Photos and blog post by John HoffThe upper Willard Homewood Neighborhood has a listserv, known as UWHO, and recently subscribers to that listserv learned of a bizarre incident at J&H Used Furniture And Antiques store, which is at 2421 West Broadway.
J & H is a sad little down-and-out store selling what appears to be second rate furniture, the kind of stuff you could get just as easily on Craigslist or a rummage sale. The store has a cracked window. Recently, some business calling itself Urban Exposure has announced it is doing business at the same address, selling "hip hop clothing and footwear."
Recently, a neighborhood activist named James Nelson dropped by J & H to inform store owners about a facade improvement matching grants program. What happened next is told in Nelson's words...
When I got to Urban Exposure (above J&H Furniture), I was assaulted by the store keeper. I went into the store, there was a table with lots of money and cards with 6 guys standing around gambling. I just stood there.
Finally, one of them asked what I wanted. I told them I came to shop. One guy showed me some shoes but saw I was still in shock. He asked what was wrong. I told him I am a block leader next door and I wanted to come build some community with our local businesses but why were they gambling in the middle of the store during business hours. He said it was slow. I said that's not the kind of business we want to portray in our neighborhood, it's illegal for one and folks don't want to feel uneasy seeing the first thing in their store is 6 guys gambling with lots of money all over. Folks don't feel comfortable walking in on that with a crowd of people they don't know in a store they've never been in.
He told me to stop coming at him. I said I wasn't coming at him but this wasn't right. The others started at me and told me to get my "faggot ass out." They said they'd call the police. I said I would 'cause they were the ones that weren't right. I tried to use the phone in J&H and the lady (they said that was their auntie) would not let me use the phone. All six followed me out the store as the continued to yell at me to leave and get my "faggot ass out."
I went next door to Mr. Afros barber shop. They let me use the phone. I called 911 with these guys still following me into the barber shop. As I was talking one of the guys hung up the phone. The barber shop told me to get out and go call over at Midas. When I went outside the one that kept saying "faggot ass" came at me and shoved me down. He told me to go call the
police over at Midas, so I told him I was going to. The Midas guys were great. I called 911 and waited at Midas until the police
arrived. The police cited him for 5th degree assault and I have to go to court about this when the police send me a notice.
...
JNS says: I'm glad Nelson is alright, but I wouldn't even walk around the block without my cell phone.
48 comments:
I don't think it was right to push this guy, but what was he doing harassing those people?
What business of his was it what they were doing on their private property? There's nothing wrong with playing dice and used beds probably don't sell too fast. Sounds like this guy brought the trouble on his self. If he minded his own business people wouldn't bother him.
I hope the cops charge him with trespassing for not leaving the furniture store when he was told to.
No, it sounds like it's the guy at the furniture store who will get charged, and rightly so.
This store the on above the othert one is known for selling fake clothes like fake Jordans, Air force 1's,fake purses and fake clothes brand names. Most likeley made in some third world sweat shop, anyways its like bootleg stuff isn't that against the law enough that some official might want to check that as well. Who wears fakes anyway?
Shamika,
I don't believe they should have been gambling there. James will not be charged with trespassing, that's absurd. The guy who pushed him was cited for a misdemeanor and another should be cited for a petty misdemeanor as well if he did in fact hang up the phone while James was calling 911.
I’m not sure if this applies 100% but check out the city’s webpage (http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/ward7/Ward_7_FAQs.asp) and go down to “Rental Licensing”. So it's obvious that gambling like that is of some concern.
Shamika, please define the definition of harassment.Is it harassment when you are trying to help a business better itself? No.Then let us get to the underLYING point here. You are obviously defending the actions of M***** F****** up to no good!You think it is alright to play CRAPS in an alleged legitimate furniture store.Let me guess ...... they are providing a service to the community,I will tell you straight that you truly do not give a shit but you will say you do and then throw either a racial, gender, or gay baiting remark like your friends did at who ever you please. You want tresspassing charges but do not mention assault charges so you are siding with the thugs.... gee it took me awhile to figure that out.YO.
Interfering with a 911 call is a gross misdemeanor. Trust me, I know.
