Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/tag/activism/page/3/)
When abolitionist Frederick Douglass said, “Power never concedes anything without demand. It never has, never will,” it was the middle of the nineteenth century. He was certainly prescient. Here, in the United States, in the 21st century, the struggle continues. In the following two cases, people had to demand their First Amendment rights, which were violated by over-reaching law enforcement. Continue Reading
Building healthy, sustainable communities in the Twin Cities will require a commitment to breaking down environmental inequalities that often fall along racial and socio-economic lines, say local e
AIM members Clyde Bellecourt and Bill Means addressed the protestors in front of the Minneapolis FBI offices on September 24 comparing the FBI action against peace activists to the long time FBI actions agains Native Americans. Bellecourt said, “Now you know what it’s like to be an Indian.”http://theuptake.org/2010/10/01/now-they-come-for-you/Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading
Peace Activists jammed Walker Community Church Thursday, September 29 to demonstrate solidarity with the victims of the FBA raids on September 24 and to plan further action. About half the crowd had been there Friday, September 24, the remainder meeting for the first time. This action has frightened many, so part of the discussion was how to handle FBI intrusions, the rest of the time on future actions. Since the loss of Anti-War Committee computers, new lists have to be built. Another demonstration in front of the Minneapolis FBI is planned for Tuesday, October 5. Silence is an unacceptable reaction.http://theuptake.org/2010/10/01/activists-to-fbi-we-will-not-be-silent/http://theuptake.org/2010/10/01/now-they-come-for-you/Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. Continue Reading
Poverty rights activists broke into at least a dozen vacant Minneapolis buildings this week and helped homeless families move in.“This is the modern underground railroad,” said Cheri Honkala, National Organizer for the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, the group organizing the “takeovers.”This week’s actions are part of a growing national movement to illegally open up thousands of vacant, foreclosed homes to provide housing for the growing number of homeless people. Over 3,000 Minneapolis homes went into foreclosure in 2008. Advocates estimate that over 7,000 Minnesotans are homeless. Most Twin Cities’ homeless shelters have been filled to capacity for months.On a recent afternoon, organizers planned their next takeover while eating cabbage, rice, sausage, and corn bread prepared by Rosemary, a 59-year-old African American woman facing eviction from her home. Rosemary, who asked that her last name not be used, plans to remain in her house illegally after the March 31 eviction date. Continue Reading
Could a roundup of anti-RNC activists be on tap for this weekend in Minneapolis? Update: Police release confiscated cameras, cell phones, computerAccording to the Star Tribune, three journalists got most of their confiscated property back from police on Wednesday. Police returned confiscated cameras, cell phones and computer, as well as most personal belongings. The Star Tribune quoted Vlad Teichberg, one of the journalists, as saying: “We can actually do our work. In some ways, we are very, very happy.”But it’s not over yet.”Days ahead of the Republican National Convention, members of activist groups are feeling the heat from authorities. Continue Reading
Jackie Stevenson thinks everyone ought to join her religion. If she meets someone who hasn’t, she tries to convert her or him. But Stevenson’s religion isn’t a typical one: She is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat whose passion for her party is second only to her love for her family. An unconventional womanStevenson’s family consists of her two children, Scott Stevenson, 45, and Leslee Tejada, 44, and Tejada’s children, Fiona, 8, and Gianni, 6. Stevenson’s life partner, Jim, died nine years ago. Continue Reading