weather gets colder and Minnesotans move indoors, gatherings occur more often in settings that allow the virus to spread more easily. “Minnesotans have worked hard and done their part to get us back from the edge of the cliff, and now they can help keep things on the right track,” Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. Last month Governor Walz announced that every elementary school may return to in-person learning, recognizing that kids being in school is an important public health priority. The state has learned more about how to reduce the potential for

spread in schools from success in other settings, and with additional mitigation strategies, giving the youngest learners the chance to be in person helps our kids get the high-quality education they need and helps bring relief to many families. Elementary schools may begin in-person learning on January 18. Also last month, Governor Walz also signed into law $216 million in direct support for small businesses and workers affected by the pandemic, which has provided targeted aid to keep small businesses afloat, extended unemployment benefits for workers struggling to get by, and helped families put food on the table. Executive Order 2101 will have the full force and effect of law upon the approval of the Executive Council, which is made up of Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Secretary of State Steve Simon, and State Auditor Julie Blaha. More information on these restrictions and the state response is available at staysafe. mn.org.

election fraud in the state. In Fulton County, election workers reportedly faced death threats and racial slurs. County Director of Elections Richard Barron said an unidentified man made a bomb threat against the county, prompting a visit to the individual’s home by the FBI. “The person said that the Nashville bombing was a practice run for what we would see today at one of our polling places,” Barron said. “Several” county staffers also received death threats, Barron said. “And we have had innumerable racial slurs thrown at our staff, mostly via phone but some on social media as well, and that’s been a really disappointing – just disconcerting turn of events,” he said. Barron added that the President’s claims of voter fraud have not helped. Late Tuesday night, Twitter flagged a post by the President as a “disinformation alert.” In the tweet in which Twitter administrators inserted a strike-through line and stamped

as disinformation, Trump wrote, “Looks like they are setting up a big ‘voter dump’ against the Republican candidates. Waiting to see how many votes they need.” The President posted the tweet as votes in heavily populated African American locations like DeKalb County were being tabulated and reported. “When I moved to Georgia 19 years ago, Roy Barnes, the last Democratic governor, was about to be tossed out for opposing the Confederate flag,” tweeted Jelani Cobb, a staff writer with The New Yorker and a professor at Columbia University. “The fact that the state is now close to being represented by a Black man and a Jew in the U.S. Senate is stunning.” Warnock, during his CNN interview on Wednesday morning, when asked about the improbability of his victory, ended his remarks with the following: “In America, anything is possible.” Washington Informer Editor D. Kevin McNeir contributed to this report.

his 7-minute animated short film that centers around the relationship between a father, his daughter, and her hair. Cherry stated that the story was born out of seeing a lack of representation in mainstream animated projects. He also wanted to promote ‘hair love’ among young women and men of color.

the world witnessed the street execution of George Floyd. The distrust of Black communities towards the medical community and government in general which might not be the wisest choice to make with COVID19 cases in all age categories spiraling upward as a result of defiant holiday travel. Many government, community, and

Together we’re stronger! By bringing all voices to the table, we can build a progressive, inclusive vision that makes our state and community work better for everyone. Together, we’ve been able to advance some significant initiatives to strengthen education opportunities, make health care more affordable and accessible, protect workers, reform criminaljustice, strengthen economic security, and more. RM To understand the depth of this racist and vile disdain among Proud Boys and Charlottesville torch barriers supporters, it was reported that during a committee hearing about this legislation earlier in the session, Human Rights Commissioner, Rebecca Lucero noted an instance of an employer changing their hair policy and subsequently firing several workers who didn’t comply. A settlement which resulted in the workers regaining their jobs was later reached. Rena Moran will attest to what we all know and acknowledge. There are difficult challenges that lie ahead. A callous attitude and decades of long denial as to why

business leaders might choose to be role models by taking the vaccine when it does arrive . . . that is, after conducting their own research and study of the most recent findings of the CDC and the incoming administration. Many students of color still have no access to the internet, and therefore are getting further behind than what they already were. And then, there is the continued increase in Black mothers and their babies’ mortality rate. The representative recalls the almost fatal outcome of Serena Williams, one of the wealthiest women in the world, during the delivery of her daughter. “We’re saying ‘NO’. Now is the moment we must

