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June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 24• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
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Simply breathing while Black is punishable by death in America! By: James Trice, CEO of Public Policy Project Peace! Of My Mind www.ppp-ejcc.com/category/peace-of-my-mind/ When I watched the video recording of the brutal, inhuman, heartless, coldblooded murder of George Floyd, I felt a painful numbness deep within my soul. I said to myself, oooh no, not again. But somehow, in my spirit, I was expecting it. It’s sad to admit that I was waiting for another brother to be killed by the police. I didn’t know where or when it would happen, but I knew it was imminent. Time had gone by too long without hearing about another statesanctioned police killing of Black life. There may have been other police killings somewhere around the country, but they haven’t made the national news like this one. The video recording shows a white police officer with his knee planted firmly on the neck of an un-armed handcuffed Black man while he laid on the ground. The Black man is grunting and groaning in anguish and pain, calling for his deceased mother and saying, “please, please, please, I can’t breathe.” The callous indifference to Mr. Floyd’s life by the officer that held Floyd on the ground had his hands in his pocket with the look of hate on his face. The officer glared at the onlooking crowd, and at the bystander who was recording the brutal assault with eyes filled with a complete lack of feeling or concern for the life he slowly extinguished. The officer held Floyd to the ground with his knee on his neck for eight minutes until Floyd became unconscious. All who observed the murder of George Floyd in person and by video recording watched in horror as Floyd was slowly executed right in front of our eyes. The murder of George Floyd is reminiscent of the killing of Eric Garner, the unarmed Black man who died after being choked to death by a New York police officer in 2014. Garner’s dying words “I can’t breathe” has become a powerful rally phrase used in our protest against police brutality today. The grand jury in the death of Garner declined to prosecute
the officers responsible for his death. However, New York City Police Commissioner, James O’ Neil, said in a BBC News article, the mobile phone video of Garner’s death clearly shows the officer used a chokehold banned by the New Your Police Department. I think that the March 3, 1991, savage beating of Rodney King was a watershed moment that forever changed the relationship between black people and the police in America. King, an African American man, was violently beaten by four Los Angeles policemen – three of them white. The beating and killing of Black people by police are not a new occurrence. On the contrary, during Jim Crow and the civil rights movement, African Americans were routinely attacked by police dogs while peacefully demonstrating for the right to vote. But the brutal beating of Rodney Kings was captured on camera by a bystander and widely broadcasted for the world to see. It was the first time in history Americans and the world witnessed the real-life savage beating of a Black man by police. It was shocking and disturbing. According to Britannica.com, “…. brutality against African Americans had become a more serious problem in many urban areas by the mid 20th century. Most whites remained unaware of it until about the mid-1960s, in large part because most large-city newspapers did not consider it newsworthy.” Britannica also says, “incidents of police brutality against African Americans became more frequent and more intense throughout the country in the decades following World War II.” The acquittal of the police of all charges in the Rodney King beating (as witnessed by the world) lead to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which is considered the worst race riots in American history. The pain was so palpable you could cut it with a butter-knife. Black and white people all over America were bewildered by the acquittals of the officers. Anyone can see that those officers were guilty. But justice was denied, and people didn’t know what to do with the pain. So, Black people expressed it through
James Trice protest and anti-brutality demonstrations against a system they knew deep down inside was unjust. However, they didn’t realize how unfair it was until the verdict. Police brutality against black communities happens so frequently that we hardly get a chance to mourn one awful slaying of Black life before police once again take another. The pain and anguish we feel with each murder seem to have become a way of life. We have, in some strange way, learned to live with the pain. And have sadly grown accustomed to police killing us with impunity. Too many of us wonder if our life matters. We naively look to
the same structural system that sanctions and abet the genocide of black people for justice and redress. But justice hardly ever comes. With each tragic death, we say to ourselves; this time will be it. It’s all on video for the world to see. No person who is sane or rational after watched the disturbing video would conclude that our loved ones (e.g. Brother, sister, son, daughter, mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa) were responsible for their own death. Or that the officers or a white civilian who killed them were justified in doing so. First Eric Garner and now George Ford, both Black men murdered while groaning, “I can’t breathe,”
with a police officer slowly choking the breath out of them. If breathing is essential for life, then the choking deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, and act of a white woman in Central Park who weaponized her racism that would have potentially cost a Black man his life, merely breathing, while at the same time, being Black is punishable by death in America. I’m in wait-tosee mode, not hoping or expecting justice in the death of George Ford. Justice will be great but won’t resolve state sanctioned lynching of black lives by police. What is our breaking point? When will we say enough is enough?
What will it take for Black people to be viewed as human in America? America will face a day of reckoning because of its treatment of Black people. And the world will be watching. “until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest until this happens.” -Ella Baker By: James Trice, CEO of Public Policy Project Peace! Of My Mind Blog at: www.ppp-ejcc.com/ category/peace-of-my-mind/ Date: 5.28.2020
Minnesota Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous Caucus discusses legislative response to the murder of George Floyd Today, the Minnesota Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus discussed legislative responses to the murder of George Floyd. The POCI Caucus intends to make police and criminal justice reform a top priority of the likely June special session and into the future. “George Floyd’s death was due to a horrifying lack of humanity, and Minnesotans are far too familiar with the pain and trauma resulting from violence at the hands of law enforcement. This simply cannot be how policing works in our state,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Finance and Policy Division. “I’m grateful to partner with a strong group of legislators – with my colleagues of color and those from Indigenous communities leading the way – who are committed to equity, justice, and accountability so Black Minnesotans can live with the inherent dignity every human being deserves.” “For too long, people in my community have been told they will have to
wait for the systemic changes necessary to ensure people of color can don’t have to live in fear of law enforcement,” said Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul), chair of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus. “They are tired of waiting for reform, tired of waiting for accountability, and tired of waiting for justice. George Floyd should be alive, and it’s time for all hands to come on deck and fundamentally change how police interact with Black men and boys.” “The struggle for justice is not about black versus white, minority versus majority, or liberal versus conservative,” said Rep. Hodan Hassan (DFL - Minneapolis). “It is about right versus wrong and we all should be on the right side of this.” “For too long we have failed or ignored those who are suffering and have asked for our action,” said Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL - Minneapolis). “Institutional racism and injustice exist throughout our society, our economy and our laws, from our criminal justice system to our educational system to our housing to our public health. Now is the time to act.”
