I have started this post a dozen times. Minnesota is at the epicenter of a national emergency. I genuinely feel like what happens here will happen around the country. So we feel both isolated and the weight of the world on our shoulders. But we feel it as a community.
Trump and his lackeys have Minnesota in their sights. Already, ICE agents are shooting US citizens. Vulnerable members of our community are (understandably) afraid to leave their homes. The push from the federal agents is relentless. It started with raids on businesses such as Bro-Tec. It happened slowly enough that even I was able to observe because it was a 10-minute drive from my home. We’ve morphed into numerous daily, often violent, stop-and-grabs of a wide range of people – many of them citizens. Two US citizens have been killed by agents, Renee Good (on Jan 7) and Alex Pretti today (Jan 24). Videos from the events clearly indicate that the victims were not endangering agents. There are also many videos of extremely violent agents in action.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Despite the obvious and lethal risks, a growing group of thoughtful, committed citizens have risen up to meet the needs of the community. With training, we have a Rapid Response network, we are ready to leave our homes and/or we drive/walk around neighborhoods to blow whistles when we see ICE, record and legally observe what is happening. We have people who patrol at local schools or places or worship, stealthily deliver food, pampers and other supplies. We have people who financially support mutual aid. We have people who protest.
We outnumber the agents. We saw that two weekend ago, when the Proud Boys showed up for what was lauded to be a “big march” and ended up being about a dozen led by one loser who was met with a huge crowd. The intruders ended up getting cornered by the Minneapolis Courthouse, and subjected to silly string and water balloons, albeit in subzero temperatures and were escorted to safety by Minnesotans. We saw that again last weekend, when in even colder weather (-12) , 50,000 people came out to march downtown Minneapolis to get ICE out of Minnesota.
We are in a hard place. We win many rounds, but we lose community members to murder, detention and violence. The war is to keep Marshal Law out of Minnesota. That is a fine line and I’m thankful for my friends who push the envelope and thankful for my friends who reign it in. We see community members show up with all of their talents. No job too big or too small so long as it goes to protect our people, our state and our democracy.
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” – Emma Lazarus (and inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty)
We are the tired, poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
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