Chelsea DeArmond

Those who make whistles impossible make vuvuzelas inevitable

Birmingham, UK, is answering this call.

Saturday, 1 PM, Victoria Square.

We ride in memory of Alex Pretti and against fascism.

All welcome. Will you join us?

The people of Minnesota did that. Not Schumer and Jeffries, not Walz and Frey, not the standard-bearers of decorum. The People.

brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis

Looking forward to the day when we win hard enough to not need articles like “what are the paramilitaries spraying at you?: a helpful guide”

"ICE OUT" on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, as seen from my flight leaving MSP airport

In The Nation, the Left Should Fight for Small Business | Independent Business Stacy Mitchell and Susan R. Holmberg argue that the left should embrace small business again; it is crucial to reversing inequality and rescuing democracy.

Great article about how small businesses used to be a core constituency for Democrats, and why they should be again.
ilsr.org/articles/in-...

One last thing--so many Minnesota small businesses chose to shut down in solidarity with us. But the big corporations kept their doors open--this time.

These small businesses are so often the context for the community connections that are helping us get through this ICE occupation. I've always thought of eating out as "splurging," but now I see it as an opportunity to invest in my community in ways that will pay me back when I need it.

As I read statements from businesses I know personally, memories came rushing back of the times I've connected with neighbors over a cup of coffee, round of beers, or plate of pupusas.

They made the decision in conversation with other business owners, staff, and customers. That means there have been many hundreds of intense conversations all across our state about what solidarity in a time like this means.

This decision was not made lightly. Most small businesses and their workers are already on the edge. Many--especially immigrant-owned businesses--are already partly or completely closed.

One of my tasks this week has been compiling statements of small businesses who chose to close on Jan. 23 in solidarity with the General Strike. Here are my take-aways after reading more than 1000 of these statements from 79 cities and towns across Minnesota:

"Observer" feels too neutral for what people are doing in Minnesota. They are witnesses.

They're consciously bearing witness to crimes against their neighbors. As witnesses, they are providing evidence to present and future governments that can prosecute crimes. They deserve witness protection.

Breathless reports on Twitter from Project Veritas & fellow creeps of infiltrating ICE watch signals. I thought, Oh, no, they found a couple of jackasses & are going to blow them up. But no, the "conspiracy" is that many people volunteer, take turns on shifts, and train at nonviolence.

“I live on a rural island in Alaska, reachable only by plane or boat. In our little town, 50 to 100 people stand outside each week at our town's roundabout to protest and hold vigil and stand in solidarity with you. We hold signs supporting Minnesota and demanding ICE Out.”

Rachel, Alaska

MN protestors #protip put 2 Idaho Russets in the oven at 420 degrees for 45 min, take them out and foil wrap, 1 in each pocket before you go out. Theyll stay warm for 3-4 hours even in this weather and you can eat em when you like. They used to send us kids out like this back in the 70s trust me.

A lot of good businesses are closing on Friday to participate in the ICE Out General Strike. But make sure to support these places on the other days. A lost Friday is a tough thing for a restaurant or bar. Also use this as a barometer for the types of businesses you want to support.

MN ICE watch is measurably de-escalating violence. Attraction to ICE for newbies is social approval & group power. Now, larger group meets them with social censure. They're using more agents (taken from elsewhere) to conduct relatively fewer arrests, lowering abductions there & beyond.

It's day 45 of the ICE occupation of the Twin Cities.

Today a 97 year old grandmother asked for supplies to help us pack whistles. There's a place for everyone in this movement.

ICE OUT.

She strapped on her boiling pan

I can tell you this: By only attacking one city at a time, the Trump administration's effectiveness will degrade with each successive occupation. Activists, protesters and resisters are learning tactics every day and they're spreading ahead of federal agents.

I love North Minneapolis

The Somali community, which at least at one point was the excuse for this crackdown, are there because decades ago because Lutheran Social Services and other Minnesota charities invited them, welcomed them, supported them, making MN their refuge as it had been for their own ancestors.

The insult added to injury is that the most productive parts of the country are being forced to finance their own occupation and brutalization.

Why Minnesota? It's not merely the most horrific kind of ill-luck that delivered another caught on video state mandated murder. Minnesota represents a direct assault on the white nationalist narrative & thus claim to power. 🧵

Neighbors standing guard over churches so that parents can have secret meetings about how to keep daycares safe. This is what's happening in the Twin Cities right now.

Sadly, they have been in Little Canada harassing apartment buildings

Hey, if you don't know them yet, now is a really good time to walk down the street or hall, knock on your neighbor's door, and introduce yourself to them. Exchange contact info, check in, and you can even try the new greeting: fuck ice.

ICE observers in the Twin Cities are in need of dash cams to prevent further intimidation and frivolous claims.

Cams are $110, memory cards $35, and ship to us directly via this wish list: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...

If you've been looking for a way to help, we'd sure appreciate it!