MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Minnesota State Fair draws crowds from all over the state and many walks of life. It is not immune to the same structural forces that make Minnesota the worst in the nation when it comes to racial disparities in policing, healthcare, education, housing, and employment. On Thursday, August 20, the St. Paul group of Black Lives Matter launched the #BlackFair march and rally to protest police killings, like that of St. Paul resident Marcus Golden. #BlackFair will also bring more awareness and dialogue about the lack of Black vendors at the State Fair and to highlight the lack of opportunity for Black businesses to thrive across the state in general.
In statements made to the press, Fair officials claim that the Fair’s vendors are diverse yet officials also admit that they do not track any racial data. They claim that “evidence” indicates a diverse group of vendors, yet they do not provide any data. They put forth no evidence to back their claims while at the same time concede that they do not collect and do not keep data regarding racial demographics of vendors.
The Minnesota State Fair is an important part of the Minnesota cultural landscape and economy. The Fair is part of a system that may not formally or overtly promote racial inequality, it operates within a structure that is inaccessible to and shuts out Black people collectively, especially low-income Black people. There is consistent data that points to informal and systemic race-based barriers for Black Minnesotans that impact our economic standing within the state. It is time for Fair officials to examine and refine their vendor policy guidelines to ensure that equity and inclusion are a part of the equation. The current system overwhelmingly benefits white vendors, which demonstrates that a new system is needed that takes into account the rich racial and ethnic diversity within Minnesota.
“Black people have been shut out of the Minnesota economy through excessive and unequal policing of their communities, limited educational access, lack of access to affordable housing and unequal employment opportunities. The St. Paul Black Lives Matter group is protesting at the Fair to demand that this insider system of inequality that continues to take and destroy Black lives must end. We want a serious commitment by all Minnesotans to end economic and racial inequality,” said Lena K. Gardner, organizer with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis.
“Black Lives Matter Minneapolis supports the Black Lives Matter St. Paul group and we will march in solidarity at #BlackFair. We support the efforts of Black Lives Matter St. Paul and we feel it’s important to have diverse Black voices working to end systemic racism and discrimination,” said Pastor Danny Givens, Jr. with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis.
“When we look at the data, and listen to the people most affected by racial and economic inequality, it is clear that racial and economic disparities are getting worse in Minnesota, not better. Politicians, leaders, and everyday people want to brush these problems under the rug and pretend that these problems don’t exist here. We have set forth our policy solutions, it is time to act on them,” said law professor and attorney Nekima Levy-Pounds, who is also president of the Minneapolis NAACP.
Black Lives Matter St. Paul group leader Rashad Turner says, “We will not be silent while everyday Minnesotans continue to ignore these immoral and shameful racial and economic inequalities. What people have been doing is not working to the benefit of people of color. There will be no more ‘business as usual’ while poor Black people and communities continued to be ignored, overlooked, and silenced.”
The Black Lives Matter movement is national, there are groups and chapters all over the country. This march is hosted by the Black Lives Matter St. Paul group. And you can find more comprehensive policy solutions, put together with a variety of groups that are part of the national movement for Black Lives at the Campaign Zero website.
