2023 Civics Edition
May 2, 2023
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A View From the Ground
News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from URL Media's network of Black and Brown publishers.
Former officer Tou Thao (center) reads a statement before hearing his sentence in federal court on July 27. Thao was convicted Monday of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter for his role in George Floyd’s 2020 killing. Credit: Cedric Hohnstadt for MPR News 2022
Tou Thao guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter in George Floyd killing: Tou Thao, who was one of the three officers involved in the murder of George Floyd, was convicted of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter yesterday in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Sahan Journal reports that the former Minneapolis police officer faces four years in prison, although the judge has the discretion to adjust his sentence. In a statement after the verdict, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said, “The conviction of Tou Thao is historic and the right outcome. It brings one more measure of accountability in the tragic death of George Floyd. Accountability is not justice, but it is a step on the road to justice.“ Read more details about the prosecution and verdict.
“You are now leaving Little Haiti": In this mini-documentary by The Haitian Times, long-time residents of Miami's Little Haiti — an 18-acre neighborhood named for the Haitians who settled there en masse in the 1980s — discuss what's at stake for the community as the area continues to draw attention from developers who have transformed Little Haiti into a construction site. Once home to cultural institutions, community centers, and beloved mom and pop shops, Little Haiti is now overrun with "for lease" signs. "I can see the boundaries closing in on us; my hope is that we're able to preserve a significant amount of [our neighborhood] to where we'll have a home for our culture," said Ashley Toussaint, resident, business owner, and vice chair of The Little Haiti Revitalization Trust Board. Watch the short documentary here.+: To inject $6M in Little Haiti, local trust aims to revive delayed plans
Minnesota Senate passes legal recreational marijuana bill: In a historic vote last Friday, Minnesota's Senate approved legalizing recreational marijuana after years of failed efforts. “I’m ecstatic. I’ve been fighting for this for over a decade,” said Michael Ford, executive director of Minnesota NORML, which advocates for marijuana legalization. The House must now reconcile their differences with the Senate’s bill in order for both chambers to send a single piece of legislation for approval by Governor Tim Walz. “This is a racial justice issue,” said Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, DFL-St. Paul. “It’s really a step in the right direction to rebuild the damage that has been done by prohibition.” Black Minnesotans are five times more likely to be arrested for marijuana offenses than white Minnesotans, according to state data. Read more from Sahan Journal. +: Proposed ethnic studies budget cuts were ‘error,’ says University of Minnesota
Innovative solutions for a growing nationwide mental health crisis: On the latest episode of Our Body Politic, guest host Mara S. Campo discusses the ongoing mental health crisis with people who are working outside the box to make a difference.The guests include:
Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris, pediatrician, founder of the Center for Youth Wellness
Camonghne Felix, poet, performer, political strategist, and author of “Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation”
Ifetayo Harvey, Executive Director of the People of Color Psychedelic Collective
Sandie McRae-Wright, Director of Comhar Open Door Clubhouse programs
Listen to the full episode — and leave the show a voice message at 929-353-7006 if you'd like to suggest an upcoming topic.
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