In recent weeks it has come to light that two young women from the Northrop
neighborhood in Minneapolis were for years subjected to torture of every kind
by their father. These women are developmentally delayed and/or cognitively
disabled, functioning at a capacity significantly younger than their age. The
abuse started years ago when they were children.
The horror that was the life of these young women was further exacerbated by
the fact that just about every safety net we have in our society failed them.
Jurisidictions including Hennepin County Child Protection, the Minneapolis
Police Department, Minneapolis Public Schools, and health care providers KNEW,
or should have known. that awful, terrible things were happening to vulnerable
children in this house and they were left to suffer.
On 'Tax Day,' Sunday April 15, I plan to walk around the block bordered by 42nd
and 43rd streets, between 16th and 17th Avenues South in Minneapolis. Circling
this block will be notice to all the
officials in the above jurisdictions that they MUST do better by the children
of our community. I am walking to say, NOT IN MY BACK YARD. The buck stops with
us. If you live in Hennepin County or Minneapolis, I hope you will join me.