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Boreal Community Media

Racism in Cook County: a community conversation

Oct 06, 2017 11:20AM ● By Editor
A rally in Harbor Park was among the many settings where racism was discussed in Cook County. Photo by Ann Possis

By Joe Freidrichs of  WTIP Radio News - Friday, October 6, 2017

In recent weeks, the local school district in Grand Marais has become the focus of numerous media reports about racist bullying. A television station in Duluth made two trips to Grand Marais specifically to report on this topic of racism at ISD 166 and the community. There were special meetings held by concerned citizens, a rally was held in Harbor Park to raise awareness about racial harassment and hate speech in the schools and community. The topic of racism appeared in meetings of the local school board and Cook County Board of Commissioners. And, it appears, a local family of four are moving away as a direct result of racism they faced in the community.

“Racism in Cook County” was this month’s first Thursday community conversation. The program aired live on WTIP on Oct. 5.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with the following guests during the program:

--Rogier Gregoire, a human rights commissioner and a board member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial Foundation in Duluth.

--Grand Marais City Councilman Anton Moody

--Grand Marais resident Dave Nonnemacher. Dave is the father of two adopted daughters who are from Liberia, West Africa.

--Professor Anton Treuer, a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University and author of 14 books. Professor Treuer is also a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

Follow this link to the WTIP website to hear the entire community conversation on racism in Cook County. 

http://wtip.org/racism-cook-county-community-conversation
 

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