• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Youth-police relations subject of St. Paul gathering

by MSR News Online
April 17, 2015
7
SHARES
135
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Community members ask how to keep Black sons safe
(l-r) Jeffrey Groves Jr., Shatona Kilgore-Groves, Jeffrey Groves, Sr. and Sheriden Groves
(l-r) Jeffrey Groves Jr., Shatona Kilgore-Groves, Jeffrey Groves, Sr. and Sheriden Groves

On April 7, about 50 people gathered with the Black Parents Group in the St. Paul Public School’s Multicultural Center located at Washington Middle School to partake in a discussion to help to mend relations between the youth and law enforcement.

bpg april 2015 youthIn attendance were over 20 teenage boys and girls, some with organizations and others with parents. Along with the teens were principals, community activists, and former Governor Al Quie. Police officers in attendance were Nick Kellum, president of Minnesota’s chapter of the National Black Police Officers Association, and a representative of the Deputy Sheriff’s office.

According to group leaders, this meeting originated from the February 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin. “It’s just been one thing after another,” says the program director of the Black Parents Group Shatona Kilgore-Groves, as she refers to other events like the rally at the Mall of America, Mike Brown, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Ironically, it was this same day that video was released of a South Carolina policeman shooting and killing an unarmed Black man during what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop. “We just feel like enough is enough, and we just need to teach our kids how to be safe,” Kilgore-Groves continues.

“I think one of things in putting something like this together, [is that] we always want to come up with some solutions. We want it to lead to action” says Jeffrey Groves, program director of R.E.E.K (Reach, Educate, Evolve, Knowledge). Groves continued to acknowledge that it’s important to allow young peo

- ADVERTISEMENT -
A Johnson High School student was among the participants in the April 7 event.
A Johnson High School student was among the participants in the April 7 event.

While officers voiced opinions of the lack of respect by young citizens of the Twin Cities, teens voiced similar frustration with their peers. Young men and women spoke up about being stereotyped and falsely profiled.

One young brother from Washington Middle School summed it up saying, “Just because I have Black skin doesn’t mean that I’m going to go to jail [or] drop out of school.” While acknowledging that he lives in a neighborhood where gun violence exists, he alternatively chooses to focus on his ambitions and the good Black people have done.

Parents also spoke up, asking what their young Black sons could do to not feel threatened by police that haven’t even approached them. Community members spoke about the lack of jobs and training that young people desire, and how the number of unemployed out-number the jobs available. As a result, they said, young Blacks turn to alternatives, often illegal ones.

“We’re trying to keep them safe. They need to know their rights,” says Kilgore-Groves. “They need to learn how to interact with the police.”

Participants left the event feeling there is a lot of work to be done on both sides of the fence. Kilgore-Groves expressed the community’s point of view: “Nobody wants their son to be gunned down. We want to protect them.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Khymyle Mims welcomes reader response to khymylewrites@gmail.com.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Amanda Zahui B. interview – selected second overall by Tulsa Shock in WNBA draft

Next Post

Sabathani event exposed Twin Cites youth to nano technology

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

McCarthy’s downfall: Rogue Republicans remove House speaker in unprecedented vote
National

McCarthy’s downfall: Rogue Republicans remove House speaker in unprecedented vote

Facing criticism, feds award first maternal health grant to a predominantly Black rural area
National

Facing criticism, feds award first maternal health grant to a predominantly Black rural area

Upcoming Black Business Ball gives Black-owned businesses a night to shine
Local

Upcoming Black Business Ball gives Black-owned businesses a night to shine

Minneapolis police officers head to Alabama for HBCU recruiting trip
Local

Minneapolis police officers head to Alabama for HBCU recruiting trip

Ampersand Families
Employment

Human Resources Manager, ampersand families

Program Coordinator
Employment

Office Coordinator

Next Post
Sabathani event exposed Twin Cites youth to nano technology

Sabathani event exposed Twin Cites youth to nano technology

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Oct 3
October 3 @ 8:30 am-October 4 @ 5:30 pm

Insects: Little Body, Big Impact | Nobel Conference 59 | Virtual or In-Person

Oct 4
6:00 pm-8:00 pm

An Evening with Liz Cheney

Oct 5
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

The Bombing of Cubana Flight 455: Why it Matters

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

PHOTO: Barbie back-to-school party

A Barbie back to school party.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: