Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday delivered an upbeat 2021 “State of the State” address and said brighter days are ahead as the state is on track to beat the coronavirus pandemic.
“The state of our state is strong, Minnesota,” Walz said in a speech streamed live from Mankato West High School, where he taught social studies before joining politics. “This is our goal-line stand. Get vaccinated. We are coming back.”
The governor’s speech comes in the wake of milestones the state has achieved in fighting the pandemic. The state has so far vaccinated 1.5 million people which includes 80% of seniors.
“To everyone who has lost someone they care about this year, Minnesota’s heart breaks for you,” said Gov. Walz.
The governor’s address to the state came a day before the trial of Derek Chauvin who is facing murder charges of kneeling on the late George Floyd and killing him.
Walz evoked the name of Martin Luther King Jr. when he said “Please, Minnesotans, make your voices heard. Practice your First Amendment right — but please heed Dr. King’s advice that nonviolence is the only way to truly move hearts and create change.”
About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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