these statutes. And we need or know about the protests to tear down and/or reframe those Confederate statutes, as well as the movement to democratize our hero worship with statutes that are representative of women, Blacks, and others. Third, to those colleges and universities that have embarked on renaming their buildings, I say keep both names. Change has to be visible to be transformative. Maintain the original name in small letters and the year it was put in place and then add the new name in larger letters and the date it replaced the old name, with some plaque that contextualizes the change. Maintaining the presence of the both versions of historical facts is educational. Erasing one part and replacing it with something different does not encourage critical thinking. Having both will force students to stop and ponder about the change. Complete erasure is NOT a viable option! Remember, those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. We need all sides of history known— otherwise progressives are just as complicit in creating partial truths and “fake news.” We will need to forge a new civic ethos of resilience and acceptance that is inclusive. This country was founded on genocide, religious freedom, enslavement, and immigration, and we must find ways to accept and acknowledge all parts of our American history—I know. It’s complicated. America must live up to its democratic principles by honoring treaties with Native people and restoring Native land. We cannot place profit of corporations over the cultural and environmental preservation, especially after engaging in acts of genocide and cultural annihilation. This incoming presidential administration must work vigorously to restore trust in the federal government, and become a system that is honest and transparent—and keeps its word. What Time Is It? It’s Reparations Time It is time for America to seriously discuss reparations for ADOS (African Descendants of Slaves), e.g., Native Born Black Americans, to whom America owes an enormous debt for our ancestors’ blood, sweat, tears, labor, and bodies that were used to build this democracy and its capitalist economic system. America, you owe us ADOS your wealth. A way to fund Reparations might be to tax the 1% wealthiest in this country who have benefitted from Native Born Black Americans’ enslaved heritage. Another way to establish a reparations fund is to tax the colleges and universities that sold slaves to

seize. After we manage to come through these months of breaking down the barriers of distrust regarding the vaccine, and getting a large percentage of our population inoculated, then we must all examine the residuals of COVID1619. This is who we are, and this is where we want to go! White folks see Black folks the way they want to see us. Understand, most people of color truly want to be self-sufficient. We really don’t need the government taking care of us. Therefore, I want to connect to all this I am hearing and bring about a little conscious thinking about level playing fields. Accept the fact that the color of your skin has allowed you to walk through doors I couldn’t . . . nor could many of our children have access to for so long. Allow me to tell you what America has done to traumatize our children . . . experiences your children or you (white America) could never fathom. We are going to fight for humanity and fairness . . . find commonalities . . . and speak loud enough so you can hear us. A new narrative will be written in the Capital building. Of this, I am sure. When we can truthfully answer why the state has the huge disparity numbers it does in every aspect of dayto-day living . . . getting to the root of this racist evil . . . then we can sit down at the table and have those difficult discussions and make those necessary and critical action plans that will save our diverse populations and will lead to saving our democracy.”

keep their doors open and/or used slave labor to build their grand edifices of knowledge. How ironic that so many “great” academic institutions are in good financial health today because they engaged in the trafficking of human beings! The eligible ADOS are Native Born Blacks who are non-immigrants, and must have designated themselves as “Negro”, “colored”, “AfroAmerican”, or “Black” for at least two generations or more. For a deeper discussion of this distinction, read Black economist William (Sandy) Darity, Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullin’s book, From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the 21st Century (https://www.amazon.com/ Here-Equality-ReparationsA m e r i c a n s - Tw e n t y - F i r s t / dp/1469654970 ). For anyone who wants a deeper dive into this discussion and the eligibility criteria, check out other resources: https:// r e p a r a t i o n s 4 s l a v e r y. c o m / william-sandy-darity-jr/ & https://reparations4slavery. c o m / p a r t n e r s / Those people of African descent who “passed” or declared themselves “mixed” or “bi-racial” in order to escape the trauma of what it means to be Black in America are not eligible for Reparations. Anyone who is a Black immigrant or African immigrant is not eligible. To these groups, we say you have the right to make your claims to those governments that colonized your people. We ADOS (Native Born Blacks) support you in your own struggle for Reparations. But you cannot lay claim to what is not rightfully yours. There must also be greater scrutiny as to why Native-born Blacks are seemingly excluded from key opportunities of late? Is there preferential treatment for nonNative Blacks? Such bias must be critically examined. Fourth, there has to be a humane and just immigration policy. How ironic it is that those who push for inhumane immigrations standards are all descendants of immigrants themselves. Only Native people are indigenous to America. And only the descendants of enslaved Black people can claim a quasi-indigenous status—we didn’t ask to come to America, and we have no “home” to which we can return—EVER! Finally, America must demonstrate resilience. We, as a united people, must challenge any politician who seeks to block Biden-Harris’ efforts to establish a new normalcy. The future is uncertain, and the political shenanigans that characterized the Republicans blockage of President Obama are simply not viable. There has to be a willingness on all sides to compromise and negotiate. And politicians who adhere to a Trump-like obstinance must be voted out! We will NEVER return to things as they once

