Spike Moss (activist)
{{short description|American activist against police brutality}}
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Harry "Spike" Moss is a community activist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has organized against police brutality and "Minnesota racism".{{cite news |last1=Grow |first1=Doug |title=The vindication of Spike Moss? |url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2015/11/vindication-spike-moss/ |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=MinnPost |date=17 November 2015}} The Associated Press state that he is a "civil rights leader";{{Cite web|date=2021-08-16|title=Minneapolis man convicted in activist's grandson slaying|url=https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-a417fc624e2bb3bfa89718de9b81f5c0|access-date=2021-09-29|website=AP NEWS|language=en}} Moss describes himself as a "freedom fighter".{{cite news |last1=Scullin |first1=Karen |title=Civil rights activist Spike Moss calls out Minneapolis City Council over inaction |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/civil-rights-activist-spike-moss-calls-out-minneapolis-city-council-over-inaction |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=FOX 9 |date=16 June 2020}}
Life and activism
Moss was born in Paris, Missouri,{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Brandt |title=Activist Spike Moss honored for activism |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/01/21_williamsb_spike/ |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=MPR News |date=21 January 2005}} and was raised in the "Jim Crow South".{{cite web |title=Comcast Honors Minnesota Civil Rights Champions |url=https://twincities.comcast.com/2018/10/05/comcast-honors-minnesota-civil-rights-champions/ |website=Comcast Twin Cities Region |access-date=29 September 2021 |date=5 October 2018}}
Along with Mahmoud El-Kati and Verlena Matey-Keke, Moss helped co-found The Way, a non-profit community center for Black youth.{{cite news |last1=Furst |first1=Randy |title=Founders and supporters celebrate The Way's 50th anniversary |url=https://www.startribune.com/a-symbol-of-minneapolis-black-power-the-way-celebrates-the-50th-anniversary-of-its-founding/389326391/?refresh=true |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=Star Tribune |date=5 August 2016}} Moss ran the recreation department, organizing activities for youth living in Northside Minneapolis.{{Cite thesis|last=Paulsen|first=Sarah|date=2018|title=Black Power And Neighborhood Organizing In Minneapolis, Minnesota: The Way Community Center, 1966-1971 |type=MA thesis |publisher=University of South Carolina |url=https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/4793}} Moss was the final director of The Way when it closed in 1984.{{cite web |title='The Way' Community Center, (Minneapolis) Opens |url=https://aaregistry.org/story/the-way-community-center-minneapolis-opens/ |website=African American Registry |language=en}} The Way founders saw themselves as part of the Black Power movement.
In 1992, Moss helped form United For Peace, which brought gang members together with the Minneapolis Police Department in an effort to decrease gang violence.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Brandt |title=Ten years after: Tensions remain |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200209/25_williamsb_haaf/index.shtml |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=25 September 2002}} The program was ended after the killing of MPD officer Jerry Haaf by members of the Vice Lords gang.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Bob |title=A Minneapolis cop was executed 25 years ago |url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2017/09/a-minneapolis-cop-was-executed-25-years-ago/ |access-date=29 September 2021 |work=MPR NewsCut |date=26 September 2017}}
Moss watched the verdict for the Derek Chauvin trial with George Floyd's family, saying "we finally won one."{{Cite web|last1=Forgrave|first1=Reid|last2=Rao|first2=Maya|date=11 April 2021|title=Conviction of Derek Chauvin: A moment of victory amid a history of injustice|url=https://www.startribune.com/conviction-of-derek-chauvin-a-moment-of-victory-amid-a-history-of-injustice/600048330/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Star Tribune}}
References
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Category:Activists from Minnesota