May 21, 2001 -
June 7, 2001 - MPR presents a report entitled Postcard From A Lynching, which looks at the history of a 1920 murder of three Black men in Duluth by a local mob. It’s a history that many in Duluth tried to forget… but others fought to bring the horrific lynching to light in the community and bring dignity to the slain men. [Content Warning: some content, language, and statements used in this story may be triggering to listeners]
June 20, 2001 - Six Minnesota teens are the recent winners of a statewide competition entitled, "Youth Against Prejudice". The students competed with projects that explored themes against bigotry, racism and discrimination. Minnesota Public Radio's Kaomi Goetz has this report:
August 1, 2001 - MPR’s Art Hughes reports that new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show same-sex households account for nearly one percent of all Minnesota couples. The 2000’ Census figures provide the agency's most accurate count yet of same-sex couples. Advocates and officials alike say the numbers still don't accurately track the true number of gays and lesbians, but are an important marker nonetheless.
August 15, 2001 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer speaks with Michael Yang, director of the Immigrant and Refugee Policy Coalition of Minnesota, about ceremony at Bethel College's Benson Hall where 730 Hmong Veterans and widows from Laos will become U.S. Citizens.
August 15, 2001 - MPR’s Kaomi Goetz reports on historic ceremony in which 700 Hmong refugees became U.S. citizens at a bilingual ceremony in St. Paul. The event was made possible by a federal law giving special consideration to Hmong veterans who fought at the side of U-S forces during the Vietnam War.
October 4, 2001 - Magda Saikali, in her 40s and orginally born in Egypt grew up in Minnesota and has been here over 30 years. She owns an international clothing shop in St. Paul and is a spokeswoman for Teaching and Learning Islam, an educational community outreach group. Muslim women in Minnesota say they've been targets of discrimination and backlash since the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Many women who practice Islam wear the heijab, or headscarf, to demonstrate their belief in modesty. This show of faith makes them easy to single out for personal harrrassment...and many Muslim women say they are afraid to leave their homes.
October 10, 2001 - Al-Amal School is a private school located across the street from Totino Grace opened in 1994. Al-Amal allows for religion practices within the school day.
October 31, 2001 - MPR’s Marisa Helms reports that 10 openly gay candidates are running for office in Minneapolis in 2001. All of them are DFLers. Half are running for City Council seats; the remaining five are spread among the Library Board, Park Board, School Board and the Board of Estimate and Taxation. Political observers say that being gay is apparently not an issue for most Minneapolis voters.
November 15, 2001 - A collection of reports from the MPR special series "The Color of Justice," which investigates the racial disparity in Minnesota’s criminal justice system. This Midday program includes reports by MPR’s Dan Olson, Brandt Williams, and Elizabeth Stawicki, as well as various interviews and commentary of officials, academics, and community members.