VALENTINE FROM MINNEAPOLIS

Despite the title, this is not an episode for sensitive listeners, and it certainly isn’t for kids. I’ve never made an episode like this—but I’ve also never lived in a country like this. Last month, masked federal agents, deployed in the name of public safety, murdered Renee Good and Alex Pretti. State-sponsored killing is as old as states, but never in my lifetime did the U.S. President and other federal officials immediately flood the airwaves with lies and personal attacks on the victims, hinder local investigators, or launch a patently unwarranted investigation into a victim’s grieving spouse.

I have not been able to travel to Minneapolis to stand in solidarity with its residents as they endure a siege by our federal government, but I can make a small contribution to the public record about these actions. 

This episode features excerpts from my conversation with a friend in Minneapolis, recorded two days ago, on February 12th, the same day that Border Czar Tom Homan held a news conference announcing that the Trump Administration was drawing down its surge of agents to Minnesota. I should state that as of today, February 14th, local reports indicate that abductions by and other violent interactions with federal agents have not, in fact, abated, but unless you live in Minnesota, these updates may not make their way into your news feed.

Minneapolis is just the most recent high-profile target on a list of cities that includes Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. The reason I believe it’s important, unfortunately, for my education podcast to engage the topic of state-sponsored terror and present personal testimony about what it’s like to live through it is that sooner or later all of us will need to learn how to contend with a federal government that no longer pretends to the rule of law. We as citizens, especially those of us who enjoy the privilege of being U.S. citizens, must learn how we can plan together and work together to pull our country back from the brink. 

SHOW NOTES

GETTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD READY. My guest mentioned Monarca, a coalition of thousands of workers, students, people of faith, parents, clergy, business owners, teachers, caregivers, and young people in Minnesota. They have trained over 20,000 everyday Minnesotans as neighborhood observers to help protect people’s rights where it matters most—on the ground, in communities. They provide a strong example for other municipalities to emulate.

SUPPORT MINNESOTANS. From Minneapolis bookstore Tropes & Trifles’ February newsletter: “Rent support remains our highest priority for donations, as the economic impact of the ICE occupation will continue to affect the most financially precarious first. In the store we're now directing all donations to the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association Rent Support Fund, which provides direct cash assistance to cost-burdened renters across Minneapolis.” To donate, scroll down in the form to WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT A SPECIFIC INITIATIVE? and select RENTER SUPPORT FUND. Other rent relief funds accepting donations are accessible via Stand with Minnesota, a “crowd-funded, volunteer-run project started by a lady from minneapolis stuck in texile, who had to channel her nervous energy somewhere.”

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