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"Stupid Politricks might cost someone their life. Leave the MFD alone!"

“Let’s start by laying off Social Workers; City Council members and get a refund on those water fountains. It would also help for voters to assist in dismantling the DFL Political Plantation in Minneapolis.”

by Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief/ IBNN NEWS and Black Politics in Minneapolis

Minneapolis, MN (IBNN NEWS/Editorial Opinion/August 23, 2011 from Corolla, NC)…The City of Minneapolis has some departments that work and others which only fill up space in city hall to provide atmosphere. The Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights has no real functioning operation other than to give an “appearance” that Minneapolis is about the justice and equality for people of color, race and class. After several documented studies and investigations, the idea that Minneapolis’ Civil Rights Department is a pro-active part of the city’s infrastructure to protect civil rights is folly and has no credence whatsoever.

In a story last week by veteran Star Tribune reporter Steve Brandt, he reported that “Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak vetoed the City Council’s stopgap effort Friday to prevent the layoffs of 10 firefighters, despite warnings that it would mean longer response times to emergency calls around four fire stations.”

The surprising – or not so surprising part of the city council vote was that city council members John Quincy, Lisa Goodman, Betsy Hodges, Don Samuels and Robert Lilligren all voting in support of Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak’s “Layoff the Firefighters and take back the MFD from the current leadership in Minneapolis,” which is Black.

The layoff’s of any fire fighters in Minneapolis presents an issue which does involve the leadership of the MFD with some racial overtones.

Let me explain myself.  The Minneapolis fire department is led by African-Americans. There’s a war in Minneapolis against anything being led by Black folks: unless it has something to do with tornado victims in north Minneapolis – then Black leadership (handpicked) is put in position to control questions, inquires and the dissatisfaction of poor Black folks in that might be frustrated with the current DFL political plantation lack of concern and action. The frustration can be seen in this case in the increased amount of violence in north and south Minneapolis in the last week. The “frustration” is the reason why a 14-year old baby is gunned down in cold blood.

The passing of a motion to “layoff” firefighters sends a signal to the Black firefighters that Minneapolis officials want to “take back the city’s fire department” using antiquated, budget reasoning. Keep it real Minneapolis; you can find money to give mostly White neighborhood organizations and buy unneeded water fountains – but you can’t find money to pay for the public’s safety?

President Obama has the same challenge with the right wing zealots who proclaim that Obama must be defeated to “take back America.” The only problem, taking back in this case doesn’t have anything to do with the American people; it’s only a focus to take back from a Black man.

If the city of Minneapolis played by the rules, it clearly would review the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights and disband the agency because simply put, “the MDCR is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars.

Furthermore, the continued “shredding” of civil rights cases is not civil rights investigation. Re-route the funds to the Minneapolis Fire Department. They’ve done more civil rights work in the community than the MDCR will ever do.

Up next: “The Rise of Murderapolis…Again.”