Look What We Built Together

180 people gathered again Saturday—and after more than a year of showing up, something bigger than a protest has taken shape.

180 people showed up on Saturday to continue our weekly tradition of gathering together and supporting each other. I want to point out that so many of you have formed real bonds over the last year and then some while standing on that hill.

You stand or sit near the same people, talk about family or about whatever crazy thing Trump has come up with this last week. You support each other through illness and surgery and cheer when a big truck drives by honking its horn.

As hard as the last many months have been with ICE murdering people, kidnapping our neighbors, Trump causing prices to skyrocket, and destabilizing the entire world, I want to point out the amazing things that have happened.

Minnesota and all of you fought back so well and so hard that we have been awarded the JFK Profiles in Courage Award. We thwarted ICE at every opportunity. We then supported those most vulnerable by donating supplies and making deliveries so they did not have to leave their homes.

Our protest alone made one of the largest food donations collected in one day EVER to Bountiful Baskets! But this was happening all over. In cities from Minneapolis to Shakopee, we made connections with each other and created vast networks of mutual aid.

Bruce Springsteen (the Boss himself) wrote a song about us!

If you went to the State Fair and visited the crop art exhibit, or went to look at the quilts or any other art and craft exhibit, you saw Minnesotans standing proud and making it known that we are not going to give up or give in. I never thought I would see resistance crop art, but here we are, and it is amazing!

On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Joe Brothers will be with us at the SW Protectors meeting, and that is the start of the countdown to the elections. I hope to see you at the Bellows at 6:30 as Joe talks to us, and as we also talk about fighting the data center and our next steps.

Judith

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: 1^st & 3^rd Saturdays from 10-11am at Pedestrian Bridge over Highway 5.

• Park at Discovery United Methodist Church. We have permission to park there.

2^nd, 4^th and 5^th Saturday from 10-11am at W 78^th and Kerber Boulevard.

Sign library is available.

Norwood Young America

Every Sunday, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. (Line up at the bike path south of Highway 212 and Faxon.)

Victoria

Every Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 pm on the corner of Highway 5 and Victoria Drive/County Rd 11.

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]

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.