“While George Floyd’s killing was at the hands of four police individual police officers, structural racism and implicit bias have prevailed for generations, causing a great deal of trauma in our communities of color,” said Rep. Fue Lee (DFL – Minneapolis). “These proposals are the first step in addressing this trauma, and we will work together to make systemic changes so this violence stops happening in our communities.” “For too long the voices and experiences of the Black community have been ignored,” said Rep. Ruth Richardson (DFL Mendota Heights). “Those closest to the pain must have their voices uplifted, their experiences amplified, and must be leading the change that our voices have been crying out for centuries.” Legislation consideration the
under includes following:
Reform the investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions Move primary
investigation and prosecution of officer-involved deaths to the Attorney General’s Office Modify useof-force laws to prevent wrongful deaths Create a new crime for unjustified use of force that results in death or great bodily harm Strengthen independence of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and design an alternative independent body to their jurisdiction Conduct a review of Medical Examiners to ensure independence and timely action Change civil liability statute of limitations for families of individuals killed by police Increase police accountability and transparency Collect and centralize for public access, real-time data on deadlyforce encounters Establish law enforcementcitizen oversight councils to provide needed community involvement in policing Establish a Critical Incident
Review process for officerinvolved deaths to inform policy change and prevention Raise conduct officer
standards of and support excellence Change the laws governing agreements that impede discipline of officers seriously betraying the public trust Reform the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board to increase oversight of officer licensure and training Expand the POST Licensing Board with more public membership and racial diversity Create a legal duty for officers to intervene in the wrongful use of force by fellow officers. Create a POST Board Community Policing Rulemaking Council Expand training in de-escalation, mental health crisis intervention, and responding to people with disabilities Prohibit use of “Bullet-Proof Warrior” style use of force training Offer peer-to-peer counseling for peace officers and establish privacyprotections for officers in
counseling Partner officers with the communities they serve Create powerful incentives for officers to live in the communities they serve by lifting the state ban on local-residence requirements Provide new resources to increase diversity in police forces Repair and build community trust and create communitycentered public safety Provide state funding for programs for community-based intervenors and problemsolvers that can partner with local peace officers. Increase investment in communitybased mental health and trauma-informed services Direct POST board to develop model policy on use of force in responding to peaceful protests Legislation that hasn’t already been introduced is still being drafted with bill language expected Friday evening. The House Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Division will hold a hearing on the proposals next week.
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Insight News • June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
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Vol. 47 No. 24• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
George Floyd: The story of Black folks By Davion Moore, Staff Writer “George Floyd’s story has been the story of Black folks,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, delivering a passionate eulogy Thursday at a Minneapolis memorial service honoring the life and death of George Floyd, 46, who was murdered by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. Since enslaved Africans arrived in North America 401 years ago, Sharpton said, “The reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being, is you kept your knee on our neck,” Sharpton said. Founder and head of National Action Network, Sharpton demanded that the United States “get its knee of our necks,” and declared that George Floyd’s death should not have happened. “He did not die of common health conditions. He died of a common American justice malfunction,” Sharpton said. “He died because there hasn’t been the corrective behavior that has taught this country that if you commit a crime, it doesn’t matter if you wear blue jeans or a blue uniform, you must pay for the crime you commit.” Floyd’s death on Monday, May 25, 2020 while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers, sparked worldwide protests against police brutality. A resident of St. Louis Park, Floyd was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and grew up in Houston, Texas.
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The Thursday service held at North Central University was the first of four --the final will be in his funeral in his hometown Houston, Texas. At the time of his death, he worked as a security guard at Conga Latin Bistro. Attendance at the North Central University campus memorial service was limited to family, friends, activists, and politicians, who came together to honor his life. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, architect of the modern Civil Rights Movement, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and a constellation of Black artists including Tiffany Haddish, T.I. and Tiny Harris, Kevin Hart, Ludacris (Christopher Brian Bridges), Tyrese Gibson, Master P (Percy Robert Miller) and media mogul, Will Packer, attended the service. Those not in attendance, watched the live stream of the service on national news outlets ABC, NBC, USA Today and CNN. George Floyd’s family lovingly reminisced about the man many knew as a
“gentle giant.” Floyd was a father, a brother, an uncle, and a friend. Hearing the stories from his brothers, his cousin, and his nephew put George Floyd’s life of humility and leadership into perspective. “We would sleep in the same beds, play video games, go outside, and play catch with the football.” Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd said. Floyd said that the brothers also enjoyed cooking and dancing with their mother, and with George’s personality, everyone wanted to be around him. “It was just amazing. Everywhere you’d go and see people, they’d cling to him. They wanted to be around him,” Philonise Floyd said. “George was like the General. Every day he walks outside, and there’s a line of people. They wanted to greet him and wanted to have fun with him.” Philonise Floyd said he was overwhelmed to see how many people came to see his
brother and that ultimately, his brother will receive justice. “All these people came to see my brother. And that’s amazing to me that he touched so many people’s hearts.” Floyd said. “Everybody wants justice for George. We want justice for George. He is going to get it.” Rodney Floyd, Floyd’s youngest brother, spoke highly of his brother and called him “great guy, great gentleman, great man,” who he said gave a lot of great lessons. Rodney acknowledged the love that he has received from Minneapolis and called it a “beautiful thing.” “We feel that love in your city and around the world. It’s a beautiful thing,” The ceremony also included a moment of for 8 minutes, 46 seconds, the length of time former officer Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck. This service was the first of four --the final will be in his hometown Houston, Texas.
In the next weeks and months City Council members hope to roll out their plans to disband the Minneapolis police department, but the ultimate decision on the changes to Minneapolis policing rests with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Many questions remain in plan to defund MPD on Mayor Jacob Frey to make fundamental changes to policing in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. There is a long history of distrust between the police and the African American community. Advocates have questioned aggressive police tactics like racial profiling, excessive force during arrest and the death of unarmed men including Jamar Clark. Up until now, it was just the community who wanted change, but now many institutions are showing they have lost confidence in the police. Minneapolis Board of Education and Minneapolis Parks and Recreation announced their plans to terminate contracts with the Minneapolis Police
Jo Erickson, Contributing Writer The campaign to defund the police has swept across the U.S. Protestors who have been pushing for drastic changes to policing have taken a huge step forward. On Sunday, Minneapolis City Councilmembers in a veto-proof majority made up by Council President Lisa Bender, Alondra Cano, Phillipe Cunningham, Jeremiah Ellison, Steve Fletcher, Cam Gordon, Andrea Jenkins, and Jeremy Schroeder pledged to dismantle the city’s police department and replace it with a new system of public safety in the hope it will lead to a transformation of public safety in the city. Pressure is building
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Attorney General Ellison charges Derek Chauvin with 2nd-degree murder of George Floyd, three former officers with aiding and abetting 2nd-degree murder Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison made several announcements today in the prosecution of the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis. First, Attorney General Ellison announced that he has filed a charge of second-degree murder against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. The new second-degree murder charge joins the previouslyfiled charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Second, Attorney General Ellison announced that he and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman have filed charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter against former
Attorney General Ellison announced that he and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman have filed charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter against former Minneapolis officers J.A. Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. Arrest warrants have been issued for Kueng, Lane, and Thao. Minneapolis officers J.A. Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. Arrest warrants have been issued for Kueng, Lane, and Thao.
