At the U today, I popped into the Union for a bagel and couldn’t stop noticing things. Displeasure with ICE goes without saying, while the Iran War teach-in looks mighty interesting. That reference to uric output is an ad for a punk rock band. Meanwhile, the range of lifesaving devices has evolved since my student days, beyond the obligatory fire extinguisher. Now, there’s a “stop the bleed” kit, Narcan for overdoses, and a defibrillator.
Category: In This Together
Save adult education
Joined a rally as it was gathering here before the start of a Minneapolis School Board meeting. While there’s plenty to protest lately, this hits home. Proposed budget cuts include laying off 50% of adult education ELL teachers, including the teacher I work with. Chants included: “Save adult education” and “In Minneapolis, we show up for each other.”
Bold sign, bold lunch
Took the opportunity while Dwight was seeing a friend to grab a spicy lunch at a nearby Thai restaurant. A “Private Property” sign on the door explicitly forbids immigration enforcement on the premises. The City of Minneapolis estimates that since December, ICE agents have caused well over $100 million in economic damage to city businesses and workers afraid to go to work, while straining city resources.
Stronger together
Walked over to Open Book for a cuppa. The folks at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts had been busy at the letterpress; a “please take one” sign sat beside a now-nonexistent pile of protest posters. It reminded me of our recent travels: whenever people asked where we were from, “Minneapolis, Minnesota” always drew a warm, informed response. “The US,” less so.
Communicating cultures
Attended a wonderful session at the Auckland War Memorial Museum featuring seven Māori, a model for how to educate people about an indigenous culture. Later, we took an audio tour of about a dozen artifacts scattered throughout the museum, each with a queer story to tell. Here, I’m learning about Labour Party representative Louisa Wall, who was wearing this dress when the Marriage Amendment Bill was passed in 2013.
Dinner and hard truths
Snowy walk to meet friends for a “modern take on authentic Mexican food.” Because people are afraid to go out lately, the restaurant has had to shorten its hours. We received great service from our server, and we chatted at the end of our meal. She shared her well-founded fear of being dragged off by ICE goons on her way from work because of the color of her skin, despite being an American-born citizen.
Extreme cold and extremist provocation
There are two reasons to stay inside today: first, it’s freezing; second, Proud Boys and other wannabes have come in from out of state to march through Downtown and harass the Somali-American community in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Since some ICE goons are known to be Proud Boys, we can only hope they’re busy marching rather than abducting brown people.
How to shorten a tree… from the bottom
Dwight just posted about a tree he worked on at the university greenhouse where he volunteers. It was pushing against the roof, so it had to be shortened. They actually shortened the trunk itself, which I find amazing. Click through for a link to the post.
Curved steel and high rails
Our closest river crossing, Bridge Number 9, reopened today, so we went for a walk. It gives us a straight (well, curved) shot to the University’s East Bank and medical campus. The new railings are now well above a cyclist’s center of gravity and serve as a suicide deterrent.
This is not normal
We heard stun grenades in the distance as we lay in bed last night: ICE was showing their displeasure with citizens exercising their constitutional rights. At school this morning, a guard station had been set up to prevent goons from entering the building. We kept the classroom door locked. Some learners opted to join the classes remotely. As I left the building, a helicopter was circling just a few blocks away.