Saint Paul City Council To Consider Reparations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 7, 2021

 

Contact: Trahern Crews, 651-508-6709, Saint Paul Recovery Act and Reparations Steering Committee Co-Chair

 

Stephanie Harr, Legislative Aide to Councilmember Jane Prince, 651-266-8671

 

City Council to Consider Creation of Reparations Commission

 

SAINT PAUL – The Saint Paul City Council will consider a resolution on Wednesday, January 13 calling on the city to advance the cause of racial healing by exploring reparations for American Descendants of Chattel Slavery who live in Saint Paul. The resolution calls for the creation of a Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission, which will guide the city on strategies to grow equity and generational wealth, and eliminate disparities experienced by African Americans in Saint Paul.

This initiative has been championed by the Saint Paul Recovery Act and Reparations Steering Committee, co-chaired by Trahern Crews. According to Crews, “At the age of 8, George Floyd's great grandfather Hillary Thomas Stewart, who was a slave, got his freedom. As an adult, he had amassed 500 acres of land. However, white farmers stole it from him and his family, denying his offspring the benefits of generational wealth. This has happened to many Black families whose ancestors descend from American chattel slavery and now it is time for bold reparatory justice policies that will address these historical injustices.” Crews is Co-chair of the Green Party of the United States and heads up its national reparations working group.

Newly minted State Representative John Thompson has also been part of the steering committee and stated “Reparatory justice is a bipartisan issue when it comes to addressing the racial wealth gap in Minnesota. Discriminatory policies at the local, state and federal levels have contributed to the economic crisis Black Americans in Minnesota are facing. The Saint Paul Recovery Act is a step toward economic inclusion in the city of Saint Paul.”

The killing of George Floyd has made our community the epicenter of the movement for racial justice, and this initiative is inspired by similar ones in Evanston, IL; Asheville, NC, and other cities. States, colleges and universities, and religious organizations like the Minnesota Council of Churches have also undertaken significant efforts to advance racial healing and explore reparations.

In addition to governmental entities,  higher education, and faith communities, the November 2020 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine stated that reparations are now widely considered to be the most effective means of breaking down the societal structure related to power, money, and access to resources, and indeed may be the only solution that can be applied intergenerationally that “would be an investment in the future and in reducing disparities that have been intractable for generations.”

Jeremie English, another member of the Saint Paul Recovery Act steering committee, has stated his support as well.  “As a citizen of Saint Paul City for over 40 years and a standing member of the Steering Committee that represents Foundational Black Americans in Saint Paul, passing a resolution this year to explore how the city should address economic deprivation, systemic racism and police reform for Foundational Black America will be one of if not the important investments this city has made in decades. To move forward with the Saint Paul Recovery Act means this city is ready to empower its Black  

American citizens with tangible economic resources to enable them to compete on an equal playing field.”

Steering Committee member Georgia Fort sums up this work, “Without reparations, we will continue to fail at creating equitable solutions for Black residents in Saint Paul.”

 

Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
January 07, 2021

March For Reparations

The Reparationist Collective

Black Pact
https://www.BlackPact.org


Black Lives Matter Minnesota
www.blacklivesmattersmn.com


Concerned Black American Citizens
https://www.CBACUSA.org


(ADOS DMV)
https://www.ADOSDMV.com


For Immediate Release:
Wednesday and Thursday, Jan 20th and 21st, 2021


Contact:


Tara Perry, Black Pact
info@BlackPact.org


Trahern Crews, BLM Minnesota GPUS Co-Chair/Green Party National Black Caucus
Reparations Working Group Chair and Green Party of Minnesota Chair,
trahern@mngreens.org, 763-260-4233

 

Toya Woodland   

toyawoodland@mngreens.org

The Reparationist Collective of Black Pact, BLM Minnesota, Concerned Black
American Citizens, and (ADOS DMV). December 7, 2020


At the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, despite having invested more than 100% of
our fair share of “sweat equity” for over 250 years into the United States, Black

Americans owned just 1% of the nation's wealth. Now following a multitude of
Democratic majorities since, and here the victory announcement of Joe Biden on
November 7th, that number remains unchanged.


