[Mpls] County Board/Black History Exhibit

[AMY DRAEGER]

I don't think it is fair to assume that the decision of the County to not exhibit the larger photo of the lynching was motivated by racism. If racism were the primary motivation, I would suspect the photo would not be approved for display at all.

If we can agree that specific to the venue of the Hennepin County Government Center, the government's duty to ensure fair trials takes precedence over its duty to inform and educate the public regarding the horrors of racism, I don't think the compromise is without merit.

In the 1998 "State of Iowa vs. Daniel J. Peduzzi," a defendant charged with domestic abuse assault claimed his right to a fair trial was compromised by a display in the courthouse designed by the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Though the appeals court denied his claim, a justice wrote in a separate concurrence:

"To assure a justice system that is both fair and perceived as fair, displays or literature that emphasizes or advocates an issue in a trial, even if the position is known and is valid, should not be set up within court facilities. Displays in a court facility can appear to have the approval of the facility. They further can appear to show the court subscribes to the group's position."

The compromise may be more effective in reaching an audience if one considers also this excerpt on the teaching of the Holocaust provided by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum:

"One of the primary concerns of educators teaching the history of the Holocaust is how to present horrific images in a sensitive and appropriate manner. Graphic material should be used judiciously and only to the extent necessary to achieve the objective of the lesson ...The assumption that all students will seek to understand human behavior after being exposed to horrible images is fallacious. Some students may be so appalled by images of brutality and mass murder that they are discouraged from studying the subject further."

Amy Draeger
Audubon Park






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