All the complaints charge that the four officers caused Floyd’s death while using unlawful and excessive force in arresting Floyd.
The complaints allege that on the evening of May 25, the officers arrested Floyd at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis. In detaining Floyd, Chauvin used an unauthorized restraint technique in which he pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck to restrict Floyd’s movement while Floyd was handcuffed and laying on the pavement. Lane and Kueng held Floyd by the legs and hips to further restrict movement. Thao stood guard to prevent members of the public, who gathered nearby to witness the police action, from intervening to aid Floyd. While the officers restrained him nearly motionless on the ground, Floyd repeatedly told the officer he could not breathe and also said that he was
Huda Ahmed, a transformational change expert, community activist and Humphrey Policy Fellow Alum, has been hired as director of this work and will support the collaboration in partnership with the broader community.
Huda Ahmed to support the collaboration “Twin Cities Rebuild for the Future Fund” already at $1.3 million
Twin Cities United Way, Minneapolis Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota “All Black Lives Matter”: Transgender activists call for intersectionality in the movement Foundation commit to working to transform criminal justice system the march and gathered at the Tiffany Bui, Contributing Writer
The intersection of E. 38th Street and S. Chicago Avenue, where George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer, was filled with chalk art, flowers, and calls of “Black Lives Matter” Friday. It was at that intersection that a group of LGBTQ activists and community members hoped to affirm that “All Black Lives Matter.” Waving flags of pastel pink, white and blue, demonstrators turned out to march for the lives of Black transgender people who have been killed by police or other civilians. But due to concerns about the heat and the spread of COVID-19, organizers scrapped
intersection instead. Alex Palacios, a candidate for the Minneapolis Ward 6 seat who organized the event, said they were motivated to do something after hearing about Iyanna Dior, a Black transgender woman from Minneapolis. Video footage of Dior being attacked by several people at a grocery store surfaced on social media earlier in the week. “I thought, there are marches happening all across the nation protesting the treatment of Black lives. Why, in this moment, are trans Black lives being minimized?” said Palacios, who identifies as Afro-Latinx, transgender and nonbinary. During a Facebook Live with transgender activist
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Tiffany Bui
Alex Palacios, a candidate for the Minneapolis City Council Ward 6 seat, speaks with the nonbinary pride flag wrapped around their neck on Friday, June 5, 2020. Dee Dee Watters, Dior recounted fearing for her life after she accidentally hit some’s vehicles with her cousin’s car
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Tear-gassing protesters during an infectious outbreak ‘A Recipe For Disaster’
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while trying to park in St. Paul. She fled to a nearby store, Sam’s Dairy, while people followed
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To address a broken criminal justice system and policies rooted in long-standing racism, Greater Twin Cities United Way, The Minneapolis Foundation and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation today announced a multi-year collaboration with the goal of driving transformational change in the system. To partner on solutions, the three organizations will learn from, support and partner with people who are directly impacted by disparities that result from inequities in the criminal justice system. Huda Ahmed, a transformational change expert, community activist and Humphrey Policy Fellow Alum, has been hired as director of
this work and will support the collaboration in partnership with the broader community. “This is a long-term commitment. A commitment to stay with our community as we build a new system of justice that doesn’t operate on racial profiling and systemic racism,” said Dr. Eric J. Jolly, President and CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. “The partnership of our three organizations is an investment in the vision of our community leaders. They know the path to success and change; and we must follow them with our resources.” “Criminal justice reform is central to creating a
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COVID-19 — My personal battle from a positive to a negative result
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Page 4 • June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020 • Insight News
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How to lower your coronavirus risk while eating out: Restaurant advice from an infectious disease expert Thomas A. Russo Professor and Chief, Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York As restaurants and bars reopen to the public, it’s important to realize that eating out will increase your risk of exposure to the new coronavirus. Two of the most important public health measures for keeping illnesses to a minimum are nearly impossible in these situations: First, it’s hard to eat or drink while wearing a face mask. Second, social distancing is difficult in tight spaces normally filled with back-to-back seating and servers who weave among the busy tables all evening long So, what should you look out for, and how can you and the restaurant reduce the risk? Here are answers to a few common questions. How far apart should tables and bar stools be? There is nothing magical about 6 feet, the number we often hear in formal guidance from government agencies. I would consider that the minimum distance required for safe spacing. The “6-foot” rule is based on old data about the distance droplets can spread respiratory viruses. These droplets tend to settle out of the air within 6 feet, but that
Charges From 3 about to die. The complaints allege that Chauvin, who last week was charged with third degree murder but now faces an additional charge of second degree murder, assaulted Floyd by using unauthorized and unnecessary force to intentionally inflict bodily harm upon Floyd. The actions of Thao, Lane, and Kueng aided Chauvin’s assault by allowing him to continue to inflict bodily harm on Mr. Floyd for several minutes, well after any need by the officers to use physical force had dissipated. Because the actions of the officers resulted in Floyd’s death, second-degree murder is an appropriate charge. Chauvin was arrested
isn’t always the case. Aerosols can spread the virus over larger distances, though there remains some uncertainty about how common this spread is. Particles generated by sneezes or someone running can travel up to 30 feet. Talking alone has been shown to generate respiratory droplets that could be infectious. If there is a fan or current generated in a closed space such as a restaurant, particles will also travel farther. This was shown in a paper from China: People in a restaurant downwind of an infected person became infected even though the distance was greater than 6 feet. The closer the distance and the greater the time someone is exposed to a person who is infectious, the greater the risk. If the servers wear masks, is that enough? If servers wear masks, that will afford a layer of protection, but customers eating and talking could still spread the virus. One way to mitigate that risk in this imperfect situation, at least from a public health point of view, would be to have tables surrounded by protective barriers, such as plexiglass or screens, or put tables in separate rooms with doors that can be closed. Some states are encouraging restaurants to limit each table to only one server who delivers everything. Restaurants could also screen guests before they enter, either with temperature checks
on May 28 and remains in custody. Kueng, Lane, and Thao were arrested today and also remain in custody. The case is under continuing investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The officers will be prosecuted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, with Attorney General Ellison as the lead prosecutor. Copies of the complaints for Chauvin, Kueng, Lane, and Thao are available on Ellison’s website. Attorney General Ellison’s remarks as prepared for delivery at today’s press conference announcing the charges are below. I want to begin with a reminder of why we’re here today. We’re here today because George Floyd is not
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Guests filled the street seating and balcony at a restaurant on Bourbon Street on May 16, 2020, as New Orleans began lifting some restrictions following two months of closures over the coronavirus. and
marked as sanitized. Menus are a bit more problematic, depending on the material. Plastic menus could be disinfected. Disposable menus would be more ideal. Remember, even if someone touches a surface that has infectious virus, as long as they don’t touch their mouth, nose or eyes they should be safe. So, when in doubt, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
or lower respiratory tract through droplets or aerosols entering your mouth, nose or eyes. It needs to enter the respiratory tract to cause infection, and it cannot do this by way of the stomach or intestinal tract. The virus also is not very stable in the environment. Studies have shown it loses half its viral concentration after less than an hour on copper, three and a half hours on cardboard and just under seven hours on plastic. If food were to be contaminated during preparation, cooking temperature would likely inactivate much if not all of the virus. The use of masks and maintaining good hand hygiene by food preparers should significantly reduce the risk of food contamination. Is outdoor seating or a drive-through any safer? Vulnerable people may want to pass on dine-in options and focus on pickup or perhaps outside dining if the conditions are appropriate. Drive-up windows or carry-out are probably the safest; transient interaction with one individual when everyone is wearing masks is a lower-risk situation. Overall, outside dining is safer than indoor dining with everything else being equal on a nonwindy day due to the larger air volume. Maintaining eye protection via glasses and intermittent mask use between bites and sips would further decrease the risk.
