Building A Stronger Community In Minnesota
The past couple of months have been hard for Minnesotans and all over the nation. From the recent killing of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and Keith Porter Jr, to families being separated, like Liam Conejo Ramos and his family, the 5-year-old who was detained outside of his school after ICE arrested his father. There have also been reported deaths due to hostile and inhumane living conditions in detention centers. Víctor Manuel Díaz and Geraldo Lunas Campos are just a few from a long list. This has all occurred at the hands of ICE activity. This has truly tested the strength of communities and neighbors all over the country. . This has left many people feeling helpless, not knowing or sure of what to do. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways to help out the community in simple and effective ways.
Protesting
Protesting, specifically in Minnesota, has a rich history. The first major protest to happen in Minnesota was the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike, which took place in 1934, almost a century ago. This came from the big nationwide labor movement, which strikers pushed for labor and union rights. These protests and strikes spanned from May to August, and resulted in what we now call “Bloody Friday,” which happened on July 20th, 1934, when police opened fire on the protesters who had blocked streets off, resulting in 67 wounded and 2 dead. It’s also worth noting that Minnesota had a very strong presence in anti-war rallies during the Vietnam War in the 1970’s. University students were the most outspoken. They organized in large groups in public and on their campuses, and attracted over 3500 protesters at the Minnesota State Capitol in 1972. One of the most well known strings of protests and rallies in Minnesota was the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd by the hands of police brutality. This death was a breaking point for a lot of Minnesota residents and sparked major rallies in the cities. It is important to note that this is no way near the first time Minnesotans and Americans have witnessed police brutality against people of color. Protesting is important for several reasons. Protests show that there is power in numbers; the more people attend protests, the more public attention there is, therefore, it is more likely for change at a governmental level. Freedom of speech is protected under the Constitution, and using our voices to spread awareness helps us exercise our rights as Americans and protects democracy. You don’t have to start at a big protest. It is easy to find protests going on locally, which tend to be smaller. It’s also important, before you go to a protest, to know your rights. This resource by the Human Rights Campaign is a wonderful place to start. While protests are important, I understand that they can be intimidating. Thankfully, it’s not the only way to help Minnesotans and immigrants in these times.
Supplies and Donations
Do you have canned or non-perishable foods in your house that you know you aren’t going to use? I encourage you to do some pantry clear-outs and find items you can donate to support families affected by the recent events. I find most food drives on Instagram; that's an amazing place to look, especially if you are looking locally. If you live in the cities, Community Aid Network MN (CANMN) is a wonderful resource. They have clear donation requests and drop-off times listed on their website here. If you own a restaurant or food business, Twin Cities Food Justice is a great option to partner with; they take unsellable/extra food and deliver to places and people in need. This article by CivilEats lists a lot of other amazing organizations that accept food donations as well! If you cannot donate food, but would like to help feed families, there are multiple options. SourceMN needs volunteers to deliver donations to families in need. Most places also accept money donations, which will go towards buying more essential items. A lot of families and immigrants are afraid to go to work right now, which makes them unable to cover rent and utilities. If you wish to help cover some of these costs, I recommend finding people on GoFundMe, which will directly support families in need of rent coverings. If you prefer donating to organizations, the Wilson Foundation is an excellent option. Every donation you make is matched, which all goes towards rent relief.
Having Legal Resources
Legal resources are incredibly important to have, as this may be a last resort for some folks. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) provides legal assistance for immigrants who are struggling financially. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s immigration staff represents and provides resources for immigrants in need. They can help with legal issues such as immigration status, applying for permanent residency, etc.
What's Next?
Through and through, you should always stand up for what you believe in, especially if it's important for the rights of you and others. Community is more than just numbers. It’s about supporting and caring for the folks around you, your neighbors, your family, and even strangers. Although our communities in Minnesota and the nation are struggling right now, that makes it more important to support each other, because when we persevere together, we become stronger. If you are interested in hearing more from or about me, this is my website. until next time, folks!