• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Thursday, September 28, 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

Mpls council member pens open letter about Noor settlement

by Minneapolis City Council Vice President, Andrea Jenkins
May 9, 2019
22
SHARES
447
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

My heart is heavy with grief today along with many of you at this outcome that yet again displays the extent to which persistent systemic racism and White supremacy continue to infect and affect our entire society. I cry for those who care deeply for social justice and for those who demonstrate that daily by putting their lives on the line in service to justice for all.

Last week, we approved a settlement in an unprecedented case that involved a former MPD officer convicted of third-degree murder of a member of our community. This tragedy, as unfortunate as it is, happens far too often in communities of color without the same penchant for accountability and justice.

Public safety and police trust must be our utmost concern. This deeply painful incident has already instituted changes in our police department, beginning with the naming of a new police chief, body-worn cameras, a number of policy changes that we believe will lead to more accountability and more community trust.

The death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond on July 15, 2017 was a tragedy that has left our community with profound pain. We wish her family and friends solace and peace. Events like this have an impact on all of us. This hurts everyone in our community, and we are one community.

The City has reached a settlement of $18 million to be provided to the Ruszczyk family. The settlement was approved by a unanimous vote of the city council.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Additionally, the Ruszczyk family will donate $2 million to the Fund for Safe Communities at the Minneapolis Foundation. The fund is committed to addressing all forms of gun violence, centering on youth and communities most impacted. It was a priority for myself, the entire city council and the mayor that part of the settlement include funds invested to address broader issues of police violence in our communities, which we know disproportionately impacts communities of color.

This settlement, which was approved by the city council on Thursday, came about after two days of mediation of which I personally participated. While I can’t comment on what occurred during the mediation or the settlement conference that followed, I can state that foremost in my mind was getting to a place where our community could begin to heal.

As we move forward, I will continue to place the values of equity, police accountability and economic inclusion at the core of my work to ensure equitable outcomes for every person in Minneapolis. Public safety and police trust must be our top concerns.

The City does not use outside insurance for these types of claims. It will be paid from a self-insurance fund, which is the City’s internal account that covers expenses like workers compensation, general liability claims for vehicle crashes and for claims like the one announced today. This payout is significant and impactful.

In the upcoming months, City finance staff will be working with the mayor and council on the process to rebuild the reserve level over time. The City has been and continues to be fiscally sound in its budgeting and its financial reserves.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

As we move forward, I am deeply concerned with the inequities in our city, the challenges that renters are experiencing, the wide gaps in wealth and income as it relates to Blacks and Whites, as well as the incessant police brutality that continues to plague Black and Brown communities.

So, for once, the judicial system worked to hold a police officer accountable and extend justice to a grieving family. All of us must work as hard as we can to ensure that if and when this type of violence happens in our community, that the same type of justice is afforded to Black, Brown and Indigenous families.

Recently, I was the honorary chairperson for the LunaFest fundraiser at The Riverview Theatre for the Minnesota Peacebuilding Institute. As I was preparing my remarks for the evening, I came across this Common Prayer by Shane Claiborne that I think may be of comfort at this moment:

“Peacemaking doesn’t mean passivity. It is the act of interrupting injustice without mirroring injustice, the act of disarming evil without destroying the evildoer, the act of finding a third way that is neither fight nor flight but the careful, arduous pursuit of reconciliation and justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free.”

Andrea Jenkins is the vice president of the Minneapolis City Council.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

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

Gift giving etiquette for graduations and more

Next Post

Highland Park Middle School teacher placed on leave after using ‘racist’ language to describe Black students

Minneapolis City Council Vice President, Andrea Jenkins

You Might Also Like

Reexamining police killings after the investigation is over
Local

Reexamining police killings after the investigation is over

Minneapolis police chief under fire
Local

Minneapolis police chief under fire

Former Minneapolis Police Chief reflects on 30-plus years of public service
Local

Former Minneapolis Police Chief reflects on 30-plus years of public service

Recruiting more women to the Minneapolis police force
Local

Recruiting more women to the Minneapolis police force

Former Minneapolis police officer charged with assaulting Jaleel Stallings during 2020 unrest
Bulletin

MPD seeks community engagement online and in public gatherings

Community to DOJ: Look beyond policing
Local

Community to DOJ: Look beyond policing

Next Post
Highland Park Middle School teacher placed on leave after using ‘racist’ language to describe Black students

Highland Park Middle School teacher placed on leave after using 'racist' language to describe Black students

  • 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

Sep 28
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

Sep 30
10:00 am-12:00 pm

dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment with Sharon Bridgforth

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

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: