It has been heartbreaking and infuriating to witness the violence folks in Minnesota are experiencing at the hands of ICE agents. But the people of Minneapolis remind us of the courage and power we hold, especially as a collective. They show us the struggle for what’s right and just is too often a matter of life and death and that in these “wailing” times, we draw strength from one another. We sustain each other. We gather, we give, we hold, we plan, we organize, and we resist. And though we wish the struggle for liberation wasn’t this long and arduous, we’re grateful there are people still willing to go the distance.
Because BLUU’s home base is in Minneapolis, and Minneapolis is home to two of our four staff members and many BLUU Beloveds and supporters, this nightmare has been near and constant. Our construction project, building cooperative housing for Black and Indigenous single parents, has come to a complete standstill as workers, mostly Latine, are justifiably terrified to come to the site. Schools closed for days at a time because federal, armed agents have kidnapped students, and at gunpoint, they’ve terrorized anyone who asks that they follow due process.
Amidst this intentional chaos and violence, Lena. K Gardner, a BLUU founding member and BLUU’s executive director, helped organize the MARCH (Multifaith Anti-racism, Change & Healing) clergy call — a national invitation for faith leaders to gather in Minneapolis this Thursday, Jan. 22. Community organizers and MARCH leaders received more than 700 responses from faith and community leaders nationwide. MARCH and other clergy call organizers are also working in collaboration with several other organizations to be part of a Day of Freedom, Truth, and Action Friday, Jan. 23., which will include a general strike.
Please join us in lifting the people of Minnesota in prayer. May they continue to have the resources, the will, and the solidarity to fight back against white supremacy, hatred, and tyranny.
If you would like to know more about the clergy gathering or ways to support it, visit www.marchminnesota.org. Additionally, check out Side With Love’s resource kit for Minnesota at www.sidewithlove.org.
