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The following article has been sent to you by [EMAIL PROTECTED] The sender writes: Please feel free to copy and diseminate ------------------------------------------------------------ Racist, Anti-Progressive Gerrymandering In Minneapolis ------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday, 17 June 2004 by Michael Cavlan RN Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: (952)997-6129 Summary: Democratic Party launches attack on Green Party and progressives and people of colour by attempting to have map of Minneapolis redrawn, thereby pitting two Green Councilpersons against a political allies. However, this frank and blantly racist attempt at gerrymandering will instead of squelching political dissent in Minneapolis, will instead create a growing political movement. The elites never seem to learn that their attempts to silence and discredit their political opponents always create resistance instead of the fear and conformity intended. In 2001 the Green Party achieved an historic achievement in the city of Minneapolis, MN by electing two members to the 13 member City Council. Two other candidates had run very strong, credible races the same year. Since the election both Green councilpersons, Dean Zimmerman and Natalie Johnson-Lee have been at the forefront of issues of social justice and enviornmental responsibility. Especially noteworthy is that both Councillors have been outspoken leaders on the issue of police brutality. Minneapolis has been raked with recent and past "allegations" of police misconduct, including the recent report of Minneapolis PD assaulting a local artist of Iraqi decent. However, soon after this election victory for the forces of social justice and equality the powers-that-be in the Democratic political establishment struck back, with a vengeance. Democratic Party leaders, used to almost complete control of the city, engineered a redistricting that sought to marginalize the Greens in Minneapolis. In a last minute backroom manuever, one Green Party council member, Dean Zimmerman was drawn out of the ward he which he had just been elected. This ensures that Dean must run against a close political ally in a ward that contains less than 10% of his former constituents or move to the redrawn district where he must run against another close political ally in the council. Meanwhile the only two sitting African Americans sitting on the council, Green Party's Natalie Johnson-Lee and fellow African American Don Samuels are likewise pitted against each other. The African American Councilwomans map has been redrawn in a way that further dilutes the African American representation on the city council. This is reminisent of the racist gerrymandering and disenfranchising of Blacks in the deep south or of Catholics in northern Ireland. The redrawing of the map was instituded by a Redisticting Commission that contained the campaign manager of Dean Zimmermans Democratic opponent in the last election. These political manipulations are a willful, undemocratic and illegal attempt to thwart the Green parties political growth, not to mention smacking of racism. This is why a lawsuit was launched two years ago seeking to overturn this blatant attack on democratic rights and on the two most noted and outspoken critics on police brutality on the Minneapolis City Council. It has broad support from many in the community including many Africa-American leaders and activists. Since 2001 the lawsuit has proceeded. However the lawsuit has been expensive. So instead of fighting on our behalf, these progressive leaders have to spend valuable time and money fighting this anti-democratic lawsuit. We need your help as we need to raise thousands of dollars in a very short time, money which should be spent instead on fighting for social justice. This may suit the owners of the half million dollar condo's just to the north of the river and their corporate corrupted lackies in sections of the Democratic Party but not the rest of us. Please feel free to forward this to other listserves and organize a houseparty or other fundraiser event. Because as stated earlier the elites never seem to learn. Instead of squelching dissent, this blantly racist attempt to silence these voices of social justice wil instead create a backlash of resistance. And that resistance is Green and Growing Minneapolis / St. Paul IMC: http://twincities.indymedia.org/ --- fw David Shove Roseville 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
