"We are policing ourselves and we are taking back our streets," community activist Spike Moss said. "We are the ones who are putting our own into the ground. Stop the injustice we inflict on ourselves."
"This is about taking care of our own," said the Rev. Ian Bethel, who last year helped spearhead federal mediation talks between the community and the police. "If we don't send the message, it will not be heard. We have to carry it." Most of them did so in 2000, shortly after 11-year-old Kevin Brewer was fatally shot on a steamy late summer night in north Minneapolis' Cottage Park. Led by Moss, the Rev. Jerry McAfee of New Salem Baptist Church "If this is going to be truly respected, men need to stand up and be the strong protectors of our community," McAfee said. "Stop the desensitizing that's occurring." Minneapolis march becomes a rallying point Terry Collins, Star Tribune May 22, 2004 http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4789989.html Flashback to Tuesday, April 08, 2003 Unity 2003 highlights church leadership McAfee said religious leaders and their institutions, including the Rev. Ian Bethel (President, Minnesota State Baptist Convention), Elder McKinley Moore (Church of God in Christ), the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson (Stairstep Initiative, Inc.), the Rev. Randy Staten (Coalition of Black Churches/African American Leadership Summit) and the Rev. Thomas (President St. Paul Inter-Denominational Alliance) will participate in the Unity Service. McAfee announced other objectives of the program: to push for an initiative that will have 100 percent of congregation members registered to vote; a political action ready-team of between 25 and 50 people who can respond within two hours should Black officials (i.e. state representatives or city council members) require a show of public support; and the establishment of a Minneapolis branch of St. Paul's Kingdom Covenant Credit Union. Hmm. I hope the mass media pointed leaders like Rev. Staten and Rev. McAfee finished there objectives of Unity 2003 event at the State Theatre. Posted by Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- ___________________________________________________________ Sign-up for Ads Free at Mail.com http://promo.mail.com/adsfreejump.htm REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