The average white household has a net worth of $171,00 while the average Black
household has a mere net worth of only $17,000. This disparity, rooted in the United
States’ original sin of chattel slavery, has yielded a massive racial wealth gap.
Fueled by past apologies and commitments (H.R. 194, July 29, 2008), and hope for
change, Black voters turned out at a rate of 90% for the Democrats and are rightly
credited with handing the election to Biden on this, his third attempt. During his
November 7th victory speech, Joe Biden “looked into the eyes” of Black Americans and
made this SPECIFIC PROMISE: "African Americans have always had my back and I’ll
have yours”. On January 20th & 21st, 2021, The Reparationist Collective will march on
Washington, DC to ensure he keeps that promise:

“WE DELIVERED, NOW IT’S TIME TO COLLECT!”

We demand payment of the United States debt of reparations to the descendants of
American (as of 1776) chattel slavery in the form of multi-generational direct cash
payments, and including, but not limited to tax-exempt status, the elimination of the
mean Black-White wealth gap and the elimination of healthcare outcome disparities.
We further demand an Economic Empowerment executive order, akin to those currently
in place for the Latinx and AAPI, in the FIRST 100 DAYS tasked to empower Descendants
Of American Chattel Slavery to improve the quality of their lives, raise the standard of
living of their families and communities, and more fully participate in our economy by
eliminating the racial wealth gap.


Join us to be a part of these historical direct actions on January 20th and 21st, to make
sure Joe Biden delivers on his promise via executive order in the FIRST 100 DAYS!
Paving the way to enacting, reparations and comprehensive restorative legislation for
Descendants of American Chattel Slavery, aka African Americans.
“WE DELIVERED, NOW IT’S TIME TO COLLECT!”

- The Reparationist Collective

 

 

Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
December 07, 2020

Education In The Covid Era

How Covid-19 Is Impacting the Education Industry 

Courses ranging from pre-k to Ph.Ds are moving online to slow the spread of Covid-19. Education is one of the pillars communities rely on to educate youth and build investment in the community. In education, time matters. Stopping school isn't an option. To continue learning, students and teachers transitioned to online formats to replicate the in-person experience. The traditional model for teaching and learning has stayed pretty static over the last couple of decades. The rapid change caused by Covid-19 resulted in teachers thinking outside the box to reach their students.

 

Transferring traditional practice to the online version of teaching will keep learning consistent, but this approach fails to take advantage of online learning that isn't possible in a physical classroom. Covid-19 is normalizing online learning and debunking myths that online education is easier. The educational landscape is changing.

Will Tuitions Change?

Universities haven't changed tuitions for the upcoming semesters in cases where all classes will be online. On-campus students feel that tuitions should decrease if students can't attend classes. Online classes don't always equate to a lower tuition. According to the US News and World Report, online bachelor's degrees, on average, cost slightly more than on-campus degrees at public colleges and universities. However, at private universities, earning a degree is a great deal cheaper online than attending classes on-campus. 

 

There are often many hidden costs of earning a bachelor's degree. Books, meal plans, and commuting costs add up quickly. While books are a part of online learning, students often don't have to pay for the subscriptions to web conferencing and other services that make online learning function. Meal plans and commuting costs don't factor into the cost of an online education either.

Online Degrees Will Be More Highly Regarded 

Covid-19 has successfully proved to employers that remote work is just as productive as in-person work. This realization will help hiring managers understand that an online degree is no less difficult than a different degree. Professionals often pursue master's degrees online while keeping their current positions, but usually attended in-person classes to earn their bachelor's degree. This normalization will allow students to pursue online degrees to feel equal with their peers who can afford to attend school full time. Despite the perception of online degrees, online graduates have job placement rates competitive to in-person students.

Are Online Degrees Worth It?

There is a difference in price for online vs. in-person learning. Online public school students will pay a bit more for their degrees than their in-person counterparts but will pay significantly less than their private school counterparts. Online degrees are worth it for those who want to increase their career opportunities. Getting a college degree, no matter how it's obtained, greatly increases an individual's income opportunity. Even positions like paramedics and police officers are beginning to require at least an associate’s degree to be competitive among the competition. 

