Pricey Minneapolis:
We’re sorry for what you’re going by way of. We get it.
In the future you’re dwelling in a vibrant, multicultural metropolis that, yeah, has its issues however can also be fairly nice. The subsequent day, the president is looking you terrorists and insurrectionists and threatening to show the U.S. navy on you and your youngsters.
Been there.
First off, thanks for standing up for Girl Liberty. The outdated gal had a tough 12 months in 2025, and 2026 isn’t promising to be any higher. She wants all the chums she will be able to get, and the Twin Cities people are true blue. And I’m not speaking Democrat or Republican, as a result of we’re previous that.
It’s come right down to deciding what sort of American you might be. The sort who believes within the Structure, rule of regulation and due course of, or the sort who believes in strongmen, rule of the wealthy and armed authorities who will disappear you should you make them mad, citizen or not.
Minneapolitans have confirmed they’re on the righteous facet of that divide.
However right here’s the factor — you’ve obtained to maintain these protests peaceable. Being the leisure capital of the world, we received’t deny that it’s riveting to look at video after video of ICE officers slipping on, properly, ice like some klutzy Keystone Kops quick. And the eagerness with which protesters are turning out, risking their very own security to guard strangers, is inspiring.
However don’t take the bait. Don’t cross the road. Don’t use bodily violence, whether or not it’s throwing a water bottle or one thing extra. President Trump threatened on Thursday to invoke the Rebellion Act, similar to he did in Los Angeles earlier than sending within the Nationwide Guard utilizing a lesser authority. Even that turned out to be legally problematic, however he did it anyway.
“Minnesota riot is a direct results of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence towards regulation enforcement,” Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche wrote on social media after Trump’s submit. “It’s disgusting. Walz and Frey – I’m targeted on stopping YOU out of your terrorism by no matter means essential. This isn’t a menace. It’s a promise.”
This administration is salivating to invoke martial regulation. They convey it up each likelihood they get. Though the Rebellion Act has been used earlier than — by President George H.W. Bush in Los Angeles in 1992 after the Rodney King beating — that is completely different.
Too many different guardrails of democracy have been demolished. An excessive amount of energy has already been consolidated into the arms of 1 man.
If it occurs, if the navy is turned towards residents, a boundary can be damaged that may’t be simply restored. We are going to possible then have navy in streets of a number of American cities forward of the November elections, which may solely make this fragile flip on the poll field extra precarious.
Los Angeles in 2025 was the check case on how far Trump might go, and it appears it wasn’t far sufficient. Similar to in Minneapolis, we had some people who used violence — despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of protesters had been peaceable. As a result of Los Angeles is and has at all times been a metropolis of activists — like Minneapolis — there have been loads of leaders keen and in a position to step ahead and be sure that protesters policed themselves.
The results of that restraint was that on the finish of the day, not even the so-called “journalists” of the right-wing propaganda machine might give you sufficient shock-and-awe movies to persuade the remainder of America that the place was uncontrolled.
Now the Trump machine is making an attempt it with you, Minnesota. It’s not by likelihood that this bother has landed in your doorstep. After the killing of George Floyd, Minneapolis confirmed it wasn’t afraid to indicate up for justice. Nobody ever doubted — Trump particularly — that sending immigration full-force into your metropolis would fire up bother.
Gov. Tim Walz stated it himself on Thursday in his personal social media submit.
“We will — we should — converse out loudly, urgently, but additionally peacefully. We can’t fire up chaos. That’s what he needs,” he wrote.
But in addition, please hold filming, please hold preventing. Thursday was additionally Martin Luther King Jr.’s precise birthday. In 1959, King made a little-known look on Minneapolis TV.
“I’m of the opinion that it’s attainable for one to face firmly and courageously towards an evil system, and but not use violence to face up towards it,” he stated then.
“It’s attainable to like the person who does the evil deed whereas hating the deed that the particular person does.”
Somebody described Minneapolis the opposite day as having the inclusivity and quirkiness of San Francisco however with the perspective of the Bronx — a fearsome mixture.
Don’t let Trump exploit it.
In solidarity,
California