were. There is no version of “Make America Great Again” that does not include a return to racial segregation, women’s inequality, non-acceptance of LGBTQ, to name a few of the problems embedded in that word “again.” The days of a white, male status quo are gone forever. Call-to-Action for A Transformational Democracy The major task at hand for this country is #Transformation. We have no choice but to fashion a revised vision of democracy that is not rooted in racism, bias of any form, exclusions, poverty, radical individualism, and radical wealth accumulation. We need a vision of democracy that is transformational—a major shift from how we have interpreted it in the past, which was not inclusive. That has to change. Americans – all of us, from all walks of life, of all political persuasions, of all social and socioeconomic categories, representing the range of diversity in human variation, from Native-born to immigrant, we ALL must forge a renewed commitment to actually live and protect the American democratic principles of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, as well as equality and justice. But the actions we take must be for ALL people—not just a select few. The Call-to-Action then is to roll up our sleeves and get ready—there is much work to be done in 2021. Biden and Harris cannot be abandoned, and we must hold them accountable for promises made during the campaign— especially to Black voters. We, the American people, must disentangle ourselves from the madness of the last four years, and resolve to center resilience and hope as our weapons of choice to eradicate the health pandemic and the aftermath of what can only be described as a Trumpled “political pandemic.” Both have left this country in a mess. But we can do this. We can heal. Together. © 2021 Irma McClaurin. All Rights Reserved. Irma McClaurin, PhD (http://irmamcclaurin.com) is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News; she is also an activist anthropologist, free-lance columnist, past president of Shaw University, a past Program Officer at the Ford Foundation, and former University of Minnesota Associate VP and founding executive director of UROC. She was selected “Best in the Nation Columnist” by the Black Press of America in 2015 and is the founder of the “Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive.” Forthcoming in 2021 is a collection of her columns: JUSTSPEAK: Reflections on Race, Culture, and Politics in America. Contact: info@ irmamcclaurin.com


Page 6 • January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021 • Insight News

Insight 2 Health

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Advisory group working on phased approach for COVID-19 vaccines in Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced on Tuesday it is seeking Minnesotans’ feedback on how to continue progress toward the goal of distributing the initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine in a way that saves the most lives and puts us on a path to ending the crisis brought on by the pandemic as quickly as possible. The limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccine means there is not enough for everyone who needs it. The state must therefore determine a process that ensures fair, equitable, and effective distribution of the vaccine. As Minnesota health officials work with a wide range of partners to distribute the first small shipments of COVID-19 vaccines to health care workers and long-term care residents and staff (in “Phase 1a” of vaccine distribution), they continue planning for the larger shipments of vaccine expected in the coming weeks and months. Minnesota is following federal recommendations to start vaccine distribution with the people who are most likely to get COVID-19 and those most at risk of serious complications. Minnesotans can provide feedback about part of this process to the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group. The advisory group includes health care experts from across the state who review guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) about who should get the vaccine first, and make detailed recommendations for how to apply the guidelines in Minnesota to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Minnesotans may provide feedback about how to implement ACIP’s guidelines