or questions about symptoms and their close contacts with anyone recently diagnosed with COVID-19. It’s controversial, but restaurants in California have tried it. Washington state tried to require restaurants to record visitors’ contact information in case an outbreak is discovered, but it pulled back to only recommend doing so. It’s easier to screen employees. In fact, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend restaurants have employee screening in place before they reopen. But while screening employees for possible infection could
decrease risk, it’s important to remember that people can be infectious six days before they develop symptoms. That is why masks, eye protection, social distancing and hand hygiene are critical measures for preventing infection.
here. He should be here. He should be alive. But he is not. About nine days ago, the world watched Floyd utter his last words, “I can’t breathe,” as he pleaded for his life. The world heard Floyd call out for his mama and cry out, “Don’t kill me.” Just two days ago, when I became the lead prosecutor in the murder of Mr. Floyd, I asked for time to thoroughly review all the evidence in this case that’s available so far, even while the investigation is ongoing. I also said that that I know it’s a lot to ask people and communities who have suffered decades and centuries of injustice to be patient and to wait longer for justice. I thank you for the patience you’ve show me in the pursuit of justice so far. I am here today to make some announcements in the prosecution of the murder of George Floyd. First, today, I filed an amended complaint that charges former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin with murder in the second degree for the death of George Floyd. I believe the evidence available to us now supports the stronger charge of second-degree murder. Second, today, arrest warrants were issued for former Minneapolis police officers J.A. Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao. Finally, today, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman joined me in filing a complaint that charges former police officers Kueng, Lane, and
Thao with aiding and abetting murder in the second degree, a felony offense. I strongly believe that these developments are in the interests of justice for Mr. Floyd, his family, our community, and our state. I’m the lead prosecutor on the State’s case and I will be speaking for it — and this is absolutely a team effort. I’ve assembled a strong team. We have one goal and one goal only: justice for George Floyd. I want to thank Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, who has been a true partner. His experience and insight has been invaluable. I also want to thank County Attorney Freeman’s professional staff, who have cooperated with us from the minute that I took the lead on this case. I also want to thank Superintendent Drew Evans of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and his professional staff for the care and speed with which they are conducting the investigation. I especially thank U.S. Attorney Erica McDonald and Special Agent in Charge Rainer Drolshagen, who are conducting a parallel federal “color of law” investigation. I have heard directly from the leadership of the Justice Department that there is full support for her leadership. As she put it so well: “one team, one goal, one mission.” I agree 100 percent. And as I said earlier, I thank Mr. Floyd’s family and the community for their patience in allowing us time and space in
these last two days to lay these charges. As hard as it to do, I now ask for more patience. This case continues to be under investigation. We will also not be able to say very much publicly about the investigation, except that we encourage anyone who believes that have any evidence in the case at all to come forward and cooperative with the investigation. As we develop the case for the prosecution, we will also not be able to say very much publicly about it. So I ask for your patience while we limit our public statements in the pursuit of justice. I also ask for your trust that we are pursuing justice by every legal and ethical means available to us. I also want to add some caution. The investigation is ongoing. We are following the path of all evidence, wherever it leads. We are investigating as quickly as we can, because speed is important. We are also investigating as thoroughly as we can, because thoroughness is also important — and thoroughness takes time. The reason thoroughness is important is because every link in the prosecutorial chain needs to be strong. It needs to be strong because trying this case will be hard. Winning a conviction will be hard. I say that not because I doubt our resources or abilities or resolve, but because history shows that trying and winning a case like this one is hard. To the Floyd family,
to our beloved community, and everyone that is watching, I say: George Floyd mattered. He was loved. His life was important. His life had value. We will seek justice for him and for you and we will find it. The very fact that we have filed these charges means that we believe in them. But what I do not believe is that one successful prosecution can rectify the hurt and loss that so many people feel. The solution to that pain will be in the slow and difficult work of constructing justice and fairness in our society. That work is the work of all of us. We don’t need to wait for the resolution of the investigation and prosecution of the George Floyd case. We need citizens, neighbors, leaders in government and faith communities, civil- and human- rights activists to begin rewriting the rules for a just society. We need new policy and legislation and ways of thinking at municipal, state, and federal levels. The world of arts and entertainment can use their cultural influence to help inspire the change we need. There is a role for all who dream of a justice we haven’t had yet. In the final analysis, a protest can shake the tree and make the fruit fall down. But after that fruit is in reach, collecting it and making the jam must follow. The demonstration is dramatic and necessary. But building just institutions is slower and more of a grind, and just as important. We need your energy there too. We need it now. Thank you.
