Minnesota Statewide Boycott Today

No protests today or tomorrow; here's what you can do instead

A Note From Judith:

SW Protectors Update

The SW Protectors meeting this past Tuesday was a huge success, with 118 people attending. Doug Chapin gave us an excellent civics lesson on what caucuses are and why participation matters.

Because of this, we will not hold a SW Protectors meeting on February 3. Instead, I encourage everyone to exercise your right to vote and attend your caucus.

The DFL has a page explaining the caucus system and the Minnesota Secretary of State site has a Caucus Finder tool to help you locate where your caucus will be held.

Statewide Boycott Today

Today is a big day in Minnesota. A statewide boycott is planned:

• No work,

• No school,

• No shopping.

I understand this isn’t possible for everyone, so please do what you can.

No Chaska Protests This Week

There will be large protests in Minneapolis and several others throughout the metro. However, due to extreme cold, there will be no protest in Chaska on Friday or Saturday. I know I showed up last time anyway, but this time there will be no marshals, and I will not be there either. Your health and safety are the priority, so please stay home this Saturday.

Ways to Take Action on Saturday

Instead, here are some meaningful things you can do:

• Use 5calls.org (or call directly) to contact your representatives and tell them how you feel.

• The Stand With Minnesota site has many ways people outside our state can help support us. Share this site with your friends from elsewhere and encourge them to support us.

• Support Latino-owned grocery stores and restaurants, which are really struggling right now.

• This impact extends beyond Latino communities; Asian- and African-owned businesses are affected as well.

If there’s interest, we can organize a trip next Saturday—for example, to Karmel Mall or the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis. There are many other options, so please send ideas if you have them.

Take Care of Yourselves

Please take time to recharge. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to be able to keep going.

I’ve been reading stories of Dutch resistance fighters on Facebook through Our Dutch Heritage. They’re written in English, and while not all are about the war, many are. What stands out is that these were ordinary people—young and old—who never thought of themselves as fighters, yet rose to the occasion when it mattered.

A Difficult Week & Signs of Hope

This has been a tough week: ICE activity throughout Carver County, Trump continuing to talk about taking over Greenland, and the actual kidnapping of children by ICE.

There have been good things, too. Latino Voices has helped many families with hygiene products while they’re forced to stay home. Little Roo’s, a store in Chaska that has supported the community for years, has volunteered to serve as a drop-off point since Latino Voices can’t accept donations at their building for security reasons.

Volunteers are stepping up everywhere. The resistance is growing as more people recognize that ICE and Trump are violating the Constitution.

Remember: what you are doing, no matter how small, does matter.

Stay warm.

Chaska Protests

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

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.