This is downtown Minneapolis. The bridge spans the Mississippi River. Normally, it’s a quiet place, but not right now. I live close by.
In areas of the city where pockets of immigrants reside, federal agents (ICE and National Guard walk around wearing full body armor, masks, and machine guns. It’s intimidating … but that’s what they want. To scare us.
I have family members living in those neighborhoods. They’re scared but committed to helping people in their communities. Some carry whistles to alert others that ICE is in the area. They’re ready to take videos to record these attacks; proof of what’s really happening. They’re sitting in local restaurants and coffee shops, again to serve as witnesses and deterrents.
These federal agents grab people of color, throw them into their vehicles, and take them to the detention center. They use pepper spray or tear gas. Many are citizens. Doesn’t matter; they don’t want to see their proof of citizenship. Some are even American Indians—the original citizens.
Just the other day, ICE broke into the house of an elderly Hmong (Asian) man, arrested him, and then walked him outside in a bitterly cold Minnesota day wearing only his underwear, a blanket, and clogs.
Off-duty police officers of color have been taken into custody. Why? Many look like they’re Somalis—one of the targeted immigrant groups.
If a crime has been committed, you don’t need 3000 federal agents to make the appropriate arrests. Another 1500 military people are ready to be here at a moment’s notice. Normally, our 600 police officers can take care of this.
If ridding the area of illegal aliens was the big reason Minneapolis was invaded, the government isn’t telling the truth. Immigrants make up less than 1.5 of our population, which is far less than in Texas, California, or Arizona. Shoot, we even have less than Utah.
Yes, Minnesotans are protesting. It is our civil right to do that. What’s happening is morally wrong, unconstitutional, and unnecessary.
Earlier today, Robert Reich posed a big question that we need to ask ourselves in these challenging times: “What am I ready to risk?” We all have our limits, but we can contribute in so many ways.
In just a short time, people across our metropolitan area have joined together to address our immediate needs. They’ve organized community fundraisers and food drives. They’re watching over schools and providing safe transportation to those in need. And, they’re offering much-needed emotional support.
It’s uplifting to see how much people care. I also think we should be asking, “How can we prevent this from happening again—not just in Minneapolis, but across the country?” Because if we don’t, it will.
P.S. I’m sharing this because so many people have asked me about what’s going on in Minneapolis. Five days after Renee Good’s murder, we left on a vacation that we’d planned last summer.
If we were in town, we would definitely be activated. The best we can do from afar is to financially support those who need help. Plus, we’ve also given our children the keys to our home—just in case they need a refuge.