killed since 2019. Baki Z Porter, who identifies as Black, Native American and Two Spirit, made an emotional plea for intersectionality, acceptance and action from the Black Lives Matter movement. “I’m tired. And I’m sad. And I don’t want to be here at all, because I’m Black, I’m trans, I’m queer, I’m autistic, and nobody really likes me because I’m a bullshitter, excuse my language, so I’m gonna call BS. Okay?” Porter said. “I’m telling you I’m tired because we’re not organized, and we’re not intersectional. Being out here, trying to protest with everybody and honor Black life has put me and mine at risk.” Porter referenced Tony McDade, a Black transgender man who was shot and killed by police in Florida on May 27. “I know a lot of Black people, a lot of Black cis, straight people, you goin’ see us
and say, ‘Dang, we already be trying to get our liberation. We ain’t got time to care about other issues.’ But I’m telling you, white supremacy is the root of all evil.” Rehema Mertinez, who identifies as a Black transgender woman, said she was speaking at the intersection that day for George Floyd and Iyanna Dior. “Just in trying to honor George Floyd this week, my crew and I have not only had to worry about ‘12’ and our state’s military occupation, we have also had to worry about fellow protestors,” Mertinez said. “All Black lives are sacred, including mine, including Iyanna’s, including George Floyd. If we are to fight for some, we have to include everyone.” Palacios said the march had originally been scheduled for Thursday, the day of George Floyd’s memorial, but was postponed after some community members pushed
back against having the events overlap. “Black trans and nonbinary people have been told forever, like, it’s not your time, sit down,” said Iola Kostrzewski, Palacios’ campaign communications manager, referring to the blowback. “And then the irony of all this happening during Pride Month, and Pride was started by Black and brown trans women.” Palacios said they believed intersectionality underpinned the movement, and hoped people would come to realize that the “umbrella” of transgender identies is extensive. “Without intersectionality there will be no progress, no forward movement. When we center intersectionality, when we agree that we are not a monolith, that we are multi-layered in thought and identity, then that’s when no one is left behind. “
Transgender From 3 behind, she said. “All I knew is everybody’s coming behind the counter and grabbing me and I blacked out from there,” Dior said. “The only thing that’s running through my mind is, am I going to be safe, am I gonna make it out of here, please don’t let me leave this store …” In a last minute change of plans, LGBTQ activists from the community took to a stage set up near Cup Foods and asked for 36 seconds of silence; one second for each Black and brown transgender person that has been killed since 2019, though they noted that the number is likely much higher. According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 38 transgender people have been
Should I ask for disposable utensils and wipe everything down? Regular dishwashing of plates, glasses and utensils, and laundering of napkins and tablecloths, will inactivate the virus. No need for disposables here. The table should also be cleaned and disinfected between uses
Can I get the virus from food from the kitchen? The risk of becoming infected with the new coronavirus from food is very low. This is a respiratory virus whose primary mode of infection is accessing the upper
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Insight News • June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020 • Page 5
Tear-gassing protesters during an infectious outbreak ‘A Recipe For Disaster’ By Will Stone Kaiser Health News In nationwide demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd in police custody, protesters have been frequently pepper-sprayed or enveloped in clouds of tear gas. These crowdcontrol weapons are rarely lethal, but in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, there are strong calls for police to stop using these chemical irritants because they can damage the body in ways that can spread the coronavirus and increase the severity of COVID-19. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, some experts said additional research was needed on the risks of tear gas — an umbrella term for several chemical “riotcontrol agents” used by law enforcement. It’s known that the chemicals can have both immediate and long-term health effects. Their widespread use in recent weeks while an infectious disease — for which there is no vaccine — continues to spread across the U.S., has stunned experts and physicians. The coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 is highly contagious, spreads easily through the air via droplets, and can lead to severe or fatal respiratory illness. Deploying these corrosive, inhalable chemicals could harm people in several ways: exposing more people to the virus, compromising the body’s ability to fight off the infection and even causing mild infections to become more severe illnesses. “This is a recipe for disaster,” said associate professor Sven Eric Jordt, a researcher at the Duke University School of Medicine who studies the effects of tear gas. Jordt refers to these chemicals as “pain gases” because they activate certain pain-sensing nerves on the skin and in the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose. “You have this excruciating pain, sneezing, coughing, the production of
Defund MPD From 3 department. In a Monday afternoon virtual briefing held with four Minneapolis City Councilmembers including Elllison and Bender, Londel French, Minneapolis Park Board Commissioner at-large, recognized this moment as a “critical time” in Minneapolis police history. He said he sees the Park’s decision to cancel its contract with the Minneapolis Police Department as a way to “influence “ and “bring about
Ahmed United Way From 3 truly equitable community,” said R.T. Rybak, President and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation. “The status quo is unacceptable, and this partnership is one way we are committed to driving toward lasting change.” An Urgent Call to Support the Community: New Rebuilding Fund The outrage and civil unrest sparked by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police have resulted in significant property damage in cultural corridors where Black, Brown and Indigenous people work and own businesses – areas that serve as the life force of surrounding neighborhoods. As a result, Greater Twin Cities United Way, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and The Minneapolis Foundation have established the “Twin Cities Rebuild for the Future Fund” with pooled investments that will provide emergency support for vital micro- and minority-owned small businesses. Currently funded at $1.3 million, the fund will cover repairs, equipment, technology, building materials,
a lot of mucus that obstructs breathing,” Jordt said. People who have been exposed describe a burning and stinging sensation, even a sense of asphyxiation and drowning. Sometimes the chemicals cause vomiting or allergic reactions. In law enforcement, officers generally use two types of chemicals for crowd control: CS gas and pepper spray. The active ingredient in pepper spray, called capsaicin, is derived from chiles. It is often sprayed from cans at close quarters or lobbed into crowds in the form of “pepper balls.” CS gas (o‐ chlorobenzylidene malononitrile) is a chlorinated, organic chemical that can induce “very strong inflammation” and “chemical injury” by burning the skin and airways when inhaled, Jordt said. “Using it in the current situation with COVID-19 around is completely irresponsible,” he added. “There are sufficient data proving that tear gas can increase the susceptibility to pathogens, to viruses.” Jordt said research on the harms of tear gas has not kept up with its escalating use in the U.S and around the world in recent years. Many of the safety studies that law enforcement officials rely on date to the 1950s and ’60s, he said. But a 2014 study from the U.S. Army offers an alarming glimpse into how the chemical could escalate the pandemic. The study found that recruits who were exposed to tear gas as part of a training exercise were more likely to get sick with respiratory illnesses like the common cold and the flu. “We have a lot of antiviral defenses that can inactivate viruses and prevent them from entering cells,” he said. “These are depleted by inhalation of tear gas and also compromised.” The findings of the Army study led the U.S. military to significantly reduce how much recruits were being exposed to the chemical. “Even the Army realized they had done something wrong and that
Samuel Corum