 

Online degrees were created to give more people access to educational institutions. Covid-19 did little to interpret those already pursuing online degrees. In fact, it might have given them a leg up on their peers who needed some time to familiarize themselves with a new role. While online vs. in-person is an important choice, it is also important to go to an institution that best fits your needs.  

Tech Companies Will Have More Influence Over Teaching

Online learning during Covid-19 would not have been possible without technology. Email, web conferencing, and collaboration software make online learning possible. Tech companies will continue to influence the way we learn. Teachers are using data to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their students. Analyzing this data allows teachers to focus efforts on the concept students need more help with. 

 

As more people begin to adopt online learning over in-person learning, technology companies will continue to create unique technology for the education industry. Education is always an area parents and communities are willing to invest in. Learning technologies, especially online learning, will improve online learning methods, creating an all-encompassing experience that will also supplement in-person learning.

Conclusion

Online learning existed before Covid-19, but students and teachers realized it is a more viable option than they originally anticipated. Students who need more time to process lessons are taking advantage of the change to learn at their own pace. Teachers can enjoy the same work from home perks as their office working counterparts. People will flock to the learning model that best fits them.

 

 

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
November 27, 2020

Covid Cases Surge

UNITED STATES
The US CDC reported 10.31 million total cases and 241,069 deaths. The US reported a new single-day incidence record for the second consecutive day, with 143,408 new cases, and the average daily incidence surpassed 120,000 new cases per day. The US reported more than 3,300 deaths in the past 2 days, and the average daily mortality increased to 1,134 deaths per day, the highest average since the very peak of the summer resurgence on August 1 (1,145). The US could surpass 250,000 cumulative deaths by the end of next week, and if this trend continues, the US is poised to report the highest daily mortality since the first COVID-19 surge in March-May.
From September 28 to October 19, the US daily incidence increased by 32% (43,373 new cases per day to 57,291). Shifting the mortality data by 3 weeks to account for the lag between incidence and mortality, the US COVID-19 mortality increased by 35% over the same length of time, from 721 deaths per day on October 19 to 976 on November 9. If a similar trend continues over the next several weeks (ie, that mortality continues to lag behind incidence by approximately 3 weeks), the US could soon face a major surge in mortality. From October 20 through November 9, US COVID-19 incidence increased by 91% (57,291 new cases per day to 109,663), which would correspond to an increase in mortality from 976 deaths per day to more than 1,850 over the next 3 weeks.
Mortality does not necessarily increase proportionately with incidence, but even half of that increase would correspond to more than 1,400 daily deaths. For reference, the peak daily mortality was 2,856 deaths per day on April 21, at a time when the epidemic was surging in New York City, Boston, and a small number of other cities, and we knew very little about the disease or effective clinical care. Hospitals did not have adequate bed space, ventilators, PPE, and other critical supplies, and field hospitals were established—and humanitarian hospital ships deployed—because even large urban hospitals were unable to handle the patient surge. Notably, the US CDC ensemble model forecasts that weekly mortality could reach more than 8,600 deaths by the first week of December, which would equate to approximately 1,230 daily deaths (50% prediction range: 1,052 to 1,536 deaths per day).
Half of all US states have reported more than 150,000 cumulative cases, and more than one-third have reported more than 200,000 cases:
>900,000: California, Texas
>800,000: Florida
>500,000: Illinois, New York
California’s COVID-19 website is reporting 991,609 cumulative cases, and Texas’ is reporting 993,841. We expect both states to surpass 1 million cases in the coming days. We also expect Virginia to surpass 200,000 cases in the near future.
The Johns Hopkins CSSE dashboard reported 10.59 million US cases and 242,811 deaths as of 12:30pm EST on November 13.
CHINA Shanghai, China, reported a locally acquired case of COVID-19 on November 10. While many countries around the world are battling a surge in COVID-19 incidence, this marks the first locally acquired infection in Shanghai in several months. According to local officials in China, the individual worked at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and at least 25 close contacts have been quarantined. While SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China, China has largely contained its epidemic. In fact, the vast majority of cases over the past several months have been among arriving travelers. In an effort to maintain this level of epidemic control, the Chinese government is reportedly taking new steps to limit the possibility of importing COVID-19. One aspect of these efforts involves disinfecting packaging and transport vehicles carrying imported frozen food, after China identified contaminated food products as the source of several SARS-CoV-2 infections among cargo handlers and port workers.
