Alright – so, Rep Winkler from Golden Valley, MN says he is leaving the state legislature and I for one am happy about that. This representative has been an obstacle to justice and equity. As usual, a Caucasian reporter from MPR tells us that Rep Winkler was a sharp tongue legislator.
Ah, excuse me but having a sharp tongue should not describe Rep Winkler, more like juvenile and immature in my humble little opinion. I always love how we are told when a minority person is passionate about something – we are called angry, emotional, blah blah. When a White person is passionate about an issue then it is sharp tongue, smart, fighting for justice, yada and yada. Oh please.
Rep Winkler has called Justice Thomas whom I personally disagree with – uncle Tom. I know now what now – why would a White Minnesota legislator make such insensitive remark about a current Black U.S Supreme court justice. To give a hilarious lift – Rep Thissen stated Winkler was inpatient about injustice. Ahhh. now what now. Winkler was a member of Education policy and Public Safety and Crime Prevention committees in the House.
Let’s put this into context. Minnesota has one of the worst education gaps in the whole country and he was a member of a committee that is suppose to fix that. But, we are told he cares about equity. Come on now.
Don’t get me started on public safety and Minnesota’s issues with racial disparity in the justice system. Of the 87 counties in Minnesota – only one district attorney is a minority – Ramsey county. Zero is Black. The police cameras we hear so much during campaigns never pass in real time. The discretion of district attorneys are never recorded and there is no data or accountability for it.
Yet, Winkler cared about justice….come on now.
On a related note – Sen Bakk, (my other least fav legislator in Minnesota) was talking end of the session about the State Senate building and body history. It was condescending and almost painful to watch him describe how it was all White men senators and how women came in decades later. He even mentioned having the first openly gay senator, yet he did not mention the measly two Black senators, one of which was sitting behind him. He did not mention the hardship minorities go through daily in this upper body nor did he mention the voting rights act for Blacks. He did mention the women voting right though.
Both Sen Bakk and Rep Winkler have consistently and persistently voted against autism bills and equity for low income and minority autism children and families. I am glad Winkler is leaving and hope Bakk is defeated in the 2016 election. If Sen Bakk is sooooo good for minority issues in Minnesota – why do we have the highest racial disparities in almost every category? Think about it and please vote differently and wiser next election.
Above words do not reflect any candidate, agency or committee
Idil – Somali Autism Mom & Minority Advocate