Tear gas rises above as protesters face off with police during a demonstration outside the White House over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police in Washington, DC, on May 31, 2020. - Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after five consecutive nights of protests over racism and police brutality that boiled over into arson and looting, sending shock waves through the country. The death Monday of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited this latest wave of outrage in the US over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against African Americans -- this one like others before captured on cellphone video. this was more toxic than they thought before,” Jordt said. Even though there is a limited amount of research on this new coronavirus, there are studies from China and Italy about how other irritants, such as smoking and air pollution, affect COVID-19. These studies indicate that tear gas could also make people more likely to develop severe illness, said Dr. John Balmes, a pulmonologist at the University of California-San Francisco and an expert with the American Thoracic Society. “I actually think we could be promoting COVID-19 by tear-gassing protesters,” said Balmes. “It causes injury and inflammation to the lining of the airways.” Balmes said this period of inflammation sets back the body’s defenses, and makes it more likely that someone who already harbors the virus will become sick. “It’s adding fuel to the fire,” said Balmes. “These exposures to tear gas would increase the risk of progression from the asymptomatic infection, to a symptomatic disease.” Growing evidence shows many people who have the coronavirus are
asymptomatic and don’t know they are infected, or are “presymptomatic” — infected with the virus and able to infect others, but not yet showing symptoms. With thousands of people jammed together at mass protests, the demonstrations are already primed to be “superspreading events,” which can lead to an explosion of new cases. Outdoor gatherings typically decrease the chance of spreading the coronavirus. But activities like singing and yelling can increase the risk. Tear gas and pepper spray can also sow confusion and panic in a crowd. People may rip off their masks and touch their faces, leading to more contamination. Dr. Amesh Adalja, with Johns Hopkins University, said the body’s reaction to the chemicals causes people to shed more of the virus. “If they’re coughing, the particles actually emanate and are projectiles that travel about 6 feet or so and could land on other people,” said Adalja, who is also a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “This is a way to almost induce the virus to be
expelled from people when they are exposed to these agents.” Adalja anticipates the protests will inevitably lead to a spike in infections. “We know that any kind of social unrest, especially in the midst of an outbreak, is only going to make things worse,” he said. He said the most recent example would be bombings in Yemen that exacerbated a cholera outbreak. Dr. Rohini Haar, an emergency physician in Oakland, California, has studied the use of riot-control agents around the world. “These weapons don’t actually deescalate tensions in peaceful community policing,” said Haar who is a lecturer at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. Haar has also been treating COVID-19 patients. She recognizes there is a danger of spreading the virus at these gatherings, but she would not discourage people from attending the protests and exercising their right to free speech. “It’s a really tough situation,” said Haar. “I think the irony is that people are rightfully and justifiably protesting police
violence and are being met with violence that is worsening the pandemic conditions we’re living under right now.” This week, more than a thousand physicians and health care professionals signed an open letter in support of the demonstrations. Dr. Jade PagkasBather, an infectious disease expert at the University of Chicago, is one of them. She said it will be difficult to determine whether any spike in cases was a direct result of the protests, because they’re happening at a time when many states are also allowing businesses to reopen. “In everyday life, we weigh the risks and benefits of our actions. People who are going out to protests are clearly at a critical juncture where they are saying this state-sanctioned violence is unacceptable, and I am willing to put myself and others potentially at risk,” she said. The open letter she signed recommends ways that protesters, police and local officials can reduce the transmission of the virus. Among the major recommendations: Police should not use tear gas or pepper spray.
French went on to say that his annual police budget is “ $7 million but the Parks make up less than 2 percent of Minneapolis overall crime. Is this the best use of our budgets? We’re looking into more youth workers and community people on the ground.” With so many ideas about defunding, how will defunding MPD change policing? Even in yesterday’s virtual briefing it is unclear how quickly Councilmembers will move this process forward, and what the transition could look like. Supporters are pushing for the council to start with taking
money away from the police budget and investing in other government departments, social services and youth and drug programs, while launching a community process for creating alternative systems. Fifth ward councilmember Ellison has been critical of the huge police budgets and payouts. In a tweet he said “ Our police have been bankrupting our city for years” According to court records, MPD between 2007 and 2017, paid out $2.1 million to settle misconduct lawsuits involving Third Precinct officers. Ellison believes that the community should have a
say on how it is policed. “We want to engage in a year-long process to talk with community members about how we are going to keep Minneapolis safe.” Insight News spoke to Black men in the community to get their thoughts on how Minneapolis should be policed. Adonai, an African American 22-year-old University of Minnesota student says that defunding the police “makes sense”. He believes police only know how to solve crime. He said: “ They are not trained psychologists who can deal with a mental health crisis, or a social worker who can deal with domestic violence. They’re
entering these incidents with a gun. How is that helping? We should have professional people who are trained to do a job responding to specific 911 calls.” Lewiee Blaze, in his mid-twenties, believes that the way forward is to look back at history to a time when the Black Panthers protected their own community. He said, “ We don’t trust the police. We should abolish the police”. In the recent riots where local businesses were being destroyed, Blaze was one of the 200 to 300 people who were sent by organizers to protect Black-owned businesses. “ If the community can protect and
help its own in a time of crisis why can’t we do it everyday”? Both men agreed that it was essential that the new system of public safety should have officers who live in the area that they police. Blaze said, “At the moment only 8 percent of police officers live in the community, most they are outsiders who don’t understand or care about our community” In the next weeks and months City Council members hope to roll out their plans to disband the Minneapolis police department, but the ultimate decision on the changes to Minneapolis policing rests with Frey.
relocation expenses and more. Those interested can donate at www.tcrebuild. orgor by texting TCREBUILD to 51555. Funding will be distributed in late June to multiple community-led business support initiatives and business-focused nonprofits after an invitation-only process. Initial funders include Ameriprise Financial, BMO Harris, Bremer Bank, the Bush Foundation, CHS Inc., Greater Twin Cities United Way, the Medtronic Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation, and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Inequities in the Criminal Justice System Transforming the criminal justice system goes far beyond incarceration. Significant issues begin with the racist belief that Black and Brown people are inherently more dangerous. According to the Sentencing Project, the criminal justice system’s rate of contact with people of color is a major cause of the disproportionate rate of fatalities. In fact, a recent story from the New York Times shows Minneapolis police have used force against Black people at seven times the rate of White people since 2015.
There are many decision points within the criminal justice system. The racial disparity of each decision grows cumulatively as Black, Brown and Indigenous people move through the system, producing unequal outcomes. Some decision points include: Disciplinary Action: In policed schools, disciplinary actions for students of color put them in the criminal justice system versus the school system (MinnPost, 2018; Hennepin County Attorney data, 2017). Pre-Trial: A 2016 report by the Harvard Law School shows 34 percent of Americans are stuck in jail because of the inability to pay bail. And, those who don’t make bail are 25 percent more likely to plead guilty, often against their own interest. Sentencing:Laws are designed to more harshly punish certain classes of offenses in a way that has a disparate impact on people of color. For instance, according to the Sentencing Project, one in three people in the U.S. arrested for drug law violations is Black, although drug use rates don’t differ by race and ethnicity. Supervised Release: Re-entry programs postincarceration are underfunded,
with many parole and probation systems offering supervision with little support, according to the Sentencing Project. “We are committed
to listen to and support Black, Brown and Indigenous people in our community who experience historical oppression and racism to transform our criminal justice
system into a system that works for everyone,” said John Wilgers, President and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way.
change.”
