From Waconia to Norwood: 981 Neighbors Standing Up

From first-time rallies to one-year milestones, our community continues to act.

A Note From Judith:

You are all so wonderful. You keep showing up, and you keep doing the work.

This weekend:

• 76 people stood up for what is right in Waconia.

• Nearly 800 of you cheered and protested in Chaska.

• And in Norwood Young America — often described as deeply red — 105 people gathered for an amazing first rally.

At the Chaska protest, we collected over 1,200 pounds of food for Bountiful Baskets and helped fill shelves for Carver County families with hygiene and cleaning products. So many of you made this possible by donating, by driving supplies, and by helping stock shelves.

Thank you. Truly.

SW Protectors

Join us tomorrow for SW Protectors (details below) with special guest Dr. Dan Kessler, who is runnning for state Senate District 48.

New Protest

We also have a new protest to share.

Ellie Krug will be protesting every Friday from 3:00–4:00 p.m. at the corner of Chaska Blvd. and Chestnut Street in Chaska. Please join if you can.

Ellie is also hosting a workshop on Thursday, March 19: Choosing Hope: A Garment, a Ripple, and a Button. [Register]

Sing In Resistance

A new group of the Singing Resistance has started in the southwest metro. At this week’s protest, please join us in adding your voice to this strong community of action and nonviolence. Song leaders will be stationed near the northern end of the protest. We look forward to singing with you.

Volunteer Paul

We are almost at the one-year mark of the start of the Chaska protests. In that time, Paul Marlow, our incredible photographer, has attended 41 protests, capturing and sharing powerful images of this movement. Thank you, Paul, for your commitment and care.

Volunteer Yaz

Being Muslim in the United States is not easy, even at the best of times. ICE is threatening everyone who does not fit its narrow white Christian image, and one example is our volunteer, Yaz.

At Saturday’s protest, she was greeting people but was not wearing her hijab. When I asked her about it, she told me she no longer feels safe wearing it. She is afraid she could be grabbed by ICE.

Think about what it takes to stop wearing something that is part of who you are.

Our friends, families, and community members are scared to leave their homes, go to school, or go to work. They are afraid to worship in their own sacred spaces, as ICE has shown it has no qualms about entering places people once believed were safe, including daycares and houses of worship.

Since it was announced that ICE was “drawing down,” I have not seen any reduction in their activity. If anything, it feels like it has increased. Raids continue. The intimidation and harassment continue.

But so do we.

We will continue to do what we can, every day.

Chaska Protests

Every Friday from 3:00–4:00 p.m. at the corner of Chaska Blvd. and Chestnut Street (Highway 41) [Map]

Every Saturday from 1-2 pm at the corner of Hazeltine Boulevard and Highway 41 (Chestnut) [Map]

Chanhassen Protests

Every Saturday from 10-11 am at 7700 Market Boulevard [Map] Public parking is available behind City Hall.

Waconia

Every Saturday from 11:30-12:30 pm at Highway 5 and County Road 10 in front of the Starbucks and Jersey Mike’s. [Map]

Norwood Young America

Every Sunday, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. (Line up at the bike path south of 212 by Reform Street.)

SW Protectors

Every first and third Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It’s no cost and come and go as you like.

Please do buy something to eat or drink, though, to support our venue, which is The Bellows restaurant and it’s located at 232 Pioneer Trail in Chaska.