Sculptor refuses to be pushed around by racism

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St. Paul sculptor Frank Brown describes himself as a “gofer,” someone who “goes for it, who doesn’t sit around waiting for someone to come looking for them. I take the initiative to go out and initiate the conversation that hopefully will create a positive response.”

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Don’t put mothers and their children in prison

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Today’s Twitter feed is abuzz with the news that the White House intends to announce administrative action for some of the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented Americans. While the contours of the relief remain unclear, President Obama’s action undoubtedly moves the immigration reform debate to a new place and promises to make real – at least in a limited way for the very near future – the right to family unity guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at articles 17 and 23. Continue Reading

South Minneapolis historic home owner Pearl Lindstrom dies at 92

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Pearl Lindstrom, the owner of the south Minneapolis home recently added to the National Register of Historic Places has died at the age of 92. A call to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner today confirmed Lindstrom’s death was reported with their office. The cause of death, time of death and other details are pending an official investigation.Lindstrom lived in the little house on the corner of 4600 Columbus Avenue South in Minneapolis for over 50 years. She was thrust into the spotlight last summer because of renewed interest in the story of the Lee Family, the home’s previous owners.In 1931, Arthur, wife Ethel, and daughter Mary Lee were met with racial animosity and strife as an African-American family integrating an all-white neighborhood. As we previously reported, renewed interest in the Lees’ story begain to gain traction, according to the Star Tribune, after a 2001 publication of research by law Professor Ann Juergens.Arthur Lee, a World War I veteran and a postal worker, found solace and protection for his family from other veterans and co-workers, many of whom were white. Continue Reading

Women in prison: Visiting author imagines options, honors work of local volunteers

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“Imagining a world beyond incarceration” is the theme of Maya Schenwar’s new book, a critique on the nation’s prisons entitled Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn’t Work and How We Can Do Better. Schenwar will read from her book and help readers imagine a world beyond incarceration on Saturday, November 22. The reading and discussion, set for 3:00 p.m. at Boneshaker Books, 2002 23rd Avenue South in Minneapolis, is free and open. Schenwar’s reading is sponsored by the Women’s Prison Book Project (WPBP) which is housed at Boneshaker. Continue Reading

Indictment or not, protest the racist police state

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The grand jury’s decision on whether or not to indict killer cop Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown is expected any day. Authorities are planning and prepping for major unrest in Ferguson and throughout the country, the KKK is threatening to use ‘lethal force’ against protesters and, meanwhile, the activist world is aflutter with calls to action once the news is out. Continue Reading

Keith Edwards: Men can end rape

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For Hamline University alumni Keith Edwards, rape wasn’t always a concrete definition. While at Hamline as an RA, he kept hearing stories from women of men hurting them. At first he resisted that rape was really a problem, but now Dr. Edwards is a national speaker when it comes to ending it.On Nov. 11, Edwards presented at Hamline for Men Ending Rape, an event that aims to raise awareness of sexual violence by specifically targeting men, and educating them in ways to better prevent rape and change rape culture. The event was organized by the Hamline student congress.“We talk about rape on who it’s happening to, but not who’s doing it,” Edwards said. Continue Reading