Hi, Hamilton and thanks for this. I am a fan of the Twin Cities and MN for decades. You allude to the fact that these folks know how to work together. And it goes waaaayyy back, of course.
In case anyone doesn't know of it, Georgetown U. published a fine study of this process not too long ago: "Aligning For Power A Case Study of Bargaining for The Common Good in Minnesota." I've pasted in the link. It's how Minnesota became the Minnesota we admire. Remember Paul Wellstone?....
Love Paul Wellstone, as a non-native Minnesotan transplant, he is my inspiration and I try not to go a day without thinking of his inspiring quote, which guides my every public and political interaction. That quote holds a primary spot on our lawn otherwise filled with rotating political signs!
As a teenager Kieran helped convene the first meeting of Anti-Racist Action at a Minneapolis library with 100 other Midwestern antiracist youth. Many of those folks have grown up to be labor organizers. It’s awesome to see Kieran and other labor leaders engaging in the same mutual aid tactics they used to chase the klan out of Minneapolis but with more clout, wisdom, reach, and experience. So proud to know him, and thank you for uplifting and honoring his work and all the labor leaders. It is not an easy road, and the state has delivered violence at every opportunity. Thank you Hamilton for your reporting and your heart.
Hi Hamilton: I am mystified as to why the labor movement does not publish its own newspapers at the local level. It seems to me that local labor councils ought to educate the general public on labor, work, and political issues, instead of hoping or leaving it to the local mainstream media to cover Labor's meaning and significance. Any thoughts?
It used to be a common thing and has declined along with union density itself. I agree though and generally think that unions need to support labor journalism, because when it goes away they lose more than anyone.
I've been thinking the same thing plus there need to be more things like union community halls that get people together with communal entry like play groups, sports more than basketball, dinners, conversation circles, dances. That are open to everyone of course they will be about getting people seeing what they have in common and countering the news and working on building a positive vision for the future not just a negation of the capitalist one. It will require a different type of focus from what's happening and the latest outrage to what we're doing ands why.
I feel fortunate to have witnessed and participated in some things like that.
I'm just as guilty as all of those charged for all of these constitutionally protected free speech activities. As are many of my fellow Minnesotans. We need MORE people to do the same. Oh, damn. Is that conspiracy to act? to organize? to resist?
Fuck ICE. Fuck MAGA. Patriotic American and Anti-Fascist.
PS This is about the tenth patreon/substack/other email article about the Minnesotan Fifteen I've read today, and they are ALL excellent writers and all bring something unique to the discussion. But I really appreciated this one, and forwarded it to out-of-state family to read, or rather, to BEG them to read. They never respond or read or acknowledge everything that we have suffered and been through here these past six months. It is exceedingly demoralizing and frustrating, when even your own family is silent (and thereby complicit in enabling this fascism). But I do appreciate everything you wrote here. I hope they read it. I hope it breaks through. I hope they understand how dire this all is.
Sure needed this uplift. Thanks!
Keep writing, keep watching the scum where they are, as most of us have to trust "the news", which is often made of mush. Thank you.
This is great. Thanks Hamilton, I'll try to spread widely. And thanks for the link to the indictment.
Hi, Hamilton and thanks for this. I am a fan of the Twin Cities and MN for decades. You allude to the fact that these folks know how to work together. And it goes waaaayyy back, of course.
In case anyone doesn't know of it, Georgetown U. published a fine study of this process not too long ago: "Aligning For Power A Case Study of Bargaining for The Common Good in Minnesota." I've pasted in the link. It's how Minnesota became the Minnesota we admire. Remember Paul Wellstone?....
https://georgetown.app.box.com/s/kxsmj8lkmpriwxsp6jthw387k43kdh7z
Thanks for your work, Hamilton; stronger together always.
Love Paul Wellstone, as a non-native Minnesotan transplant, he is my inspiration and I try not to go a day without thinking of his inspiring quote, which guides my every public and political interaction. That quote holds a primary spot on our lawn otherwise filled with rotating political signs!
As a teenager Kieran helped convene the first meeting of Anti-Racist Action at a Minneapolis library with 100 other Midwestern antiracist youth. Many of those folks have grown up to be labor organizers. It’s awesome to see Kieran and other labor leaders engaging in the same mutual aid tactics they used to chase the klan out of Minneapolis but with more clout, wisdom, reach, and experience. So proud to know him, and thank you for uplifting and honoring his work and all the labor leaders. It is not an easy road, and the state has delivered violence at every opportunity. Thank you Hamilton for your reporting and your heart.
Power comes from cooperation. Protests are fleeting but organization remains.
Thank you Hamilton for a great article…. and let us know what is happening and how we can help with the new organization “ UNION NOW”!
Hi Hamilton: I am mystified as to why the labor movement does not publish its own newspapers at the local level. It seems to me that local labor councils ought to educate the general public on labor, work, and political issues, instead of hoping or leaving it to the local mainstream media to cover Labor's meaning and significance. Any thoughts?
It used to be a common thing and has declined along with union density itself. I agree though and generally think that unions need to support labor journalism, because when it goes away they lose more than anyone.
I've been thinking the same thing plus there need to be more things like union community halls that get people together with communal entry like play groups, sports more than basketball, dinners, conversation circles, dances. That are open to everyone of course they will be about getting people seeing what they have in common and countering the news and working on building a positive vision for the future not just a negation of the capitalist one. It will require a different type of focus from what's happening and the latest outrage to what we're doing ands why.
I feel fortunate to have witnessed and participated in some things like that.
We are lucky in Portland that we have the NW Labor Press.
I'm just as guilty as all of those charged for all of these constitutionally protected free speech activities. As are many of my fellow Minnesotans. We need MORE people to do the same. Oh, damn. Is that conspiracy to act? to organize? to resist?
Fuck ICE. Fuck MAGA. Patriotic American and Anti-Fascist.
PS This is about the tenth patreon/substack/other email article about the Minnesotan Fifteen I've read today, and they are ALL excellent writers and all bring something unique to the discussion. But I really appreciated this one, and forwarded it to out-of-state family to read, or rather, to BEG them to read. They never respond or read or acknowledge everything that we have suffered and been through here these past six months. It is exceedingly demoralizing and frustrating, when even your own family is silent (and thereby complicit in enabling this fascism). But I do appreciate everything you wrote here. I hope they read it. I hope it breaks through. I hope they understand how dire this all is.
Stirring words, dear Hamilton!. Donating now to the Minnesota candidates who are taking the risk, as are you. Stay safe!