Alright – so, once in a while ok a lot, some politician says something so hurtful yet so true to their heart. Rep Newberger who is a Republican from Becker recently during House transportation policy debate said what his heart and mind were thinking “Boy, wouldn’t that be convenient, to have that rail line going from the prison to North Minneapolis”.
Please read that again, an actual Minnesota law maker saying that out loud. You can’t make this shit up. Clearly, this was no accident and Rep Newberger was thinking about this in his mind. It is just that his mouth said it before his mind can catch it.
Rep Moran who is usually mute when it comes to racial injustice as she was in so many autism bills spoke up. She told him off in a Minnesota nice way. I just wish, as the only Black legislator in Minnesota house – Rep Moran actually wrote bills and policies that fight and eradicate racial injustice. Sadly, she rarely writes good bills that have any lasting effects or produce positive results.
Plus, Rep Newberger wasn’t talking about structural racism, he is sadly just a racist legislator who said what his mind was thinking. And, when the state health department put the words “structural racism” in their report over a year ago, it was because that is what the people they talked to were telling them is one of the problems health disparity exists in Minnesota. Furthermore, health disparity exist because Minnesota department of health could care less. Oh sure, they talk a good game but they rarely have policies to match their empty words.
In other words, MDH talking about or caring about racial health disparity is oxymoron. MDH policies do the opposite of addressing racial health disparity.
Above words do not reflect any agency, candidate or committee
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate