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Many Black men in Hennepin County have been targets around investigations that are predatory in the sense of race, racism and skin color. IBNN News interviewed Mr. Jermaine Alexander and the questionable circumstances behind the evidence in his case.
by Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief/The Independent Business News Network
"Mr. Jermaine Alexander: No skittles, No Ice Tea."
Minneapolis, MN (IBNN NEWS/Justice/June 1, 2012)…I was first introduced to Jermaine Alexander when he took part in a panel discussion on education and Black youth in the public schools at the University of Minnesota’s UROC facility. Jermaine, who has a child in a public school in Plymouth, challenged the system and the actions towards his child. Since then, he has been a target of harassment by not only the school, but also the local police department.
40-year old Jermaine Alexander has been in the Hennepin County legal system for the last two-years. Jermaine says, “I’ve been doing good for the last 10 years. My life has not always been this great but under these circumstances, this is not justice, this is a public lynching reminiscent of slavery.”
The facts: On September 10, 2010, two maintenance workers at the Jefferson’s Apartments in Plymouth, Minnesota found what looked like two spare-key magnetic key holders filled with what was allegedly to this day, an unknown white substance. The Plymouth Police were called to the apartments to investigate what these two White maintenance workers thought could have been crack-cocaine or meth. The police officer asked the maintenance men if they had any idea who the unidentified substance belonged to? They mentioned the name of the Black female who lived there and her visiting boyfriend Jermaine Alexander. These maintenance workers also told police, they assumed ladies visiting the resident could be involved in prostitution.
The facts of the case are this; at the time of this discovery of the alleged drugs in the trash-chute the Black female leaseholder and her boyfriend were the only Blacks on the floor where the trash-chute was located. These “ White-workers” found it very easy and believable to put all attention on the Black couple. While the Black female leasehold has a 19-year old daughter and friends who are professionals and employed – the stereotype created by the apartment complex workers is without merit and holds not credence in this case. This is just another example of racism unleashed with guilt prior to investigation just because of skin-color. (From Plymouth Police report #10046634)
Noted Civil Rights attorney Steven L. Smith has now taken on the case in defending Mr. Alexander against what IBNN sees as injustice and racism. Jermaine is a paralegal and hopes to continue working on his career.
Mr. Alexander also tells IBNN NEWS, “The police and the apartment complex employees practiced blatant racism for coming after the only Blacks on the floor. I feel I’ve paid my debt to society and now the justice system is trying to make me pay a debt that isn’t owed.”
Jermaine closes with, “This is why we (Blacks) have to stand against racial profiling and racism. This is not acceptable with a Black president in office and laws already on the books. I will not tolerate it, nor should anyone else!”
Mr. Alexander’s trial date is scheduled for June 18, 2012.
