1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring the life of Ronald Alfred Edwards.
1.3WHEREAS, those who serve their communities as advocates for marginalized groups and work to
1.4amplify the voices of disenfranchised individuals within our state perform a vital function; and
1.5WHEREAS, Ronald Alfred Edwards, affectionately known as Ron, was born to Mary and Alfred
1.6Edwards on January 10, 1937, in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved to Minneapolis at the age of seven and
1.7remained an active and involved citizen of the Twin Cities until his death on January 1, 2020; and
1.8WHEREAS, Ron considered himself to be a community advocate who spoke out about the importance
1.9of human and civil rights regardless of who held positions of power. In the 1970s, he challenged the all-white
1.10Minneapolis Fire Department to desegregate their ranks; and
1.11WHEREAS, despite being an unrelenting critic of police brutality, Ron befriended a number of black
1.12officers within the department, finding opportunities for kinship in the effort for people of color to gain
1.13acceptance and equity within the institution; and
1.14WHEREAS, in the 1980s, Ron filed lawsuits against the city of Minneapolis, demanding the police
1.15department be held accountable for discriminatory hiring practices that excluded people of color, continued
1.16instances of police brutality, and departmental abuse of power within the community. He spearheaded the
1.17call for a Justice Department investigation into the 1984 police shooting of a young black man named Sal
1.18Saran Scott. As a result of his continued activism, Ron was appointed by a federal magistrate to supervise
1.19a civilian structure overseeing the process of desegregating the Minneapolis Police Department, spanning
1.20nearly 30 years; and
1.21WHEREAS, throughout his life, Ron was involved with a number of civic boards, commissions,
1.22and panels. He is believed to be the longest-seated chair of the Minneapolis Urban League and served as
1.23the head of the Minneapolis NAACP. For almost 40 years, he hosted "Black Focus," a weekly television
1.24program which aired in the Twin Cities, never missing an episode; and
1.25WHEREAS, Ron worked for Northern States Power for many years before retiring and focusing
1.26solely on his activism efforts. As one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in the Twin Cities, Ron
1.27leaves behind a legacy of brilliance and determination by challenging the status quo and demanding
1.28accountability when faced with systemic injustice;
1.29NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it recognizes
1.30the contributions of Ronald Alfred Edwards and extends deep condolences to those whose lives he touched.
1.31BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an enrolled
1.32copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the Chair of the Senate
1.33Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the family of Ronald Alfred Edwards.

Cal R. LudemanSecretary of the Senate

Paul E. GazelkaChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration

Jeff HaydenState Senator, District 62

Bobby Joe ChampionState Senator, District 59