Black leaders meet with Minnesota lawmakers to end racial disparities

A group of black community leaders met with lawmakers at the Capitol on Wednesday with a legislative agenda to end racial disparities in Minnesota for good.

They are hoping to address three key areas: Creating equality in housing, education, and jobs – areas Governor Dayton has pledged $100 million towards addressing. And while many are excited about the prospect of real progress, others won't believe it until they see it.

The agenda suggests things like creating equal access to capital and jobs, placing a ban on private prisons, and increasing the penalty for hate crimes.

“We need to do this together to build the future in the state of Minnesota that looks like all of us and has space and opportunity for everybody, and we're not there yet,” Rep. Erin Murphy said.

United Black Legislative Agenda supporters plan to meet regularly. They also hope to extract every dollar of the $100 million Dayton has pledged to help heal racial disparity in Minnesota.

Statement from Gov. Mark Dayton