in Minnesota through the MDH website: Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group. Ultimately, Governor Tim Walz makes the final decisions about COVID-19 vaccine distribution. But those decisions are based on advice from public health experts at MDH and the Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group, whose advice will be informed by public feedback. The group has met once and will meet again on Jan. 11 to discuss distribution of vaccine for frontline essential workers and Minnesotans age 75 and older (in “Phase 1b” of vaccine distribution). The group will deliver its final recommendations to Walz. Public feedback submitted via the website by 5 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2021, will be provided to the advisory group ahead of their Jan. 11 meeting. About COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Minnesota: The process for distributing the vaccine is complex and is led by the federal government. To get the vaccine to Minnesotans, there are specific roles for various partners: The federal government is responsible for regulating vaccine development and approving those that are safe and effective. It also works with vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna to procure vaccines, and it tells states how much vaccine they get and when. The federal government then ships the vaccine to states. The State of Minnesota works with hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, tribal health, local public health, and other

image/MDH 1

Minnesota is following federal recommendations to start vaccine distribution with the people who are most likely to get COVID-19 and those most at risk of serious complications. vaccination partners to get the vaccine out to Minnesotans. Earlier this month, Walz described for Minnesotans the three principles guiding distribution of the vaccine in Minnesota. These include: Immunize for impact: Maximize immediate health benefit, reduce death, and minimize the harm created by COVID-19 by starting with those most susceptible to serious complications and those who care for them. Equitable distribution and access: Make sure no procedural or structural issues impact access to the vaccine

among any particular group or population. And help ensure Minnesotans in every corner and every community know they can trust the process, the safety, and the effectiveness of the vaccine. Transparency: Share information as quickly as possible with Minnesotans. About the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group: MDH convenes the COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group after new federal recommendations have been made that need to be adapted for Minnesota, as well as any time they need to provide

information to the group. MDH identifies advisory group members in consultation with the Governor’s office and other advisory group members. Initial members were convened in September, and more members were added in December as the group moved to consider recommendations for the next phase of vaccine allocation (Phase 1b). New members brought expertise in ethics, health equity, economics, and labor and industry. The advisory group’s goal is to have equitable distribution of the limited COVID-19 vaccine supply in a

way that has the most significant positive impact on health. Agendas and minutes from advisory group meetings will be posted to the website by early next week. Going forward, meeting minutes and agendas will be posted within a few days of each meeting of the group. The advisory group is made up of statewide representatives of leading care providers; bioethicists; state, local, and tribal public health representatives; health care associations; and health care experts serving diverse community groups.

WE WANT TO H E AR FR O M YO U A B O U T THE UPPER HARBOR REDEVELOPMENT

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Insight News • January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021 • Page 7

1/8 PAGE COLOR CAPRW ENERGY ASSISTANCE

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Page 8 • January 11, 2021 - January 17, 2021 • Insight News

insightnews.com

By Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief

WAYS TO EXPLORE AFRICAN AMERICAN

HISTORY WITH

SEE MORE PRINCE

In the photogr aphy exhibit Prince: Before the Rain , you can see iconic images of the artist tak en by Allen Beaulieu in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Prince’ s story continues in the First Avenue exhibit, where you can see his Purple Rain suit. Both exhibits now on view, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul.

Aesthetics

First Avenue presenting sponsor Baird. Prince sponsor Xcel Energy.

2

COME TO FAMILY DAY

SATURDAYS at the MUSEUMɨ Explore the history of St. Anthony F alls with a day of family-friendly activities during My Mighty Journey: A W aterfall’s Story Family Day, Nov 9, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis.

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Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery 1256 Penn Ave No, Minneapolis, MN 55411, 4th Floor

Saturday mornings from 10 - 11:30am • 240 pages

Hear Stories Read or Great Storytelling! EXPLORE THE HIDDEN Engage in coordinated HISTORY

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Hear Dr. Christopher Lehman talk about his ne w book, Slavery’s Reach, which tr aces the mone y between Southern plantations and Minnesota’ s businesses. Slavery’s Reach Author Ev ent, Nov 17, North www.maahmg.org Contact us at: info@maahmg.org Regional Libr ary, Minneapolis.

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____________________________________________________________________________ "The Children's Reading Circle is partially supported by The Givens Foundation for African American Literature through operating support funding from Target. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund."

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Review From 2

By Titilayo Bediako


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