Boathead,
I think they should both be charged. No reason to push people, but when you're told to leave private property, you better hustle your butt out. If not, the cops should be charging the trespasser as well.
If someone wants to throw dice on their own property it isn't anyone's business.
And don't go telling me that throwing dice in the hood should be illegal while betting on horses in Shakopee or pulling pull tabs in Eden Prairie is somehow morally different.
Also, there's a big difference between trying to help someone and telling someone what to do. It sounds to me like this James thought he was some sort of neighborhood police force or something. It's his own fault. You reap what you sow.
James may want to take all the urban character out of the neighborhood, but he needs to remember that there are a lot of people who aren't too interested in his "revitalization" efforts.
Maybe they were just apart of the atmosphere at an "urban clothing" store. I'm with Samika, a bunch of guys playing dice is not something to get all uptight about, mind your own. If they had been in a babershop playing poker among friends would you have raised the same hizzy?
The person at Mr Afros barber shop could also be charged. Refusing to let someone make a 911 call is also a crime.
What a sad situation ... this is a wasted opportunity for a Broadway business to take advantage of improvement dollars and build a relationship with folks who live in the community. This business, which is clearly open to the public, is only as private as the Burger King down the street. So, of course it is the neighborhoods "business" to check out what is going on. As it turned out, there were apparently a couple of thugs that didn't like getting call out on their bad and illegal behavior, and they retaliated.
Shamika.
This is the type of behavior that will not be tolerated any longer around here. I don't care what people call me. If they don't like it, leave. I am sorry, but if they are so mentally unstable to do that to someone, they deserve to be charged with a crime.
Defending their action is nothing more than defending the status quo. Look around NoMi has reached the tipping point. Time to either change your ways, leave or face our persistance.
7:36,
I think you're wrong. Nosy people like this James going around and telling people what to do is the type of behavior that won't be tolerated in NoMi anymore.
As sad as it may be for you people, NoMi is a part of town with some urban character. There are people who live here who have different values and mores than you do. Some of us don't think twice about playing dice in the middle of the day. It's actually not a bad way to earn money, if you're good at it.
The bottom line is that we will continue to resist your efforts to turn the neighborhood into another Uptown.
We are winning and we will continue to win.
I think that the fact they got violent with the guy changes the whole situation.
If they want to act that way, I have no tolerance for their behavior.
What is espcially bad is the fact that this guy from the neihborhood was coming into to help them get money to fix this place up.
Obviously, this business owner is to busy gambling to live in the solution to the problems on West Broadway.
The key point here is that the people playing cards or dice were gambling, which is illegal. Do we know if the owner of the store is the owner of the PROPERTY or just the owner of the BUSINESS? Because that's also a salient point when one tries to say, "Let 'em do what they want on their own property."
And frankly, I wish there were something that the barber shop employee or owner could be charged with here. A man was trying to call 911 and was assaulted, and he's told that HE has to leave? That is just plain wrong. What if those six guys would have escalated the assault and severely beaten or killed Mr. Nelson? That would be on the conscience of the people in the barber shop, assuming they have one.
The ONLY thing Mr. Nelson should have done differently is that he should have had a cell phone.
In terms of the moral difference between the gambling in the furniture store and betting on horses in Shakopee (or NCAA brackets among friends, for that matter), morality is subjective and doesn't need to come into play here because what they were doing was illegal.
