Hello from Chicago! Why does this post give me PTSD? I feel for you and your communities so deeply--we spent our fall doing all of these same things (and continue to do so). All of your points are spot-on and know that you have so many comrades in Chicago and beyond who are here with you and for you.
But please please I beg of you and everyone reading this--MAKE SURE TO TAKE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH SERIOUSLY. If it feels overwhelming and too much, take an afternoon to yourself. When I realized I didn't have to be at EVERY school let-out or drop off because my amazing neighbors were taking care of protecting the kids, it gave me the space I needed to continue doing the work.
Also you will never be prouder of where you live and your community then when they rise up and face this. Stay strong, sending love.
Thank you, friend. It's so hard! And if it's hard for me - a middleclass white lady who could literally get on a plane tomorrow with a digital nomad visa - I can only imagine how hard it is for our immigrant neighbors.
Thank you for writing this. I’m an hour north of MSP and this is super helpful information. We don’t have the kind of mutual aid/ resistance infrastructure in the smaller towns but ICE is definitely up here too. I’ve found a few like-minded friends here but without any training we’re not sure what to first, second, etc.. We also don’t really know who to trust up here since so many in our communities voted for Trump. Your post gives us some direction. Thanks again.
I’m in mpls and I feel so lucky to have such caring neighbors. They’re stepping up to watch the kids who ride the city buses to the high school in the morning and make sure they make it safely inside. They’re trailing ICE cars and honking and blowing whistles. They’re doing laundry for people too afraid to go to the laundromat. They’re putting together activity kits for families stuck at home.
Fellow Minnesotan here. I can't believe this is happening again. Thank you for all of this. I will spread far and wide.
My personal additions to this: my family wanted to help our immigrant neighbors the other night by supporting a restaurant. We called all around Plymouth, Maple Grove, Hopkins. ONE Mexican restaurant was open: AZ Tacos. Not even immigrant-owned.
My two best friends are elementary school teachers. They're receiving texts daily excusing their children. Yesterday a mom said her son would miss another day of school because "ICE was banging on our door last night."
A parent was yanked from a bus stop in my school district (Robbinsdale) yesterday. And on and on and on and on.
I like what you said about showing up at school drop-off and pick-up. I walk my kids to and from school so I am very present during those times. This morning felt bleak. Worse than any other morning I've seen.
I wasn't familiar with some of these resources. Thank you for this 🙏🏼
So great to hear of the community led support that is responding to this awful situation. I feel heartbroken for the kids - that some can’t even attend school and those that do, must also be in a constant state of fear.
It's terrifying even as a middle class white lady in the burbs right now, so I can't even imagine for our immigrant and/or non-white neighbors. A neighbor organized a quick food drive and we sent a bunch of food down to the city for people who aren't feeling safe leaving the house, and I called my senators. Little things but action helps a little with the fear and anxiety.
I also thought I'd share, if your nervous system is as lit up as mine, the free meditation app Medito has a section of meditations specific to "societal crisis" which can be helpful for returning to your body and attempting to care for your brain right now.
Thanks for sharing Medito! I’m a non-white woman, who’s been sheltering in place for almost 6 weeks now. I live in S. Mpls and my nervous system needs a lot of support + I support nervous systems for living, so this will have quite the ripple effect!
Sending love, safety, and “good trouble” vibes to you, fellow fighter for our social democracy! It takes a village!
Thank you so much for this update - it is terrifying to read but so crucial to keep these events top of mind. At your suggestion I'm making calls, donating cash, checking on friends... sending solidarity and hugs from southern California.
Donated and called my congresspeople. Will also call some of the restaurants on the list to see if I can place an order from CA and have it given to someone in need. 🙏🏻❤️
Fellow, Twin Citian here 🫶🏽 It’s surreal, ICE actions are beyond egregious, and also the the most amazing community here, isn’t it? My heart is breaking and breaking open at the same time.
Thank you for this comprehensive update & resource!
Here’s an amazing solidarity restaurant resource I recently stumbled upon that I think would be an amazing addition to this post—
Hi Sara, I've been a reader since the bun-and-bangs heyday of the 2000s. :) I'm so, so sorry about what the feds are unleashing in your city. We in Los Angeles are thinking of you all in MN and donating to help out. Together we organize; together we will win!
