I am confident that, given her law degree, Nekima Levy-Pounds, president of the Minneapolis NAACP, understands that Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's decision to not indict in the Jamar Clark case is driven by the evidence presented him during the review of the facts from the investigation ("NAACP wants Clark case reopened," April 5). In his role as a prosecutor, Freeman assessed the evidence and concluded that it did not provide the foundation for a conviction based on the standard of "guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." The disparities among eyewitnesses' testimony alone generate reasonable doubt. Freeman chose to not invest resources in a losing proposition, knowing he would be extremely unlikely to obtain a conviction of the officers involved in the shooting.
That said, what is Levy-Pounds' agenda? If it is to raise awareness of the ongoing tragedy of the death of black men in America, it is my opinion that she should focus on that topic directly rather that attempting to revive an investigation that holds no likely "just" outcome according to her perspective.
Brad Dimond, Richfield
PLASTIC-BAG BAN
Honestly, it's not such a hard thing for shoppers to adapt to
People who consider developing a list of stores they will shop at based on the availability of plastic bags ("Now I'll just shop in the next city," Readers Write, April 5) are wasting their time.
We are fortunate enough to live during the winter in Palm Springs, Calif., which adopted the ban some time ago. The city did so even though no other neighboring cities have done so. Business is booming all across the valley, including Palm Springs. The argument that people will go elsewhere has not panned out.
When the ban first went into place (which everyone knows is the right thing to do), the biggest frustration was forgetting the reusable bags in the car. Argh! We'd shout, then buy another reusable or, more likely — and to drive home the point to ourselves — take a couple of seconds and go get the one from the car trunk.
Now it's become such a good habit we use the multiuse bags when we come home to Minneapolis. It's not hard, folks. Minneapolitans are a smart group of people. You'll figure it out. And, meanwhile, tons of plastic waste won't be blowing around our streets and filling landfills. Don't bother making out that list of new stores to visit because you so desperately need their plastic bags.
Steven Williams, Minneapolis
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While having lunch on Monday at a lovely restaurant in St. Paul's Summit Hill neighborhood, near where I live, I sat facing a window that looked out onto the garden. Right in the center of my view was a white plastic bag snagged high in a tree and blowing in the wind like a raggedy old flag. I agree with the headline of Tuesday's Letter of the Day, "Now I'll just shop in the next city." That next city for me is Minneapolis, or any other municipality enlightened enough to ban plastic bags.