In tribute to John Lewis: Renew the Voting Rights Act
John Lewis, civil rights hero and congressman, has died with his cause unfinished.
Community Voices
Community Voices features opinion pieces from a wide variety of authors and perspectives. MinnPost welcomes submissions on current topics of broad interest in Minnesota. We suggest that they be limited to 800 words.
If you’re interested in joining the discussion, see our Submission Guidelines.
Community Voices features opinion pieces from a wide variety of authors and perspectives. (Submission Guidelines)
Minnesota must reform its criminal expungement system
The process for obtaining criminal expungement is an obstacle course. It is in many ways designed to make the re-entry of individuals with criminal records impossible.
On police training and attitudes: Jesus vs. the ‘bulletproof mind’
Over the past decade, training to develop “bulletproof/warrior minds” has invaded police departments.
Peacefulness, COVID-19 and the killing of George Floyd
The first factor impeding U.S. peacefulness is inequality. A second factor is the militarization of foreign policy and domestic policing.
From outrage to disinformation: It’s time to reform social media
Online outrage has exploded on platforms like Twitter and Facebook, where there’s no shortage of partisan smearing. So has disinformation about social and political issues.
Protect our kids from Betsy DeVos
DeVos has led the Department of Education to change Title IX in order to loosen efforts to protect children from abuse and to increase protections for the abusers.
When electoral politics disappoint, uprisings are our Option C
People all over the country are embracing option C because they do not trust our institutions and leaders to look out for us.
A new birth of freedom: Why current American pessimism is misplaced
The people now assembling in the streets are not demanding that we overthrow our original ideas; they are demanding that we live up to them.
Safety is rooted in everyone having enough resources
What keeps our communities safe is providing the circumstances and tools for well-being. Together we can tackle the root causes of crime.
Observations on the media: judge of its own fallibility
The press isn’t perfect, and if it understands that fact, perhaps the press will do a better job the next time — if so, we’ll all benefit.
Though problems mount, there is an effective way to offer a hand-up to youngsters
Oprah Winfrey, based on her own experiences, said “a mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”
How supporting my neighborhood has put me at risk of being sued
Thankfully, Congress can take action to provide reasonable liability protection for essential businesses.
Investing in personal care assistants is critical to health care in Minnesota
Because the health care coverage our clients receive is through Minnesota’s Medicaid program, the rate which the state will pay for services is capped by the Legislature, and these rates are barely enough to cover the cost of care.
Twin Metals and PolyMet: Why is one mine objectionable and not the other?
The Minnesota Supreme Court has a chance to promote environmental justice in the question of copper sulfide mining in Minnesota; let’s hope the court rises to the occasion.
Lawmakers must deliver bold, decisive police reform now
Minnesotans should be proud and heartened by Gov. Tim Walz’s call to action to reform policing in Minnesota. We should also be ashamed and angered by some legislators’ refusal to seriously discuss police reforms with the governor.
Full-service community schools model supports all students and families
This nationally recognized model is a strategy for equity that aligns school and community resources for student success.
Crisis in primary health-care access underscores the need for Community Health Centers
Recent decisions by large health systems in Minnesota to shutter primary care clinics have the potential to disrupt care for thousands of Minnesotans.
White Minnesotans must listen now, and then work for racial justice
Our fellow Minnesotans’ lives are threatened by the very systems we have built. Black, brown and Indigenous Minnesotans told us this, but we did not hear.
Ellison extends a proud history: Holding ExxonMobil and Koch accountable
Minnesota has some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country, and few situations are better suited to them than the actions of Exxon, Koch, and API.
The key steps to substantial and sustainable police reforms
The Minneapolis City Council members admit their outline lacks specifics. At the very least we need an interim plan of concrete steps that can be taken. Here are our recommendations.