PERU The Congress of the Republic of Peru voted earlier this week to remove President Martín Vizcarra Cornejo from office due to “permanent moral incapacity.” The vote passed by a count of 105 to 19, with a minimum of 87 votes required. The decision was driven by a myriad of factors, including the government’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Now-former President Vizcarra announced that he would not contest the outcome of the vote, and former President of the Congress, Manuel Merino De Lama, was sworn in as President of Peru on Tuesday. While the transition is undoubtedly causing political turmoil, which is particularly concerning in the midst of a pandemic, the peaceful and uncontested process could be a positive indication that the transition will not hinder Peru’s COVID-19 response. Peru has reported the highest cumulative per capita COVID-19 mortality in South America, and it ranks #2 in terms of cumulative per capita incidence, just behind Argentina.
KENYA Kenya, like many other sub-Saharan African countries, has reported much lower COVID-19 disease burden than initially anticipated by many experts. Researchers in Kenya conducted a study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in blood donors in order to provide insight into the scale of transmission in Kenya. The study, published in Science, assessed the presence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among Kenyan blood donors from April-June. The researchers analyze more than 3,000 blood samples collected at 4 Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service centers. Among these samples, 174 (5.6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seropositivity in individuals under the age of 55 ranged from 3.4% for individuals 45-54 years old to 7.0% for individuals 35-44 years old. None of the 71 donors aged 55-64 years were seropositive. Seroprevalence also varied significantly by geographic region. Seropositivity was highest among individuals in the Western region of the country (10.0%) and lowest in the Rift Valley region (1.9%), with most regions falling in the 4-7% range. Seropositivity was elevated in major urban areas, including Mombasa (9.3%) and Nairobi (8.9%).
The authors concluded that seroprevalence observed in their study was comparable to that observed in other countries, including China, Switzerland, and the US after their initial peaks in incidence, which is elevated compared to what would be expected based on Kenya’s reported incidence. While the relatively high seroprevalence could indicate that existing surveillance systems are not adequately capturing COVID-19 incidence in Kenya, the researchers believe this is not the predominant factor. The researchers argue that the sample population—which skewed heavily toward males, younger adults (eg, 25-34 years), and coastal regions of the country—more likely overestimates the national seroprevalence. If existing surveillance systems under-ascertained COVID-19 cases to the degree indicated by the seroprevalence results, it is likely that COVID-19 hospitalizations and mortality would be much higher than what has been reported thus far.
UKRANIAN PRESIDENT HOSPITALIZED Another head of state has been hospitalized because of COVID-19. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to the hospital for treatment. Reportedly, President Zelenskiy is experiencing relatively mild symptoms, and he was hospitalized as a precaution and to better facilitate his isolation. In a public statement, President Zelenskiy emphasized that his infection illustrates that nobody is safe from COVID-19, even with the highest levels of protection. Like the rest of Europe, Ukraine is facing a major surge in transmission, although, in contrast to some other European countries that were severely affected early in the pandemic, Ukraine’s first “wave” was much smaller and later. Ukraine is currently setting new records in terms of daily incidence and mortality, reporting more than 10,000 new cases and nearly 175 deaths per day.
SOUTH AFRICA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country is lifting restrictions on international travelers. South Africa previously resumed international travel in early October, but it restricted entry for travelers arriving from countries with high levels of transmission. While country-specific restrictions have been lifted, travelers must still provide evidence of a recent negative SARS-CoV-2 test before entering South Africa. South Africa’s tourism website and Department of Home Affairs website both still include a list of high-risk countries. The policy change aims to boost South Africa’s tourism sector; however, the decision comes amid a global rise in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, which has raised concern by some public health professionals. President Ramaphosa also indicated that the South African government will monitor COVID-19 trends closely to determine if the policy change has any adverse effects on COVID-19 incidence. South Africa has reported nearly 750,000
Via John Hopkins Center For Health Security
Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
November 13, 2020

Souls To The Polls

Souls To the Polls has been a voting tradition in the Black Community for over 60 years. According to theconversation.com:Modern efforts picked up momentum during the years after World War II, especially during the era of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Most African Americans were denied the right to vote prior to the 1965 Voting Rights Act being signed into law. As a result, Black Americans were grossly underrepresented in the political system while simultaneously marginalized within the economy and social order through racial segregation laws.

