COMMUNITY VOICES | Terrance Franklin shooting is about systematic racism

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Demetrius H’ro is a local spoken word artist who marched at the Justice for Terrance rally on May 31. Terrance Franklin was a 22-year-old who was shot and killed by Minneapolis police on May 10.H’ro attended the rally because he wants to “start a movement” against institutionalized racism and police brutality, especially toward black men, he said.”I’m in a system that’s trying to effeminate me as a black man and take away my inner power. You notice it in subtle ways that you deal with police, or maybe a job interview,” he explained. “The murder of Terrance [Franklin] is just another part underneath that entire umbrella called ‘racism,’ which is raining down on all of us people of color.”H’ro added, “It’s a part of a problem that’s affecting me and other people of my skin color and anyone that is a victim of systematic racism.” He ends with a powerful message to Minneapolis police and other authorities he sees as hiding behind institutional racism.For the full story about the rally, read Lolla Mohammed Nur’s story, “Protesters demand justice for Terrance Franklin, police prosecution.” Continue Reading

Protesters demand justice for Terrance Franklin, police prosecution

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Loud chants of “No justice no peace!” and “Prosecute the police!” reverberated across Nicollet Mall as hundreds marched through downtown Minneapolis last Friday evening. About 250 protesters gathered in a rally organized by family and friends of 22-year-old Terrance “Mookie” Franklin, who was shot and killed by Minneapolis police in the basement of a home on May 10.“We gonna fight, we gonna stand for Terrance. They’re gonna see our faces until we get justice, because we want to know what happened to Terrance,” said Walter Franklin, Terrance’s father, in front of a cheering crowd.The family is demanding an independent investigation into the shooting, and for the police to be prosecuted. Members of the family said they doubt the Minneapolis Police Department’s version of the incident. MPD has not released many details about the shooting, but police have said Franklin fled and resisted arrest after he was identified as a burglary suspect. Continue Reading

Minneapolis protest demands answers in police shooting

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Hundreds of protesters marched on the Nicollet Mall Friday, demanding answers surrounding the death of Terrance “Mookie” Franklin, 22, an African-American shot and killed on May 10th after allegedly resisting arrest in the Lyn-Lake neighborhood of Minneapolis.Spoken word artists, a prospective 9th Ward City Council candidate, young friends and family members rallied in downtown Minneapolis to demand justice from the police, who they allege were involved in the murder of a young man.“Tonight is about letting everybody know that we won’t stop until we get justice for Terrance,” said Emma Mercer, a friend and one of the organizers of the rally that took place on the plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center. Emma and others want the police to be prosecuted and are calling for the city’s civil rights department to step in.City and police authorities have said Franklin was shot after fleeing from officers and hiding in the basement of a home. Many questions around the incident, which also led to two officers being treated for gunshot wounds and the death of a motorcyclist who was struck by a squad car hurrying to the scene, have yet to be answered by police.Terrance “Mookie” Franklin“We want them (Minneapolis Police) to stop insulting our intelligence with this story because it’s not making any sense whatsoever,” said Ceara Hinton, a protest organizer. “We just want straight answers. They’re just taking us (family members) on a run.”Franklin’s family obtained an amateur video taken by someone in front of the Bryant Avenue So. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | President Obama, Minneapolis Police and Gun Control

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You will never hear this perspective with the corporate lapdog media like the Star Tribune, MPR, WCCO etc etc but rest assured it is out there. I know because I have talked to many people who are there with me.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. The opinions expressed in the Free Speech Zone and Neighborhood Notes, as well as the opinions of bloggers, are their own and not necessarily the opinion of the TC Daily Planet.President Barack Obama came to  Minneapolis recently and spoke about the need for gun control, at a Police station in Minneapolis. At the press conference were families of victims of gun violence. Continue Reading

Clyde Bellecourt arrested while drinking coffee at IDS Crystal Court on Christmas Eve