Page 6 • June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020 • Insight News
Insight 2 Health
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COVID-19 — My personal battle from a positive to a negative result By Jeffrey L. Boney, NNPA Newswire Contributor NNPA NEWSWIRE — On that Friday, March 27th, things took a drastic turn for the worse, as it relates to my health. I began to cough, and what I thought would be regular phlegm coming out, turned out to be a significant amount of bright red blood. As this continued to happen, I made the decision to call the Chief Medical Officer for United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), Dr. Joseph Varon and share my update. After hearing my status, Dr. Varon implored me to come to the UMMC Emergency Room (ER) immediately, which I prepared to do. Before I got off the phone with him, however, he hit me with the update I was anxious to finally receive, but with some news I was definitely hoping and praying not to hear. Dr. Varon informed me that I had tested “POSITIVE” for the Coronavirus. “Jeffrey, .... unfortunately, your test came back positive for the Coronavirus.” Hearing those words from the doctor, March 27th, shook me to the core. Was that a death sentence for me? Was it a coincidence that my mom years earlier had died in the same month of March? Was this really how my life was going to end? The news reports I had been watching and reading reported dire results relative to those who had contracted the virus. Death tolls were rising. Governors began searching for beds and ventilators for people who were being impacted by this virus. Honestly, I felt like the odds were stacked against me. The journey for me started with a very slight cough. On March 17th, I started experiencing internal digestive symptoms that I initially assumed was a result of me not eating anything that day. It was a Tuesday, which meant it was Press Day at the Houston Forward Times, where I serve as the Associate Editor. Now, it wasn’t uncommon for me to skip breakfast and skip lunch in order to remain laser focused on getting the newspaper done. However, when I started feeling faint, I decided to get something to eat. I made my way down to the Reggae Hut around 5:30 pm and ordered the oxtails, rice and peas and the vegetables, along with a beef patty and a Kola Champagne to drink. I made my way back down to my office with my plate and I ate a little bit of the rice and peas; a little of the vegetables; and barely ate one of the oxtails, before closing the container and putting the plate in the refrigerator. That was the last time I saw that plate or my office. The next day, I not
I am forever grateful to God and to everyone who uttered a prayer, shared an encouraging word, providing any resources or sent positive energy my way. only had a continuous loss of appetite, I also had stomach pain and was experiencing heavy and unusual bouts of diarrhea. I even had an episode where I went to the bathroom and while on the way, I passed out and was disoriented. I woke up lying on the floor in a sweat, trying to figure out what happened to me. I drank lots of water, tried natural remedies and ceased all of my normal activities. None of that worked or changed my situation. I self-quarantined and self-isolated for eight days – from Tuesday, March 17th to Wednesday, March 25th. During that time, I contacted my primary care physician, who informed me that continuing to self-quarantine was probably the best option at the time, considering the symptoms I was experiencing. I decided to reach out to my good friend, State Representative Ron Reynolds to express my concerns about my health status, as well as get his advice on whether he thought I should go through one of the drive-thru testing sites that had recently opened. I desperately wanted to get tested, primarily for my peace of mind, but also because I was concerned for my family. They were still living in the same house as me. I saw the news. I read the media reports online and on social media. It was clear, based
on those reports, that I was not displaying the type of respiratory symptoms that the majority of COVID-19 patients were reported to have been experiencing, such as shortness of breath or having a heavy cough. There were also reports that the only way a person could be tested was if they were elderly or a first responder. I was deeply concerned. A few days after my call with Rep. Reynolds, I received a call on my cell phone from U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on Wednesday, March 25th. She had heard I was experiencing a health challenge and asked me some questions. Congresswoman Jackson Lee then immediately informed me that she wanted me to come down to United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on Tidwell to get tested right away. I wasted no time. I asked the Congresswoman for the address and immediately got dressed to make my way to UMMC. As I was driving to the hospital, Congresswoman Jackson Lee told me that she had already spoken to the Chief Medical Officer for United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), Dr. Joseph Varon, and that he was prepared to receive me and administer the test. I was so relieved that I would be able to get tested and get a definitive on whether I had contracted the COVID-19 virus or not. I arrived to UMMC and was met by Dr. Varon. He walked with me inside to the place where I was to be tested, and he immediately tried to put me at ease. I was told by Dr. Varon that my test results would take anywhere from 24-48 hours to come back, so I waited patiently and eagerly. As anxious as I was to find out the results on the following day, I decided to give it another day. On that Friday, March 27th, things took a drastic turn for the worse, as it relates to my health. I began to cough, and what I thought would be regular phlegm coming out, turned out to be a significant amount of bright red blood. As this continued to happen, I made the decision to call Dr. Varon and share my update. After hearing my status, Dr. Varon implored me to come to the UMMC Emergency Room (ER) immediately, which I prepared to do. Jeffrey L. Boney with his doctor, Dr. Joseph Varon and
his nurse, Jerusha Brown Harshman. Before I got off the phone with him, however, he hit me with the update I was anxious to finally receive, but with some news I was definitely hoping and praying not to hear. Dr. Varon informed me that I had tested “POSITIVE” for the Coronavirus. I was shook. My family was stunned. I am a married father of three. My family is everything. Upon my arrival, there were two large signs that said STOP. My wife, who had followed me to the hospital, was not allowed inside. I was met by medical staff and they ushered me into a room in the ER. She stood outside awaiting word. The nursing staff immediately went to work, initially drawing blood and then taking some vitals at the order of Dr. Varon. As events would unfold, Dr. Varon would turn out to be one of the primary angels of medicine that made the difference relative to my Coronavirus recovery efforts. One of the first things Dr. Varon ordered his medical staff to do with me upon my arrival to the ER was to do a CT Scan. For those who may not know, a CT Scan is more detailed than a regular X-ray, and allows doctors to see inside your body by using a combination of X-rays and a computer to create images of your organs and other things inside your body. Of course, I didn’t know why a CT Scan was being performed on me at the time, nor did I know what the end result would be. Let me just say that performing that CT Scan on me was the best thing that could have ever happened to me, because it revealed something major that was going on inside my body that couldn’t be seen by looking at me from the outside. The CT Scan revealed that my lungs showed a severe case of pneumonia, as well as other issues involving my vital organs that came as a result of the Coronavirus. It was decided at that moment that I needed to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) right away. It was then that I realized how serious things were, and it was the moment that I knew that I was going to have to rely on my faith in God. I called my wife to tell her I was being admitted and informed her that I was not going to be able to have any