Boathead back on BORED. WHY BORED AND NOT BOARD YOU MAY WONDER.I AM BORED WITH THE BULL SHIT.NO REASON TO PUSH, AS YOU SO IRONICALLY PUT IT, A PERSON VERBALLY AS YOU CLAIM SINCE YOU WERE OBVIOUSLY THERE, BUT IT IS OKAY TO PHYSICALLY PUSH SOMEONE TO THE GROUND.THROWING DICE?? IS THAT WHAT THE STREET CODE FOR CRAPS IS THESE DAYS? COME SEVEN, COME ELEVEN COME OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN.COME TWELVE COME TWO, YOUR TWISTED MORALS LOSE LIKE YOU.WELL I GUESS I JUST GAVE YOU UNDUE CREDIT ABOUT HAVING MORALS.... OR WAS IT ETHICS? YOU WOULD NOT KNOW THE DIFFERENCES IF THEY EVER INTRODUCED THEMSELVES TO YOU.HELLO SHAMIKA I AM MR.MORALS AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET MY WIFE MRS ETHICS.WE AGREED THAT SHE COULD KEEP HER LAST NAME SINCE WE ARE SO DIFFERENT IN MOST ASPECTS ANYHOW BUT TO YOU WE WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME SO THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS...RIGHT?ONCE AGAIN YOUR IGNORANCE DOES NOT ASTOUND ME.YOUR--BLAH BLAH BLAH-- COVERT ATTEMPT AT RACISM WITH THE PULLTABS IN EDEN PRAIRIE AND HORSES IN SHAKOPEE SHIT DOES NOT CUT IT EITHER SINCE BOTH ACTIVITIES ARE WITHIN THE LEGAL STANDARD OF SOCIETIES ETHICS CODE AFTER ALL THEY SELL PULLTABS IN YOUR BELOVED"HOOD wORLD".GUESS WHAT SHAMIKA? THERE ARE ALOT OF US, REGARDLESS OF OUR SKIN PIGMENTATION, THAT TRULY LOVE OUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS. HERE WE GO: SHOUTOUT ONE LAST TIME TO SHAMIKA-YOU SHOULD UNDER GO A REVITALIZATION BEFORE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. P.S. NO MORE RESPONSES TO THIS NO MATTER WHAT THE REBUTTAL.I LOVE NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. BOATHEADS OFF TO COUNT SHEEP AND PONDER THE FORCES OF POSSIBILITY.
I am wondering if I read a different story?? I read, James saw cards, (not dice) at Urban Exposure, (Not J&H furniture), was asked to take his faggot ass out, (six citizens -VS- one faggot ass...I hope to be as brave as one faggot ass!)he took his faggot ass (out when asked) downstairs to J&H furniture to call 911 and was refused access to the phone,he (immediatly) left J&H with six citizens following his faggot ass to the barbershop...etc.
I think James was a very calm and composed person who did not shoot back with verbal punches or physical force, yet defeated overwhelming odds (six to one)fully recognizing that the behavior of individuals is what needed to be addressed. James had the wisdom to follow through with a conversation with Mr. Williams the Owner of J&H, and I am certain James is looking foreward to working with Mr. Williams in the future.
I see a perfect storm of change developing here on the northside, and most of this change involves being involved. Behavior is the change that must be addressed! Littering, jaywalking, boom boxing, street dealing, purse snatching, pan handling, raping, or killing a neighbor for turf. These are the behaviors of individuals that do not care about the effects they have on others. right or wrong in James's methods, his Actions were motivated by thinking of the effect it will have on others, and the buisness he was attempting to communicate with.
What North Minneapolis WAS most known for...staying out of other peoples business. If my wallet is being stolen, I hope someone will stick their nose in my buisness, if my wife is being raped, I hope someone will harass the thug, If someone is littering our street, I hope someone can say, "NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR IN THIS COMMUNITY"
Bad Behavior is NOT cultural or racial or sexual preferance... it is individual BAD behavior!
In Dikenson North Dakota, where the population is white as snow, littering is not cultural, it is BAD BEHAVIOR, and any one who can elude to any bad behavior, as in any way, cultural, racial or even regional, is insulting the lives of many leaders sacrifice, so we can have the CHOICE, and OPPORTUNITY to behave as we do.
Thank you James for choosing to think of others, and choosing not to fall prey to the actions and misbehavior of a few.
JNS Please correct the title of this story to reflect where the Alleged gambling took place, "URBAN EXPOSURE"
The Alleged Assault, (based on what I read/James Nelson) was on a sidewalk (not in J&H).
The owner of J&H is well known among the financially disadvantaged for supplying beds and furniture without consideration for J&H's bank accounts. I really do not believe Mr. Williams would condone this behavior and would welcome any opportunity to improve customer relations and presence at his store.
I hope the "community pimps" diverting the 80 million dollars per year in public funding that comes to the Northside get harassed a little, and at least one quarter(20 million?) of this money actually ends up IN and ON the Northside.