Thank you for writing this. I’m in South Minneapolis, close to a lot of this chaos. It’s so much worse than anyone can even imagine. We need everyone to know what’s happening here.
I’m from Durham, NC, and we had a big ICE & CBP presence here a few months ago… sending solidarity and strength to keep going. It is so hard, but every effort means something! Thanks for posting donation links!
One of the most reassuring things I saw during the peak time here was that, since Durham (a majority Black city) has a long history of organizing under violent and authoritarian conditions, how quickly and throughly the community response was organized and carried out. Even our city police force was on our side, actively working to not allow ICE/CBP to loiter in parking lots or around schools. The number of people who were brought newly into the organizing fold was substantial, and the mutual aid and community action have continued even when there’s less (but not zero) ICE presence. Additionally, even in rural, mostly red areas of our state, the ICE/CBP actions in Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville opened lots of people’s eyes to the reality of what they voted for. It’s making a difference in our heavily gerrymandered state…
Thank you for featuring Rev, Callahan and his horrific account of being detained by ICE agents who sound like schoolyard bullies from hell.I have called my Massachusetts senators and will now do so daily. We are turning into Nazi Germany rapidly - Republicans in Congress -IMPEACH HIM !
Coming to a city near you… it’s a matter of time before this rogue administration invents a reason to invoke martial law. I’ve been sounding the alarm bells for years and told I was being hyperbolic. Now here we are. Stay safe ☹️
Hello from Chicago! Why does this post give me PTSD? I feel for you and your communities so deeply--we spent our fall doing all of these same things (and continue to do so). All of your points are spot-on and know that you have so many comrades in Chicago and beyond who are here with you and for you.
But please please I beg of you and everyone reading this--MAKE SURE TO TAKE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH SERIOUSLY. If it feels overwhelming and too much, take an afternoon to yourself. When I realized I didn't have to be at EVERY school let-out or drop off because my amazing neighbors were taking care of protecting the kids, it gave me the space I needed to continue doing the work.
Also you will never be prouder of where you live and your community then when they rise up and face this. Stay strong, sending love.
Thank you, friend. It's so hard! And if it's hard for me - a middleclass white lady who could literally get on a plane tomorrow with a digital nomad visa - I can only imagine how hard it is for our immigrant neighbors.
Thank you. I donated. So grateful for this list.
Thank you, Cindy!!
I'm in Minneapolis and this is the most concise explainer I've seen, thank you for writing it Sarah.
Thank you so much, Maggie. I thought "If there's ever a reason to email your thousands of subscribers, this is it."
I’m in Mpls. I agree. Very well stated. Thank you for speaking up and out.
I hope you’re staying safe, Angie <3
Agree!
Thank you for writing this. I’m an hour north of MSP and this is super helpful information. We don’t have the kind of mutual aid/ resistance infrastructure in the smaller towns but ICE is definitely up here too. I’ve found a few like-minded friends here but without any training we’re not sure what to first, second, etc.. We also don’t really know who to trust up here since so many in our communities voted for Trump. Your post gives us some direction. Thanks again.
So glad it was helpful!!
I wonder if you could reach out to the more long standing groups for mentorship?
That’s a smart idea.
I’m in mpls and I feel so lucky to have such caring neighbors. They’re stepping up to watch the kids who ride the city buses to the high school in the morning and make sure they make it safely inside. They’re trailing ICE cars and honking and blowing whistles. They’re doing laundry for people too afraid to go to the laundromat. They’re putting together activity kits for families stuck at home.
Fellow Minnesotan here. I can't believe this is happening again. Thank you for all of this. I will spread far and wide.
My personal additions to this: my family wanted to help our immigrant neighbors the other night by supporting a restaurant. We called all around Plymouth, Maple Grove, Hopkins. ONE Mexican restaurant was open: AZ Tacos. Not even immigrant-owned.
My two best friends are elementary school teachers. They're receiving texts daily excusing their children. Yesterday a mom said her son would miss another day of school because "ICE was banging on our door last night."
A parent was yanked from a bus stop in my school district (Robbinsdale) yesterday. And on and on and on and on.
I like what you said about showing up at school drop-off and pick-up. I walk my kids to and from school so I am very present during those times. This morning felt bleak. Worse than any other morning I've seen.