visitation throughout my time in the ICU. I was on a mental and emotional roller coaster at this point. I didn’t know how long I would be in ICU, but more importantly, whether I would make it out alive. I could not help but think about the time in 2003 when my wife and I took my mom to the ER because she was ill. It was a life-altering experience for me. After being seen by doctors in the ER, the medical staff informed us that my mom would need to be admitted to address her serious health condition, which turned out to be worse than believed. My wife and I decided to stay with her, but my mom kept telling us to go home, get some rest and come back the next morning. We stayed anyway. They moved her in the wee hours of the morning to a different floor. It was then that I told her that I was not be going very far, as I chose to sleep at my mother-in-law’s house because it was closer to the hospital than my house was. As reluctant as I felt leaving my mom at that hospital, nothing compares to the phone call I received from the hospital, no more than five minutes after I laid my head down on the pillow. The nurse on duty called to inform me that my mom had stopped breathing and had slipped into a coma. I mean, right after I left. They told me that there was a shift change and that my mom had been given a specific medication, and by the time the new nurse on duty went to check on my mom, they became aware of the situation. I was devastated. I felt guilty. I felt as if I was there, I could’ve possibly done something. Several months later, my mother passed away and I never forgot that moment. As I was being prepared to go to ICU myself, I was reminded of my mom’s experience, and I was instantly bombarded with memories and emotions about what she endured. I also struggled with the mental anguish of worrying about a virus that reportedly has no cure or vaccine to fight it. I knew I needed to draw on something greater than myself to get through this ordeal. On Friday, March 27th, the journey towards fighting the Coronavirus had truly just begun. Not only did I have a severe case of pneumonia when I entered ICU, my liver and kidneys also needed to be
protected from the virus; my heart rate was through the roof; my heart condition worsened and I was headed to the point of potential heart failure; my blood pressure was high; I had a sharp pain in my right side; I continued to have heavy diarrhea episodes; and I still had a loss of appetite. Things were not looking good for me and I felt horrible. I began to wonder if I was ever going to get better. From the very beginning, I had to rely on my faith in God, as I continued to deal with the mental anguish of being in this Coronavirusspecific ICU area, particularly knowing that there were people around with breathing issues and hearing machines go off all day and night, and as I regularly looked at the news and read reports showing the number of people dying on a daily basis as a result of the virus. I needed a miracle. Because I didn’t have any respiratory issues, just digestive issues, it caused the doctors to develop a treatment plan for me that was different than other patients they had been treating prior to my arrival to the hospital. Dr. Varon and Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr. oversaw my care. They created a whole Coronavirus cocktail, which included heavy doses of Vitamin C, which was specific to my treatment. Per Dr. Varon, my case taught them that they must use high dose blood thinners on every Coronavirus patient admitted to the hospital. After several days, my symptoms began to subside, and I am forever grateful to God and to everyone who uttered a prayer, shared an encouraging word, providing any resources or sent positive energy my way. My family and I greatly appreciate each and every one of you. God bless you, and let’s do everything in our power to defeat this horrible and vicious COVID-19 virus. Jeffrey L. Boney is a political analyst and international correspondent for the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com and serves as Associate Editor for the Houston Forward Times newspaper. Jeffrey is an awardwinning journalist, dynamic international speaker, experienced entrepreneur, business development strategist and founder and CEO of the Texas Business Alliance. Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @ realtalkjunkies.
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Insight News • June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020 • Page 7
Page 8 • June 15, 2020 - June 21, 2020 • Insight News
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Trio Plant-Based’s Louis Hunter takes on the Covid-19 crisis for the win By Robin Caldwell, Staff Writer Staying in business has been hard but the rewards have been greater. In his youthful past, “thank you and have a blessed day” could have been restaurateur Louis Hunter’s cordial way of saying “don’t bring none, won’t be none” instead of the warm, sincere way he and his staff bid adieu to curbside and takeout customers. When he says those words today, he means it. Hunter is grateful, because while unashamed of his past, he knows that the old Louis would have never imagined to have met an adversary much like the Covid-19 crisis. “Man, listen,” Hunter says in that way Black folk begin a story to end all stories. The a in “man” is drawn out and the “listen” emphatic. You know you are about to hear the truth with a testimony. “Covid taught me to be strong. Plenty of days, I could have been broken but kept pushing,” said the owner of Trio Plant-Based restaurant, the first black-owned vegan restaurant in the state of Minnesota. Hunter thought the streets were tough until the coronavirus offered up some humbling challenges. During the first week of restaurant restrictions, if it could go wrong, it did. Employees quit, including one who decided to walk out an hour before the doors opened for takeout and delivery. He cut himself, which hampered his ability to prep and cook for customers. The dos and don’ts issued by the state and city made Hunter feel like he was on rollerskates moving from one must-do to the next in order to keep his restaurant open. But the miraculous happened. Family, who had always supported him, jumped
VegNews
Louis Hunter in to help out. His mother, Onita Johnson, led the loving takeover to teach and guide younger relatives on the finer details of cutting, chopping, and prepping food. Friend Angel took over the mounds of paperwork piling up on his desk, the paperwork required to stay in business. His 19-year-old daughter, Itaisia Hunter, manages his business but rolled up her sleeves to pitch in wherever needed. Hunter said, “My children, mother, sister, cousins and friends stepped up for me.” Some of his help had lost their jobs or had been furloughed, so working at Trio gave them something to do that everyone viewed as their service to the community. They did not have to look far for an example. Hunter pulled 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, working hard as a way of saying thank you to the very community that supported him. Trio was opened with funds raised through a Kickstarter campaign that gleaned $65,000 donated by family, friends and people in the Twin Cities who believed in him. Some of those same people believed in his cousin Philando Castile. After Castile’s untimely, tragic death, Hunter floundered until he was able to regain focus on what would best honor Castile’s memory while building a future that would also take care of his children. It was the restaurant.
His devotion to the people devoted to him led him to another decision. Hunter is not reopening his dining room any time soon. He says, “I just don’t want to put my employees at risk.” So until he is comfortable, Trio will continue to be delivered to customers at curbside and via delivery platforms. Is he afraid it will hurt business? “I’m afraid of hurting my people more.” Hunter is also mindful of hurting himself. The recent hiring of a new cook will allow him to practice some overdue self-care. Working 12 hours a day during the pandemic has taken its toll. “I’ve reached my limit,” he said, as he prepares to take his first full weekend off to nap and regroup. The hard work comes with no regret. His family is happy. Vendors are thankful for being paid, and tell him. The community has healthier food options. He has even made new customers in the midst of an invisible enemy’s attack. “My body hurts but my account looks way better than it did.” And Louis Hunter owes it all to his family, friends and a stubborn faith that has helped him defy the odds. Trio Plant-Based is located at 610 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis. Phone (612) 3261326 for hours and to order.
If I could do one thing, I’d have a daycare closer to work. If you could do one thing for your community, what would it be? More daycare centers? More funding for Head Start? Completing the 2020 Census is a safe and easy way to inform how billions of dollars in funding flow into your community for hundreds of services. Respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Complete the census at:
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