Get involved, stick our nose in, and do not support bad behavior!
I expect 10-20 more dead children this year on the Northside....is this acceptable behavior?
What a great neighborhood we have here! It just keeps getting better. Everything happens for a reason and I see why in yesterdays crazy day. I stopped by J&J to see the store for one (I hadn't been there before but have shopped at J&H for years). I sat and had fun talking with a worker while waiting for Larry Williams to show up (also a really helpful and funny guy). I have to make sure you all know, 1st, that Larry had NOTHING to do with yesterday. I was really, really glad I stopped by to visit with him. He remembered us talking at the WHO block party last year well (he had to wait an hour for me and his wife to stop talking how to heal our community. I told her she should run for office, really). Anyway, Larry, his daughter and a few others are meeting over at J&H on Sunday after church at True Vine (where many of the family attend as well, also good folks). Larry wants to make sure the store rented out above them and some of his young folks work as well (also good young folks that just need the village to help guide them). I'm going to wear the gear that I bought at the Crystal Urban Gear Store to show them I like their product (just not the environment I encountered yesterday). I think I'll even go shopping at Urban Exposure that day to show my support for their success (they do have the gear!) Larry and his wife and daughter (it's a family business) all want folks to feel welcome and that they have an upstanding image. He was really really sorry for what happened but was really really glad I wanted to build community as much as he does. After we meet, he wants to get on our U-WHO list so he, too (like some of our recent landlords joining) can know what is happening in his business' neighborhood and wants to contribute to its success and thriving. I found out Larry donates a lot of charity to True Vine community activities and outreach. The kid that assaulted me yesterday was just a friend of one of the folks working at Urban Exposure and Larry wants to know of any "shady" characters/activity going on there other than young folks just bein' young folks.
So, this rienforces my notion that positive energy spent works and conflict is good as it affords resolution. Larry's daughter called me as well earlier in the day and was very grateful for my communication. She's a chip of the old block as it goes. As you can see I am a fan of these folks and look eagerly to improve our NoMi with them added to our great team. A neighbor across the street from me said the neighborhood has gotten so quiet it is scary. For him to say that, we really have done and are doing a great thing here. With positive energy, prayer (I believe strongly in that for however you may pray..), and team work, we can make a difference and make NoMi the place to live. I believe Larry wants to address our list after we meet Sunday to make sure we all know where he stands on building community positively and in harmony (so, look for that). Also, he is eager to do the West Broadway Coalition improvements with the matching grant. He was real excited and wanted to just talk about that when I first arrived. I told him I would print it out again and give it to him on Sunday.
I lastly have to say I am truly looking forward to court with the young man that assaulted me as he reminds me so much of my son (was a foster son, but still my 22 year old son) who is now marrieds, working and living with his wife and kids as a GREAT dad. I'm really proud of him. He was a gun carrying, drug dealing, purse stealing thug (damaged by the hopelessness he was given by all surrounding him) and is/has turned into one of the nicest young men you will ever meet. I may be a dreamer, "I is who I is"!
Thanks for your time in reading this but I wanted to be sure to be clear (if I'm not, email me individually if you want as that's cool communication!).
God bless you all and keep up the fight (and prayers..),
James Nelson
I went to True Vine Baptist tonight. I needed some spiritual help. Turns out Rev Jesse is a good friend to the owner. He rattled off his number before I finished my sentence. I called the owner and asked him to call me. I said I would like to go in with him to talk to these kids that were way out of line. I don't want this to become a we against they. As a person with 30 years on these gambling kids, I would have been remiss in not telling them gambling on a banquet table in the middle of the store during prime shopping hours is not the way to earn trust from the neighborhood and store patrons. I buy almost all my clothes at the Urban Exposure in Crystal. They have great clothes at great prices and I was excited to find one a few houses away. But the people I have told to shop there would walk in and say "I went to this store in North Mpls and it was.....(not good)..". They would not say Urban Exposure on Broadway/26th. This kind of thing taints the community, not the store alone. So, I want to go in with the owner and explain this to these kids. I met the wife of the owner last year and told her she should run for office as her views are so strong about a good North Mpls. community. So, everything happens for a reason and maybe this will help some of these kids see that we need to work together for a better tomorrow. I haven't read any emails yet as I need to go to bed but thanks in advance for your great teamwork and concern as I know you all have so much of. I'll let you know how it goes.