I wasn't familiar with some of these resources. Thank you for this 🙏🏼
So great to hear of the community led support that is responding to this awful situation. I feel heartbroken for the kids - that some can’t even attend school and those that do, must also be in a constant state of fear.
It’s the saddest thing. Even more sad is that kids have been missing school since before the shootings. Now it’s only escalated 😔
It's terrifying even as a middle class white lady in the burbs right now, so I can't even imagine for our immigrant and/or non-white neighbors. A neighbor organized a quick food drive and we sent a bunch of food down to the city for people who aren't feeling safe leaving the house, and I called my senators. Little things but action helps a little with the fear and anxiety.
I also thought I'd share, if your nervous system is as lit up as mine, the free meditation app Medito has a section of meditations specific to "societal crisis" which can be helpful for returning to your body and attempting to care for your brain right now.
Thanks for sharing Medito! I’m a non-white woman, who’s been sheltering in place for almost 6 weeks now. I live in S. Mpls and my nervous system needs a lot of support + I support nervous systems for living, so this will have quite the ripple effect!
Sending love, safety, and “good trouble” vibes to you, fellow fighter for our social democracy! It takes a village!
Love to you…..
How can we help from outside the USA? It's awful. Many of us Canadians love y'all and are heartbroken and feeling helpless.
You can share posts like these! And you should be able to send financial donations to some of those non-profits I linked to. Thank you for asking!
Thank you so much for this update - it is terrifying to read but so crucial to keep these events top of mind. At your suggestion I'm making calls, donating cash, checking on friends... sending solidarity and hugs from southern California.
Thank you for taking action, Theora! I appreciate you!!
Donated and called my congresspeople. Will also call some of the restaurants on the list to see if I can place an order from CA and have it given to someone in need. 🙏🏻❤️
Thank you, Andrea!
Fellow, Twin Citian here 🫶🏽 It’s surreal, ICE actions are beyond egregious, and also the the most amazing community here, isn’t it? My heart is breaking and breaking open at the same time.
Thank you for this comprehensive update & resource!
Here’s an amazing solidarity restaurant resource I recently stumbled upon that I think would be an amazing addition to this post—
https://open.substack.com/pub/beyondbeurreblanc/p/a-list-of-mn-restaurants-to-visit
Hi Sara, I've been a reader since the bun-and-bangs heyday of the 2000s. :) I'm so, so sorry about what the feds are unleashing in your city. We in Los Angeles are thinking of you all in MN and donating to help out. Together we organize; together we will win!
Thank you so much for reading for so long, Caroline!
Thank you for writing!
I'm going to share your list of resources at the end of a post I just wrote if that's OK.
Please do! We need all the help we can get!
Thank you for writing this. I’m in South Minneapolis, close to a lot of this chaos. It’s so much worse than anyone can even imagine. We need everyone to know what’s happening here.
HUGS to you from Plymouth. Ugh.
I’m from Durham, NC, and we had a big ICE & CBP presence here a few months ago… sending solidarity and strength to keep going. It is so hard, but every effort means something! Thanks for posting donation links!
One of the most reassuring things I saw during the peak time here was that, since Durham (a majority Black city) has a long history of organizing under violent and authoritarian conditions, how quickly and throughly the community response was organized and carried out. Even our city police force was on our side, actively working to not allow ICE/CBP to loiter in parking lots or around schools. The number of people who were brought newly into the organizing fold was substantial, and the mutual aid and community action have continued even when there’s less (but not zero) ICE presence. Additionally, even in rural, mostly red areas of our state, the ICE/CBP actions in Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville opened lots of people’s eyes to the reality of what they voted for. It’s making a difference in our heavily gerrymandered state…
Thank you for featuring Rev, Callahan and his horrific account of being detained by ICE agents who sound like schoolyard bullies from hell.I have called my Massachusetts senators and will now do so daily. We are turning into Nazi Germany rapidly - Republicans in Congress -IMPEACH HIM !
This is incredibly helpful. Thank you. Sharing today and taking action.
Coming to a city near you… it’s a matter of time before this rogue administration invents a reason to invoke martial law. I’ve been sounding the alarm bells for years and told I was being hyperbolic. Now here we are. Stay safe ☹️