News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Tuesday December 23rd 2025
Frank Reflections: Star Tribune”'s Ethnic Distortion
By Frank Erickson
The Somali population Minnesota does not even come close to 1 % of the states”' entire population, so how can so few people create so many negative front page stories in the Star Tribune?
Is the Star Tribune aware that they are handling our local Somali community in a racist manner, treating the whole the whole Somali community as if it is a terrorist organization? Sensationalizing one “terror” story after another, all this to sell newspapers to the 95% white majority in our state. And in doing this, our daily newspaper is endangering and destabilizing the Somali community, backing them into a corner.
Even if a Minnesotan was connected to the massacre in Kenya”¦that would be one individual connected to it, not the entire Somali community. A community cannot commit crimes, only individuals can. The way the tribune handles it, the whole Somali community is put on trial. To expect the entire Somali community to answer for an individual”'s behavior is profiling and being racist.
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Alley Media Social: Success Through Collaboration!
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- Members from the BYI Teens Project work BYI Growing the Backyard CHAT to prep food for the Alley Media Social.
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- Amged Yusef, Spoken Word artist and one of leaders of the BYI Project S.E.L.F. CHAT
The Alley Media Social, the Annual Gathering of the Alley Communications, nonprofit, community-governed publisher of The Alley Newspaper, was held Friday, Nov. 16. A great time was had by the 75 or so folks who attended the event. A huge part of the night”'s success was the result of the ongoing collaboration of Alley Communications and the Backyard Initiative.
Several key collaborators from the Backyard Initiative took part in the evening”'s activities and helped the evening demonstrate the amazing talents and resources that exist within the community. The Backyard Initiative”'s (BYI) Growing the Backyard CHAT catered the wonderful food for the event. Members of the BYI”'s Teen Project were hired by Growing the Backyard CHAT to help with the food preparation. Amged Yusef, spoken word artist and leader of the BYI Project S.E.L.F.… Read the rest “Alley Media Social: Success Through Collaboration!”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
The Red Word
By Peter Molenaar
The good news is: My left hip joint is, at long last, scheduled to be replaced. However, the day the Washington “Redskins” came to town, I was in some serious pain after laboring eight hours behind the grinding wheel. To make matters worse, it was a cold day and evidently the barometric pressure was low. But, neighbors, the indigenous core of our community had issued a call to protest.
Happily, my resolve to participate prevailed over the forces of inertia. When I arrived a tad late, the crowd had already formed outside the Ancient Traders Market. The scent of burning sage united our spirits as the combined radiance of flesh dispersed the cold. There was no pain felt by being there.
Clyde”'s voice was amplified. “Warrior Woman” Betty McCollum declared that hate speech has no place in this country. Six-Pro-Bowls (Joey Browner) invoked his indigenous aspect while commending the sentience of Native youth. Our new Mayor Betsy Hodges was warmly received, as seen especially in the smiles of young women.
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