God bless,
James Nelson
I too have noticed very peculiar activity while passing the store. Every time I passed their store in the summer there would be a white van parked directly in front blocking the entrance's view to the street and young men smoking marijuana in the stairwell going up to the store. I would not be surprised if there was more going on there besides gambling and drug use.
Daniel Rother
To Rob: I can see the point of your feedback, and so I have changed the title to say where, precisely, this took place...but from the perspective of somebody on the exterior of the store, there's not much difference between J & H Furniture and the Urban Exposure store.
You guys are being way too soft on this store. It needs to be shut down immediately. We should be out there picketing and letting these dirty thugs know that we won't tolerate this behavior in NoMi NO MORE!
We're not going to change this neighborhood by acting all friendly and nice. The time for that has come and gone. We need to make life as difficult as possible for the people that run this store and the people that try to shop there. Maybe the City can seize the property because it is being used for crime. The fight is on.
I'm calling 311 on them right now.
Maurice is right - this is a thug store, owned and operated by thugs, marketing to thugs. At first it was an SUV with a bunch of shoe boxes selling out beside J&H furniture, then they upgraded to a blue tarp tent in the parking lot and expanding their merchandise to tee-shirts and what not. Then eventually, evidentally, then got space inside the building.
Rolling dice or playing cards - it doesn't matter- where do you think a table full of money came from - hint: it ain't the used mattresses and fake Nike tennis shoes.
Thugs. Thug store. Thug behavior. Bye bye thugs.
Oh. And my gut tells me Shamika ain't really Shamika. More like some well known poverty pimp who likes to steal identity.
Boathead
As a fellow NoMi Warrior I agree with you 100%. Someone has to go!
"And it ain't going to be me"
I agree with the commentators who say this business needs to be shut down. It is not the kind of business we need in NoMi.
The used bed store should also be shut down. It just amplifies the "ghetto" image that NoMi has been struggling so hard to fight. Who in their right mind would want a used bed? This is a very good way to spread bed bugs and diseases.
It would be nice to see something more cultural there like a poetry reading room or something useful like a chai tea shop.
I have on more than one occasion seen young adult men urinating between the buildings at that location. I wonder if the plumbing is in working order?
Lot of haters on here.
Boathead, you is way too angry. You need to calm down. I can't read when you type in all caps. It gives me a headache.
You guys can spend all the time you want on the internet complaining about the people who live on the Northside, but you won't drive us out. Northside 4 life.
Patrick, I hope you are kidding. Who needs a used bed? Well, unfortunately, people who can't afford a new one need used beds and other used furniture.
All of my furniture is used. I have young children, and it'll get torn up and ruined in other ways, so I find it ridiculous to spend hundreds of dollars on a new set. There are no bed bugs or any other germs (obviously I would not purchase if I find anything to be questionable).
While I don't agree with young men pushing others around and calling them a "faggot ass," I also don't agree with what you're saying.
And before I get attacked, let me say that I do agree with neighborhood revitalization projects and chasing out the bad seeds. However, I used to live in Cincinnati, and near downtown/Over The Rhine went through a gentrification process. While it became a nice little urban place for middle class white people, the GOOD minorities and GOOD poor whites were forced out into the streets because they couldn't afford rent at the new apartment complexes that went up.
I hope that's not the case here. I don't know; maybe they were just unlucky in Cincy. There were no regulations in place to rehouse everyone in new properties specifically for those with low income, and from what I've heard, the slums that were torn down over by Bethune Elementary did have such regulations in place. Maybe it's better here. I just don't want to see good honest people thrown out to the street because they aren't middle class.
