Minnesota, Life, Death, a Call for Support

I wanted to post spring flowers and updates on the garden. But too much is happening here.

I was following the processes at Line 3, the not-yet-approved pipeline that is being built rapidly anyway, to take tar sands oil through Minnesota to a Wisconsin refinery for export. Indigenous-led resistance is meeting harsh police action, paid for by Enbridge. (It’s like a cash cow for the local police.) If you want to make one phone call, or do more, here’s the link for information. (The simplest action is a call to President Biden)

And I hosted some activists for a couple of weeks after their arrests, while they quarantined for the Covid that eventually two of them had. They were ultra-cautious about contagion, extremely respectful, volunteered some labor. I learned just a little about how much work it is to be arrested, and the lives of those who make it their primary calling. Sonja Birthisel, Johnny Sanchez (taking the photo), Leif Taranta, Cody Pajic, Julie Macuga, Darius Jordan (not in picture).

Remember George Floyd, killed May 25, 2020? The next day’s peaceful memorial march was met by police brutality (and right-wing violence) and a worldwide summer of protests followed, including a lot of property damage and continuing police brutality. Next week the jury on the Derek Chauvin trial (he killed George Floyd, in Minneapolis) will receive final instructions and produce a verdict. Officials prepared for the trial and protests by erecting barricades and calling in extra forces.

It never stops. Last Sunday in Brooklyn Center (a Minneapolis suburb) Daunte Wright was shot in what should have been a routine traffic stop. This four-minute video shows a peaceful and spiritual march two days later. Every day there were protests at the police station, and on Friday with hundreds of people.

The next morning, Louie Tran says on Facebook “to my white friends who still don’t get it”

“Can’t sleep because of what happened in BC last night.

Police kettling protesters swiftly causing panic and chaos like a blitzkrieg
Police using chemical warfare, rubber bullets and flash bang stun grenades on protesters, medics and the press
Police driving their vehicles quickly through streets where protesters are running because they caused the panic.
Surrounding a church that was providing safe sanctuary for the protester community. (Tried to get a warrant to entree but was denied)
Macing a photojournalist in the face, tackling him down and pushing his head to the dirt and ripped his Press credential off throwing out to the ground. This was shortly after a Federal District judge granted a temporary restraining order against the State Troopers from harassing, arresting and physically assaulting the press.
Detaining the Press/Media and taking photos of their credentials, IDs and face before letting them go.
Arresting medics [Apparently prioritizing medics in arrests]

Please make a phone call or several. I would think that out-of-state calls would have extra impact as they recognize it’s a national issue. It doesn’t take long, you’ll probably talk to a machine. Here:

Gov Walz 800-657-3717 (answering machine takes message)
Att. Gen Keith Ellison 651-296-3353 (M-F 8-4:30 only; no email found)
Sheriff Hutchinson 612-348-3744 (not taking calls as of Sunday noon)
Mayor Mike Elliot of Brooklyn Center 612-460-1765 (mailbox full as of Sunday noon, try Monday?)
Ilhan Omar 612-333-1272 MN Representative for that district (no mailbox, try later)
Tina Smith 651-221-1016 MN Senator (mailbox full Sunday noon, try Monday)
Amy Klobuchar 888-224-9043 MN Senator (answering machine takes message)

So there we are. I’m remembering a long-ago spring that included tulips by the sidewalk and a nuclear power plant (Three-Mile Island) at risk of melting down – and what would we do to be safe? This spring feels the same. I’m not directly in danger, but this mentally ill society, this white supremacist society endangers all of us.