minnesota
-
Minn. Cop Charged With Assault After Punching Handcuffed 14-Year-Old Girl in the Face Because She Spat on Him
A St. Paul, Minn., police officer is attempting to claim self-defense after punching an unarmed, mentally distressed 14-year-old girl in the face. But let’s start at the beginning. According to the Washington Post, back in December, there was a 14-year-girl who needed psychiatric help and was possibly suicidal. She was clearly distressed, according to court…
-
Black Judge Removed From Philando Castile Shooting Case
Lawyers representing St. Anthony, Minn., Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez in the shooting death of Philando Castile filed a notice to remove a black judge—Ramsey County, Minn.’s second-most-senior judge—from the case, the Star Tribune reports. According to the report, the notice to remove Ramsey County District Court Judge Edward Wilson was filed Thursday, citing a rule…
-
Somali-American Teen Participates in Pageant Wearing Hijab, Burkini
Halima Aden, 19, became the first Somali American to participate in the Miss Minnesota USA competition, ABC 7 Chicago reports. She competed in the pageant over the weekend in a hijab and a burkini, a bathing suit covering everything but her feet, hands and face. Aden was born in a Kenyan refugee camp and lived…
-
Minn. Bus Driver Uses Racial Slurs Before Kicking Kids Off Bus, Stranding Them
A Minnesota bus driver hurled racial slurs at a bunch of middle school students before forcing them off the bus and leaving them stranded in an industrial park in Moorhead, Minn. Horizon Middle School student DeShanna Dotson told WDAY that the bus driver left her and about 20 students on a street around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.…
-
Wannabe Islamic State Fighters Sentenced to Prison
Guled Omar, 22, described as a leader of a group of nine who plotted to fight for the Islamic State group, or ISIS, was sentenced to 35 years in prison by a federal judge on Wednesday, CBS News reports. Omar, of Minnesota, was one of nine defendants found guilty of a plot involving travel to Syria…
-
Philando Castile's Family, Girlfriend Speak Out After Cop Is Charged With Manslaughter
Philando Castile’s family and loved ones are expressing relief that the Minnesota officer who shot and killed the beloved school cafeteria worker will be facing charges. In addition, according to KARE-TV, Castile’s family are in full support of the decision to charge St. Anthony, Minn., Police Officer Jeronimo Yanez with manslaughter in Castile’s death instead…
-
Minn. Officer Who Fatally Shot Philando Castile Charged With Manslaughter
The St. Anthony, Minn., police officer who shot and killed Philando Castile earlier this year during a traffic stop will be facing manslaughter charges, NPR reports. According to the report, Rasmey County Attorney John Choi has claimed that the use of force by Officer Jeronimo Yanez was not justified and that a review of dashcam…
-
Meet Ilhan Omar, the Nation’s 1st Somali-American Muslim Legislator
If you need something to brighten your spirits during this tough election cycle, Minnesota community activist Ilhan Omar became the first Somali-American Muslim female legislator Tuesday night. In truth, Omar, 34, became the clear front-runner for the position in August when she defeated a 44-year incumbent to become the Democratic nominee. She faced little Republican…
-
Minn. Woman Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Another Woman for Speaking Swahili
A Minnesota woman has taken a plea deal and pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman in a restaurant just because that woman was speaking Swahili, the Associated Press reports. In October 2015, Jodie Burchard-Risch smashed her glass beer mug in Asma Jama’s face while at an Applebee’s in Coon Rapids, Minn., injuring Jama. According to…
-
Video of Black Minn. Man Being Handcuffed for Walking in Street Sparks Outrage
A video of a black Minnesota man being handcuffed for walking in a street near a sidewalk that was closed for construction is sparking social media outrage, CBS News reports. The video was filmed by a bystander and posted to YouTube. It shows a plainclothes Edina, Minn., police officer holding the man, identified as Larnie…