Great positive conclusion!! Tyrone, the man that shoved me over, called. I was going to talk to him in court but this was much much better. His mama told him he needs to find out a person's story before he judges to harshly (thanks mom for good home trainin'!). He apologized profusley and I did for my part as well. After talking about half hour, we found we have much in common. We have a passion for community was the main thing. We have both come from rough backgrounds. I told him, he is just the kind of man that can reach out to some of these young guys, struggling. He said that is his vision for himself as well. I invited him to the U-WHO get together on 4/11. I went shopping at J&J and at Urban Exposure and got some great deals at both places. I even had a crew of kids and myself hand out several hundred flyers for an event Urban Exposure is helping sponsor at Henry High School called the Swag Bash on 4/1 at 7:30 PM for high school kids. He and I are excited about working together in the near future to better our community. So, I just wanted to share what we can do together if we work through our conflict. We have a bright future here but it's a work in progress and will continue to be a work in progress (we need to keep this in mind). Hope, prayer, understanding and tenacity CAN work. It's hard, but works.
God bless,
James Nelson
Wow. I'm not sure what the intent was, but we all need to work and communicate thoroughly. Please join our list to keep up with our dialogue directly, please. After reading the article you wrote, I was really disappointed to see my words not quite said as I had actually said them. We need to be clear for all reading this article. The alercation was between myself and a person shopping in Urban Exposure who called me names and followed me outside and assaulted me (read below what a great relationship has turned out from this). The shop keeper never had anything to do with this. I think Urban Exposure store keeper needs an apology as the person that assaulted me was just one of the guys in the store (read below . Also, the assault was outside of the barber shop (whom also had nothing to do with this in any way). I never said the store keepers. We are working so very hard at building cooperation and understanding and inclusivness here in UWHO. I think Johnny, you need to tell the readers what I actually said. Please call or email at jamesdoublenelson@yahoo.com
Here is my follow up email copy and pasted:(read the net post as this post is getting too long for this site to accept....
What a great neighborhood we have here! It just keeps getting better. Everything happens for a reason and I see why in yesterdays crazy day. I stopped by J&J to see the store for one (I hadn't been there before but have shopped at J&H for years). I sat and had fun talking with a worker while waiting for Larry Williams to show up (also a really helpful and funny guy). I have to make sure you all know, 1st, that Larry had NOTHING to do with yesterday. I was really, really glad I stopped by to visit with him. He remembered us talking at the WHO block party last year well (he had to wait an hour for me and his wife to stop talking how to heal our community. I told her she should run for office, really). Anyway, Larry, his daughter and a few others are meeting over at J&H on Sunday after church at True Vine (where many of the family attend as well, also good folks). Larry wants to make sure the store rented out above them and some of his young folks work as well (also good young folks that just need the village to help guide them). I'm going to wear the gear that I bought at the Crystal Urban Gear Store to show them I like their product (just not the environment I encountered yesterday). I think I'll even go shopping at Urban Exposure that day to show my support for their success (they do have the gear!) Larry and his wife and daughter (it's a family business) all want folks to feel welcome and that they have an upstanding image. He was really really sorry for what happened but was really really glad I wanted to build community as much as he does. After we meet, he wants to get on our U-WHO list so he, too (like some of our recent landlords joining) can know what is happening in his business' neighborhood and wants to contribute to its success and thriving. I found out Larry donates a lot of charity to True Vine community activities and outreach. The kid that assaulted me yesterday was just a friend of one of the folks working at Urban Exposure and Larry wants to know of any "shady" characters/activity going on there other than young folks just bein' young folks.
So, this rienforces my notion that positive energy spent works and conflict is good as it affords resolution. Larry's daughter called me as well earlier in the day and was very grateful for my communication. She's a chip of the old block as it goes. As you can see I am a fan of these folks and look eagerly to improve our NoMi with them added to our great team. A neighbor across the street from me said the neighborhood has gotten so quiet it is scary. For him to say that, we really have done and are doing a great thing here. With positive energy, prayer (I believe strongly in that for however you may pray..), and team work, we can make a difference and make NoMi the place to live. I believe Larry wants to address our list after we meet Sunday to make sure we all know where he stands on building community positively and in harmony (so, look for that). Also, he is eager to do the West Broadway Coalition improvements with the matching grant. He was real excited and wanted to just talk about that when I first arrived. I told him I would print it out again and give it to him on Sunday.
