Delusion and Denial in Powderhorn

A south Minneapolis neighborhood’s namesake park was the scene of two rapes last Wednesday:

The four boys in custody — two are 14, while the others are 15 and 16 — could face felony charges of robbery and criminal sexual conduct, though charges are still pending, [police spokesman] Garcia said.

The first assault occurred about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis. It began as a robbery and escalated to rape, according to police.

A mother was cross country skiing through the snowy park with her 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son when a group of juvenile males accosted them.

One had a handgun, police said.

Two of the boys raped the mother and threatened to rape the daughter, but the mother "basically says that's not going to happen," police Sgt. William Palmer said Friday.

The boys then ran off.

Minneapolis police and park police responding to the scene followed the boys' footprints for nearly three hours before coming to a house in the 3200 block of Bloomington Avenue South.

Behind the house, officers found three of the boys from the park in the midst of sexually assaulting two girls, ages 16 and 18.

In my time as a Community Organizer, I met many people from the area and from its neighborhood organization. They fit a stereotype of pale-skinned urban leftoids very proud of their old houses and their diverse multi-colored neighbors. Like most of Minneapolis, Powderhorn is a DFL stronghold.

In reaction to these hideous crimes, some of the neighbors are holding a vigil. Not that such events ever produce meaningful reductions in crime, but at least it makes people feel better. Hugs for everybody!

Gary Schiff, south side City Councilmember—and Mayoral hopeful—sent out an email announcement about the vigil. Here it is:

Powderhorn Park residents have come together to organize a “Peace in Powderhorn” vigil to honor those affected by violence. The candlelight vigil will be held this Wednesday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the corner of 32nd Street East and 14th Avenue South, the northeast corner of Powderhorn Park. The event is also to reclaim Powerhorn Park and all the things that make the neighborhood unique, including art, music, creativity, diversity, acceptance, and peace.

Neighbors are also encouraged to attend a meeting to brainstorm safety ideas on Thursday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Powerhorn Park Neighborhood Association, 821 East 35th Street. Participants will discuss ways to use their strength and creativity to make the neighborhood a safer place for everyone to live and thrive. Ideas so far have included dog-walking groups, neighborhood monitors, park patrols, community chants and meditations for healing, and yoga and youth newspaper classes. All ideas are welcome and serve to make the community even stronger.

Yeah, rapists are usually deterred by chanting and meditation. Any chance that the idea that there’s something fundamentally naive or willfully ignorant in the world view of these neighbors would be welcome?

Also of note, both the linked news story and the Minneapolis fishwrap’s version make no metion of the background of the suspects. But I am confident even the most chant-a-philic neighbors suspect it was people of darker pigmentation, not born in the United States.

Being devout lefties, they would never say it out loud, and maybe not even acknowledge it themselves, but that guess is correct:

It is known that a large group of Somali men were in the park playing football at the time that the incident occurred. It is believed that some of these players witnessed this incident or may have information as to who is responsible. Sex Crimes investigators are requesting that any individuals who have information about this case come forward.

The suspects are described as two Somali males in their late teens with medium builds.

It strikes me as parallel to the Catholics who denies there was a problem between Priests and young boys.

Related: The Christmas Tree bomber in Oregon is linked to South Minneapolis Somalis.