In 1957, churches and civil rights organizations got together to sponsor the “Prayer Pilgrimage of Freedom” demonstration in Washington D.C. Organized to celebrate the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional, the event became a rallying cry for voting rights.

Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. framed the issue of voting, racial progress, and democracy in these terms:

“Give us the ballot and we shall no longer have to worry the Federal government about our basic rights.

"Give us the ballot and we will by the power of our vote write the laws on…the statute books of the southern states and bring to an end the dastardly acts of the hooded perpetrators of violence.

"Give us the ballot and we will fill our legislative halls with men of goodwill.

"Give us the ballot and we will place judges on the benches of the South who will do justly and have mercy.” This traditions has continued in the Black commuity every election cycle including this one. GET OUT AND VOTE!

 

 

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
November 01, 2020

Howie Hawkins Next Debate

The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is partnering with the emerging Independent National Union. Together, along with co-host Open the Debates, they will present the third Open Presidential Debate of the 2020 election on October 24, 2020 at 6pm MDT in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The debate will take place during the first ever Inaugural Independent National Convention | INC 2020. Focused on creating an alternative debate platform that can truly serve the needs of the American electorate, the debate will bring together candidates from across the political spectrum to give U.S. voters a richer view of their actual ballot choices. Ten presidential candidates have been invited. Criteria for debate inclusion requires the candidate be on the ballot in at least 8 states. The debate will use the cumulative debate format to provide a balanced and informative dialogue among the candidates. Invited Candidates: Brian Carroll, American Solidarity Party Brock Pierce, Independent Don Blankenship, Constitution Party Donald Trump, Republican Party Gloria La Riva, Party for Socialism & Liberation Howie Hawkins, Green Party Jo Jorgensen, Libertarian Party Joe Biden, Democrat Party Kanye West, Independent Rocky De La Fuente, Independent

Since 2008, the Free & Equal Elections Foundation has set the standard for inclusive political debates that cover a range of neglected issues. In 2012, we hosted the very first globally-televised open presidential debate in US history, moderated by Larry King and Christina Tobin. Free & Equal is also developing a blockchain election app in partnership with Nexus Earth. About Free & Equal Elections Foundation The Free & Equal Elections Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to open the electoral process through education and collaborative action. About Open the Debates Open the Debates is a 501(c)3 project of the Mediators Foundation working to open up the political debates of our nation to all ballot-qualified candidates, at every level of government. About Independent National Union The Independent National Union is an emerging framework for organizing the independent political sector under one banner to build political power outside the two-party duopoly.

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
October 20, 2020

Green Endorsed Toya Woodland on A Green World Is Possible

Toya Woodland (MN) US House of Representatives - A Green World Is Possible (14 October 2020)

Video posted on Vimeo by James Lane

This is "Toya Woodland (MN) US House of Representatives - A Green World Is Possible (14 October 2020)" by James Lane on Vimeo, the home for high quality...

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
October 20, 2020

Lisa Neal Delgado On Our Black News

Lisa Neal Delgado appeared on Our Black News to discuss her campaign for the House of Representatives in District 59B

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
October 20, 2020

Lisa Neal Delgado Debates

Green Party endorsed candidate Lisa Neal Delgado appears in Minnesota House of Representatives 59B exclusive debate With the Democrat and Republican challengers.

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
October 20, 2020

Push Out Screening

The national Green Party Women’s Caucus is hosting a screening of Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools on Saturday, October 3 at 8 pm. Pushout is a feature-length documentary that takes a close look at the educational, judicial, and societal disparities facing Black girls. Inspired by the groundbreaking book of the same name by renowned scholar Monique W. Morris, Ed.D, the documentary confronts the ways in which the misunderstanding of Black girlhood has led to excessive punitive discipline which in turn disrupts one of the most important factors in their lives, their education

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Trahern Crews
posted by | 2417.60pc
October 01, 2020
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