(to be continued on next post....thanks for stickin' with me...)
(still continued on nex
I lastly have to say I am truly looking forward to court with the young man that assaulted me as he reminds me so much of my son (was a foster son, but still my 22 year old son) who is now marrieds, working and living with his wife and kids as a GREAT dad. I'm really proud of him. He was a gun carrying, drug dealing, purse stealing thug (damaged by the hopelessness he was given by all surrounding him) and is/has turned into one of the nicest young men you will ever meet. I may be a dreamer, "I is who I is"!
Thanks for your time in reading this but I wanted to be sure to be clear (if I'm not, email me individually if you want as that's cool communication! ).
God bless you all and keep up the fight (and prayers..),
James Nelson
OK, that's it, no more to be cont...
Thank you Johnny for the team work!! It's greatly apprecitated and hard to come by. So, thanks! Great dialoging
In regard to any changes in the original email, I cleaned up grammar and spelling plus cut off some extraneous fat on the email, like making referenced to an attachment.
Here is the original email. Readers can judge for themselves whether anything worthwhile and notable was left out and whether PARAGRAPH BREAKS were needed:
-----------------
Interesting afternoon. I copied this attachment and went to give
copies to a few local businesses on 26th/Broadway. When I got to
Urban Exposure (above J&H Furniture), I was assaulted by the store
keeper. I went into the store, there was a table with lots of money
and cards with 6 guys standing around gambling. I just stood there.
Finally, one of them asked what I wanted. I told them I came to shop.
One guy showed me some shoes but saw I was still in shock. He asked
what was wrong. I told him I am a block leader next door and I wanted
to come build some community with our local businesses but why were
they gambling in the middle of the store during business hours. He
said it was slow. I said that's not the kind of business we want to
portray in our neighborhood, it's illegal for one and folks don't want
to feel uneasy seeing the first thing in their store is 6 guys
gambling with lots of money all over. Folks don't feel
comfortable walking in on that with a crowd of people they don't know
in a store they've never been in. He told me to stop coming at him.
I said I wasn't coming at him but this wasn't' right. The others
started at me and told me to get my "faggot ass out". They said
they'd call the police. I said I would 'cause they were the ones that
weren't right. I tried to use the phone in J&H and the lady (they
said that was their auntie) would not let me use the phone. All six
followed me out the store as the continued to yell at me to leave and
get my "faggot ass out". I went next door to Mr. Afros barber shop.
They let me use the phone. I called 911 with these guys still
following me into the barber shop. As I was talking one of the guys
hung up the phone. The barber shop told me to get out and go call
over at Midas. When I went outside the one that kept saying "faggot
ass" came at me and shoved me down. He told me to go call the
police over at Midas, so I told him I was going to. The Midas guys
were great. I called 911 and waited at Midas until the police
arrived. The police cited him for 5th degree assault and I have to go
to court about this when the police send me a notice.
With all that said, I have talked to the owners of J&H at the UWHO
block party sponsored by Handy Stop. Very sensible folks. I'm sure
they would not want this going on. The owners name is Jerry Lee
Williams Sr. as listed on the property info site. But, there is no
phone number and is unlisted in "DEX". Does anybody know the contact
information or can they forward this information to him? I would
really appreciate it.
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In regard to whether you are a dreamer: you dream your dream, I'll dream mine. I dream of these thugs going to jail where they belong.
That should say "making reference" to an attachment.
Thanks for the update James. This is great evidence that not all of the people who dress differently or speak differently are bad, dangerous people who need to be driven from the neighborhood. Just haters, I tell you.
And John, does this mean that good, decent people can have bad grammar or is James Nelson just a no good thug?
(P.S. my word verification thing said hymen. Weird.)
There are indeed good and decent people who have bad grammar. But I have yet to encounter a thug with good spelling and grammar.
Thank you Johnny and Shamika. Your words are both appreciated. Sorry, I work in an elementary school and my grammer needs to be correct as an example to the kids and parents that we know what we are teaching. So, don't ever hesitate to correct me. I have faults (it's proves I'm human).
