Silence has a deep explanation in every situation. It’s either you truly don’t care anymore or you’re pretending to be unaffected, but deeply hurt. LiveLifeHappy
Leadership Mondays with “Conversations with Al McFarlane” and co-hosted by Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, always manage to leave the guests, listeners, and viewers on Facebook, YouTube, and Black Press USA focused on the healing of families, communities, and the city after the negative impact of 2020.
Tensions continue to rise in three or four of the 13 Minneapolis Wards, and COVID19 appears to have lost a place in the priority of some residents. Before this past weekend when a vaccination fair was held, only 28% of African Americans and 35% of Latinos compared to 70% white Minnesotans had taken the vaccine. Regretfully, one can only add this disparity to a list of so many others between Blacks and whites.
Teqen Zea-Aida, a 7th Ward city council candidate and Mickey Moore, a candidate for the 9th Ward, joined the program along the Hawthorne partners Diana Hawkins, Dee Phillips, and Andrew Bornhoft.
Summary Highlights:
- We have discussed the year 2020 until there’s really not much more to say. Now we have to fight to save our communities and to save the children. The means through which this feat will be accomplished will not be decided behind closed doors.
- The summer season is just getting started and surges of violence are happening all over the country, not just in the Twin Cities. We all have to understand the root of this division and begin to plan a silent revolution for healing and change.
- Street racing, with notifications coming from social media directing the blocking off streets for stunts and tricks and racing, is just another level of concern the slimed down police department has to deal with. Because of staffing shortages, fewer traffic stops are taking place, giving way to increased lawlessness in certain areas of the city. Street teams of ground navigators in the medical and mental health fields would lighten the load of police officers and may better deescalate mental health crisis situations.
- Communities of color must be honest about the pictures they are painting. Let’s get serious about stepping up to the role of parenting, educating our youth by assisting with academics from inside the classroom and personal tutoring in the home, and finding activities that will keep them engaged, laughing, learning, and safe.
- It is often about first impressions. Police officers have zero opportunity or the ability to interact with community in non-emergency moments. 85% of the department’s calls are of a violent nature.
- Police are often faced with a complicated series of conditions. Some are stressed and depressed and then they go home to their families. They are not getting the mental health therapy they need.
- How do the officers work with crowds without being accused of brutality? Does it appear crowds are purposely allowed to get out of control so that other negative narratives can be explained? Is it clear what police officers can or cannot do?
- Members of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council described good relationships with the police department and continued activities with the Hawthorne Huddle which gets a monthly recap on crime and safety issue from the 4th Precinct Community Service Officer.
- The city council has not been responsive. “It’s the mayor’s responsibility; it’s part of the elected city council members’ job description. Those in leadership must stop passing the buck. We have a serious state of affairs. Children are dying and residents are afraid to come out of their homes. Police officers sometimes don’t know the kind of situation they are walking into. Everyone is traumatized. Some haven’t admitted just how much the past year and a half has affected them.
- We don’t need a manifesto saying what is intended. A comprehensive plan including a set of strategies, each rolled out one at a time until the results are definitive. Accountability at all levels is imperative.
