As we watch the riots in Minneapolis and the rest of the country, we discover: Progressive policies are insufficient. Affirmative action is not enough. Small fixes in police departments are insufficient.
Worse, radical change is rarely a fix. Charter Schools were intended to be a radical change in education. Instead, we got Betsy De Vos.
We need to do the job right. Treat everyone with the respect they deserve. Minnesota and Minneapolis should be able to do it. They have the people who could do it. But they are not getting it done:
Tim Walz, Governor: 12 year Congressman, former teacher, announced that white nationalist have urged assembling at protest sites.
Peggy Flanagan, Lt. Governor: Member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwa. Worked for the Council of Churches and works closely with Walz.
Keith Ellison, AG: African American and Muslim convert from Catholicism, former Sanders supporter.
Jacob Frey Minneapolis Mayor: Young, ex international level marathoner. mayoral campaign focused on housing and better constituent services.
Medaria Arradondo, Minneapolis police chief. Worked his way up; sued the Department for racial discrimination, supported by minority members of City Council.
Members of Congress
MN 01. Jim Hagedorn, Republican, son of a Congressman, replaced Tim Walz after losing to him twice, worked in US Treasury Dept. conservative, Trump supporter
MN 02. Angie Craig, Democrat, grew up in the south, was a focus of a controversy about gay partners adopting a child, headed Human Resources for St. Jude Hospital. Lost to, then defeated right wing radio jock for Congress
MN 03 Dean Phillips, Democrat, son of a soldier killed in Vietnam, adopted into Phillips family after his mother’s remarriage, (Phillips distilling), An entrepreneur and philanthropist before being elected on Congress.
MN 04 Betty MCollum, Democrat, Catholic education, HS science teacher, supporter of women’s issues, of the gay community, of education, health and social security in Congress.
MN 05 Ilhan Omar, Democrat, born in Somalia, State Rep, member of progressive caucus and “The Squad”, advocated progressive causes. Strongly opposed to Trump, critic of Israel.
That doesn’t even include Democratic Senators Klobuchar and Smith.
Minnesota’s delegation has been particularly active in using social media and sending letters to pressure state and federal officials to ensure justice for Floyd. They wrote to Bar and to the Justice Department, to the FBI, to the local police to be tougher on the four fired cops.
Letters are not enough. They have to show up. The mayor and the police chief have to develop tactics that recognize the peaceful intent of most protesters, while being prepared to arrest those who destroy property.