God bless you both and thank you both, as we work together for the most inclusive part of Mpls.: North Mpls. (NoMi).
Sorry, that last thank you to Johnny and Shamika was from me and I wanted all to know I appreciate both. I must have missed marking my name to show. Sorry, James Nelson
I am Boathead and i am not way too angry.I am a lifelong citizen of North Minneapolis resident who knows more about this area rich in history.There is a one hundred percent chance that i have more black friends presently than you have had your whole sorry life and i do not care how old you are or how old you may live to be.Why even bring up race? You is trippin hard and perpetratin, SHAMIKA, if you think people arent on to your subliminal game of racial tag you play.Picked the wrong venue did you? Boathead will cease to play your by your rules.Skin pigmentation is obviously a figmentation of your childish like imagination.I AM NORTHSIDE4LIFE!People of all colors will unite bring down all of the nattering nabobs of negativism.In the words of the great Martin Luther King; We may have all come over on different ships, but were all in the same BOAT.Sincerely,BOAThead.Au Revoir, Bon soir and stay who you are.
James Nelson shows an incredible attitude that we can all learn from. By staying rational and taking an unbiased view of an emotionally charged situation, a stronger community network is forged where different peoples can discuss their differences LIKE HUMAN BEINGS. We NEED rational people to achieve peace, those who don't let emotions get the best of them. I don't want Northside to be another uptown, its cultural diversity is what makes it so cosmopolitan and unique. ALL I WANT is to be able to walk down the street at any time of day without worrying about my safety. NOMI shouldn't be a cultural revitalization, it should be a safety revitalization. P.S. Mr. Nelson you're my hero, keep up the great attitude.
James Nelson is an idiot.
Marz,
I'm sorry but you are late to the ball. Those thugs you are praising were just caught selling the dangerous drug marihuana. And the clothes they were selling were counterfeit. Urban Exposure and the used bed store will be shut down and hopefully the proprietors of those businesses will serve long stints in the penetentiary.
I find it hard to believe the owners and/or operators of the "used bed store" were entirely innocent about what was going on with the other business sharing the same address. A little birdie tells me the owner of the "used bed store" considers herself some kind of "political kingmaker."
Well, let's see how far her political connections (if any) will get her in light of this situation.
On another note...
James Nelson has a good heart. James can call on God and I will call on 911 and 311. God's will be done either way.
Thanks for makin' me laugh out loud anonymous: "James Nelson is and idiot". Thanks. As it says in the Good Book: "God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise". So, thank you. I did post some of my thought on the other blog about this store if you want to read more of my idiot ideas.... Also, the owners of this store really are great folks if you get to know them. Also, she sure is smart (to me) when it comes to politics. But, then again, I'm just an idiot....
I still like this blog where all can speak their minds (and remain anonymous). Thanks John for this venue. God bless ALL of you, James
James is a good man. He walks the walk...
You do have a great blog. Thanks JNS!
Thanks Mike (also a great neighbor, by the way) and well said Shamika. See, positive energy is contagious just as much as negative. Let's continue getting positively contagious whi9le staying honest with ourselves!
God bless, James
YES THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY INTIMIDATING, BY BOYFRIEND AND I WENT THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES TO PURCHASE ITEMS, AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SOME NICE THINGS IN THERE, THEY LOOK AT YOU SUSPICIOUSLY LIKE THEY ARE READY TO REACH FOR A WEAPON OR TO SEE IF YOU ARE WEARING SOME TYPE OF WIRING TO SET THEM UP, IT IS ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT. THEY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND I WILL NOT SPEND ANOTHER DIME THERE. I HOPE THEY GET RAIDED, OH DON'T THINK THE COPS AIN'T WATCHING, THUGS HANGING ALL ON THE OUTSIDE TO TIP THEM OFF. LASTLY I WOULDN'T BUY A LAMP FROM J&H !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR BLACK OWNED STORES AND IT IS THE MAIN REASON I REFUSE TO SPEND WITH MY BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY DON'T RESPECT THE CONSUMERS
Really John? You're posting racist messages now? This is terrible.
The color of the owners skin is inconsequential.
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