Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong says the media’s sympathetic portrayal of a white domestic terrorism suspect reflects a dangerous pattern of narrative bias.
Opinion
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes thoughtful commentary and feedback from the community. All articles in this section are edited for clarity and space; the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the MSR. MSR does not provide payment for commentary. To submit an opinion piece, please send inquiries and submissions to submissions@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inOpinion
Aunt Lottie’s memory and Juneteenth 2025
Juneteenth is both personal and historic for Steven Rogers, whose ancestors Richard and Susan Duty were freed from slavery in 1865 and helped build a thriving Black community in Louisiana. Their legacy lives on.
Posted inOpinion
Nationalism must be condemned whether Christian or Jewish
This excerpt from LA Progressive argues that Zionism and Christian nationalism are two manifestations of religious nationalism that betray the moral core of both faiths. Progressives must apply principled critique equally — or lose their moral authority entirely.
Posted inOpinion
The LA conflict is domestic warfare of international import
The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) denounces ICE’s militarized raids in Los Angeles and calls on Black communities to reject silence. Their campaign, “No Compromise No Retreat,” links immigrant detention, deportation, and global displacement to broader systems of U.S. imperialism and state violence.
Posted inOpinion
Trump again targets Black cities with LA crackdown
Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles without state consent echoes his 2020 crackdown on Black-led protests. With Project 2025 looming, Black communities must remain alert to growing federal overreach. Originally published by NNPA.
Posted inOpinion
Wildfires endanger Minnesota’s peatlands
As wildfires sweep Minnesota, peatlands — which store 40% of the state’s terrestrial carbon — are burning away. LeeAnn Geshick urges immediate action.
Posted inOpinion
Juneteenth is Just One of Many Emancipation Days—We Must Remember the Rest
Juneteenth marks a historic milestone in the long fight for Black liberation — but the truth behind emancipation is far more painful. This powerful commentary reveals how many “freedoms” came with a cost.
Posted inOpinion
Call It What It Is-This Was Domestic Terrorism
Nekima Levy Armstrong says that the killing of Rep. Melissa Hortman and attempted assassination of Sen. John Hoffman was domestic terrorism. She demands transparency from law enforcement, a federal terrorism designation, and an end to the double standard in how white mass murderers are treated compared to Black victims of police violence.
Posted inOpinion
Trump’s latest travel ban another excuse to keep out nonwhites
Trump’s new travel ban targets 19 mostly nonwhite countries, reviving a strategy Charles Kurzman says is more about racial exclusion than real national security.
Posted inOpinion
America urgently needs a new affordable housing agenda
Dr. Benjamin Chavis warns that Trump’s housing strategy may spark another crisis — and urges a bold, bipartisan “abundance agenda” to increase housing supply and protect families.
Posted inOpinion
A seven-word phrase Black men should give up
“That’s why you don’t have a man.” In this commentary, Lawrence Ware calls out this tired, toxic phrase and why it’s time for Black men to do better.
Posted inOpinion
‘Justice for All’ can’t account for the Orange Felon’s crimes
Trump’s brazen corruption exposes deep cracks in America’s promise of “justice for all,” argues James Preston Allen. Will citizens rise to defend democracy?
Posted inOpinion
If a rich white man says prisons are racist, it must be true
Todd Chrisley is calling out racism in federal prisons, exposing the unequal treatment of Black inmates and adding visibility to long-standing prison reform efforts.
Posted inOpinion
Trump’s going wild in the White House — at our expense
Trump’s back in the White House — and the consequences are adding up. From VA layoffs to civil rights rollbacks, here’s what’s happening in 2025.
Posted inOpinion
Fans must do what the WNBA won’t — protect its Black players
Racist fan behavior is escalating in the WNBA. League leadership must step up to protect Black players—or fans will need to take action themselves.
Posted inOpinion
Warning labels on social media are not the answer
Warning labels may seem protective, but they can alienate marginalized youth who rely on social media for connection, support, and mental health. Ericka Jones explains why a better approach is needed.
Posted inGeorge Floyd
We’re still here, still fighting, still demanding more
Nekima Levy Armstrong reflects on the unfulfilled promises since George Floyd’s death and urges continued community organizing and accountability in the fight for justice.
Posted inGeorge Floyd
The value of coalition work
CUAPB founder Michelle Gross reflects on the murder of George Floyd and how coalition work has sustained the fight for justice and police accountability ever since.
Posted inGeorge Floyd
What George Floyd’s death taught me about America
Phalen (PJ) Pounds was 15 when he saw George Floyd’s murder. Five years later, he shares how that moment changed his view of America, community, and justice.
Posted inGeorge Floyd
The more things change, the more they stay the same
Activist Marques Armstrong shares a raw reflection on the pain, the protests, and the unfinished fight for justice five years after George Floyd’s death.