The Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage held a rally this week to discuss advancing equity programs in Minnesota. Members of Minnesota’s United Black Caucus spoke on the importance of Minnesotans of African heritage participating in the political process and raising their voices on issues important to them. Governor Walz attended the rally in support and stressed the importance of their fight to end inequities and injustices in Minnesota. He said it goes far beyond a proclamation and one day of rallies—we need to join together no matter where we come from or the color of our skin—to fight for a future of racial justice and electing leaders who work for all of us. Attorney General Keith Ellison echoed the sentiment and encouraged attendees of the rally to continue to show up and make their voices heard.
Attorney General Ellison also brought attention to the planned posthumous pardoning of Max Mason, an African American citizen who was wrongly convicted of assaulting a young Duluth woman in 1920. Ellison stated that this pardon also calls attention to the greater justice inequities that are still present in modern day Minnesota, and everyone should be facilitating conversations on how these inequities can be properly addressed. Following the rally, members and allies of the Council spent the day meeting with legislators to discuss their legislative goals.
