The Experience of Ron EdwardsA Renaissance Black Man in a White Man's WorldA Beacon for Freedom in the City
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Patrol Officer Michael Griffin, Minneapolis police officer, indicted on nine criminal counts over bar fights, including perjury.
May 21, 2015
Three views:
1. Griffin's attorney: Griffin has "not broken the law.... innocent of all charges ... false accusations ... will be found not guilty.”
2. Ron Edwards: “ 'I do hope that we are not looking at a double standard by federal authorities because there have been a number of cases involving white officers over the last five years where federal authorities appeared to show no interest,' said civil rights activist Ron Edwards, a former president of the Minneapolis Urban League, who sits on a police oversight committee appointed by Police Chief Janeé Harteau."
"Edwards expressed regret at the turn of events for Griffin, who became an officer in 2007: '“It is so hard and difficult to get a person of color, African-Americans, into law enforcement in this state,” he said. “This was a young man who came into the department with high expectations. Something went wrong. He lost his vision of what he wanted to do.' ”
3. U.S. Attorney Andy Luger: “The race of an officer or victim is not and never will be a factor in my office’s charging decisions.”
We hope so. We seek fairness and justice. We'll be watching.
[Editor's note: Edwards has been called "the last man standing" supporting a Martin Luther King style non-violent civil rights movemement.
Posted May 21, 2015, 11:20 p.m.
Ron hosts “Black Focus” on Channel 17, MTN-TV, Sundays, 5-6 pm. Formerly head of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission and the Urban League, he continues his “watchdog” role for Minneapolis. Order his book, hear his voice, read his solution papers, and read his between columns “web log” at www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.
Permission is granted to reproduce The Minneapolis Story columns, blog entires and solution papers. Please cite the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and www.TheMinneapolisStory.com for the columns. Please cite www.TheMinneapolisStory.com for blog entries and solution papers.
