Hello, my fellow patriots! 🇺🇸
We are on for tomorrow as usual, from 1-2 pm at Hazeltine Blvd and Chestnut [Map].
Weather is supposed to be 75 and sunny; a beautiful day to defend our liberties.
Parking Reminder
For those of us older people, it is easier to park near the Park Dental office, since it is easy to get to and you don’t have to climb a big hill.
Respect the Nearby Businesses
As always, be respectful of the businesses whereever you park so they have plenty of parking space for their customers. Stop and buy something from them while you’re there!
I usually put in an order for a drink or get my coffee beans at Starbucks while I’m there.
Paul, the Camera Man
If you see the guy with the camera with the big lens, that’s Paul. He’s been documenting our rallies for us, so say hi and thank him when you see Paul.
Volunteers Needed
Clickers
We need at least three people to count the cars that pass by while we hold our rallies.
One to count people who give us a thumbs up, clap, honk, or are recording with their phone.
One to count people who give us a thumbs down/bird.
And one to count people who do not express support or disapproval.
While not scientific, we will at least be able to collect data to get a rough estimate of the percentage of support, disapproval for each week and, over time, whether the percent of support increases and the percent of disapproval decreases.
If you want to volunteer, please reply to this email or find a blue or yellow vest tomorrow to let them know you want to help.
Corruption Tree
Sally and Becky are bringing a Corruption Tree tomorrow.
You can write a corruption on a ribbon and they will staple it to an umbrella stand.
The completed corruption tree will be brought to the Meet the DFL Candidates Forum at Chaska High School on Sunday, September 7 at 5:00 pm where they will pass out the list of corruptions.
Come early to talk about it with people and learn about some of our choices of candidates to run against Emmer.
If you’re not familiar with the concept, a "corruption tree" is a metaphorical tool used to illustrate anti-corruption and governance:
What it is: In the context of anti-corruption programs and policy, a "corruption tree" is an infographic or conceptual model that illustrates how corruption is the root cause of various societal problems.
How it works: The "root" of the tree is corruption itself. The "trunk" represents the core mechanisms of corruption, such as a lack of transparency, weak institutions, and a lack of accountability. The "branches" and "fruit" of the tree are the negative consequences that grow from this root cause.
Examples of "fruits": These can include poverty, inequality, poor public services (like healthcare and education), environmental degradation, organized crime, and even political instability.
The key message: This metaphor highlights that simply addressing the "fruits" of corruption (e.g., trying to solve poverty with aid money) without tackling the underlying "root" (corruption) will be ineffective. To make lasting change, you must "strike at the root."
Labor Day
These are the Labor Day rallies that will be held on Monday, should you want to attend:
May Day Strong is the organizational force for this national protest effort. The theme is “Workers Over Billionaires.” (Share your sign ideas in the comments!) If also want to also protest on Monday, there are opportunities in:
Labor Movement Films & Docs
Fiction
Norma Rae (1979)
This is a classic. It's a dramatization inspired by real events and real people and it gives a lot of insight into the unionizing efforts in a Southern textile mill. Check your streaming service. Trailer:
Matewan (1987)
The film dramatizes the events of the Battle of Matewan, a coal miners' strike in 1920 in Matewan, a small town in the hills of West Virginia. You can watch the whole film right here!
Documentaries
Harlan County, USA (1976)
This is a super well-regarded documentary for how it captures a 1970s coal miners' strike in Kentucky. It's raw and real and gives a very honest look at the labor issues of the time. It won an Oscar. Here’s the full movie:
American Dream (1990)
American Dream won an Academy Award for Best Documentary. More importantly, it covers a meatpackers' strike in Minnesota in the 80s and really dives into the struggles of union workers at Hormel trying to stand up for fair wages. You can watch it on PBS. Here’s the trailer:
Website Updates
I’ve updated the thank you email people get when they first subscribe to Southwest Crier to provide all the necessary information about our rallies.
I also created an Events page (added to the top navigation menu) to list our weekly rallies in Chaska and Waconia as well as upcoming one-off events. If you are aware of any other weekly protests in the Southwest Metro, please leave the details in the comments below.
The corruption tree is do excellent!