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UPDATED 6:20 p.m., 12/25/2012 – Christmas Eve — a time of peace, a time of good will, a time to handcuff and carry off to jail a 75-year-old American Indian leader who came downtown to shop and have a cup of coffee? I wasn’t there, so I’ll refer you to the video (above) and to a blog post recounting the arrest:  A peaceful Flash Mob Round Dance, organized to bring attention to the Idle No More movement from Canada, ended today with the arrest of Clyde Bellecourt. The Flash Mob Round Dance lasted less than 20 minutes at the IDS Tower in downtown Minneapolis, MN. Bellecourt was uninvolved with the organizing of the event and was informed of the Round Dance only moments before it happened. Bellecourt arrived late to the event and stayed to watch the dancing.According to the post, police told Bellecourt to leave, and he told them he was not involved with the protest, but was just there to shop. The police insisted, he left, and then he returned to sit on a bench and have a cup of coffee. Continue Reading

Remembering Chairman Fred

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Screeching tires.  Flashing lights.  Heavily armed men rushing up the dark stairwell open fire through walls and doors on the sleepers inside.  When it is over at least 90 holes mark Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | La lucha globaliza cada día: Justice and Dignity For Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes and Fong Lee

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Paramilitary repression and police brutality continue unabated on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border after three years of the assassinations of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes in Oaxaca, Mexico and Fong Lee in Minneapolis, MNFREE SPEECH ZONE The Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases.  By Steven Renderos & Sylvia González November 1, 2009 Two different people – different stories, different places, – separated by nearly 2,000 miles, were connected three years ago when their lives were cut short by gunfire. Fong Lee and Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes suffered a death inflicted by the gunshots of police and paramilitary officials. For Cervantes, it was one gunshot wound to the chest; for Lee, three gunshot wounds in his back, and five more to the front. Cervantes died seeking justice during the popular movement in 2006 in Oaxaca, Mexico, while Fong Lee died as a result of deeply rooted racism and police brutality in communities of color across the United States. Continue Reading

No excessive force in Fong Lee shooting, jury rules

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Minneapolis police officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot Fong Lee eight times on July 22, 2006, a jury ruled this afternoon. No damages will be awarded to Lee’s family, who filed the wrongful death lawsuit in federal court.The 12-member, all-white jury deliberated for roughly six hours before determining that Andersen had not acted negligently in shooting the 19-year-old North Minneapolis resident. The week-long trial before U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson featured 35 witnesses and competing narratives of what occurred on the night in question.Lee’s family argued in their lawsuit that he was unarmed and presented no threat to Andersen at the time he was gunned down. They also contended that the Russian-made handgun recovered at the scene was planted there by the police.// Attorneys for the City of Minneapolis countered that Lee was a dangerous gang member and that Andersen only opened fire because he legitimately feared for his life. He was awarded a Medal of Valor by the department for his conduct.The jury apparently found the latter narrative to be more credible.Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan issued a statement this afternoon hailing the court decision. Continue Reading

Fong Lee case will head to jury

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Did Fong Lee have a gun on July 22, 2006, when he was shot eight times by Minneapolis police officer Jason Andersen? That’s the crucial question that a 12-member jury should begin deliberating Wednesday.Attorneys for Lee’s family wrapped up their case Tuesday, arguing that the Russian-made handgun recovered at the scene was planted on Lee in order to cover up for Andersen’s fatal mistake. The City of Minneapolis then called just four witnesses in making the case that Andersen legitimately feared for his life and the shooting was justified. Closing arguments and jury instructions are slated for Wednesday morning.After attorneys for Lee’s family had finished presenting their case, Minneapolis City Attorney Jim Moore argued that the lawsuit should be tossed out by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson because the plaintiffs had failed to present a credible case. But Magnuson quickly ruled from the bench that the case would proceed to a jury.The city then presented its first witness, Michael Brave, a veteran law-enforcement officer who has frequently consulted with police departments on proper procedures and training. Continue Reading

Judge threatens mistrial in Fong Lee case

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Day two of the Fong Lee trial apparently started off exactly where it left off — with U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson extremely pissed off. This morning he threatened to declare a mistrial in the civil case and force the attorneys for Lee’s family to cover all costs of the proceeding, according to Rochelle Olson’s excellent play-by-playover at the Star Tribune.The legal mischief started late yesterday afternoon when attorney Michael Padden, who is representing Lee’s family, flashed a photo of his bullet-riddled corpse on a projection screen in the courtroom. Lee’s family, who were seated in the courtroom, began to audibly sob.The problem with the grisly picture: it hadn’t been admitted into evidence and therefore shouldn’t have been shown to the jury. Padden claimed it was an innocent mistake. // Judge Magnuson apparently wasn’t buying it. “Let’s be candid,” Magnuson said. Continue Reading