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The February newsletter provides opportunities to stand up and resist the current administration’s term on a national level, and also to deepen our relationships, community and solidarity power on a local level. Our ongoing and collective action is needed to prevent previous redress from being rolled back and to continue the momentum towards racial justice.
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Gear Up & 2/1 Day of Action Recap
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Dozens of local Twin Cities folks participated in the 10-week Gear Up program from SURJ-National (in 12 different Circles). It culminated in a national Day of Action on Feb. 1 to Pledge to Protect local communities and Resist Trump/MAGA’s racist agenda.
Thanks to everyone who participated! We’re excited to utilize the momentum to continue building our local SURJ-Twin Cities community. Follow-up includes:
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Mark your calendar for our next chapter meeting, Sunday, March 16th from 2 – 4pm at 3715 Chicago Ave. This will be a chance to be in community with our SURJ- Twin Cities chapter– folks working towards racial and economic justice and indigenous sovereignty. We will hear from the teams and working groups in our chapter and be invited to plug into the kind of work we are most called to do right now– such as taking action, building supportive community and/or learning and deepening understanding. We will also talk about how we can sustain ourselves in this work for the long haul.
Register Here
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Being in community is a powerful support and antidote to disruptions and changes all around us. This Welcome Gathering is an opportunity for you to learn more about us and see if we could be a community—a political home– for you. We are offering a Welcome Gathering on Tuesday, March 18 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm over Zoom. We will share stories about anti-racism in our lives and then talk about how you can get more involved with SURJ-TC and how we can support you in deepening your commitment to racial justice work. We offer Welcome Gatherings regularly, so if you are interested and can’t make this one, keep an eye on the newsletter for future dates.
Register here
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COMMUNITY EVENTS OF INTEREST
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Update on George Floyd Square
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When Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez offered a new resolution for the future of George Floyd Square on December 5th, it was narrowly voted in!
However, on Wednesday, 2/19, Mayor Jacob Frey sent an official letter to the City Council vetoing the entire resolution. The leadership of the Community Visioning Council finds his reasoning questionable. The council had been named to develop a community-sourced plan for this important site.
What you can do:
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If you live in Minneapolis, please call or write your City Council member, expressing your support of the Community Visioning Council, of Jason Chavez’s Resolution, and opposition to Mayor Frey’s veto. Please click here to see who represents you on the City Council.
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All are invited to attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, 2/27, 9:30AM, to voice our concerns about the veto and support for the resolution. There will likely be a motion to override Mayor Frey’s veto at this meeting. Packing the meeting will make a big difference in whether the override passes. The City Council meets in Council Chambers, which have temporarily moved to Room 350 in the Public Service Center, 505 Fourth Ave. S., Skyway level. Note: All City Council meetings are broadcast live. After the meeting, videos are available on the City’s YouTube channel.
We have a strong chance of an override. Expressing our opinions in large numbers will make a big difference!
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White Men For Racial Justice Open House and St. Patty’s Day Party 3/17!
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Are you a white man — or know and care about someone who is? Pimento’s St. Patty’s Day Party, in collaboration with Minnesota White Men for Racial Justice, is a unique chance to get to know a growing network of local white guys who seek fairness and justice for our neighbors and community while enjoying Jamaican dinner, drinks, and good vibes.
For those who identify as white men, register to attend the inaugural Open House for Minnesota WMRJ at 6PM March 17th. Attendance does not require commitment—simply get a taste of an emerging, local brave space to: meetup with other justice-minded white guys, support each other and learn together so we can consciously show up in work and life, take real action alongside Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
And to all SURJ members and friends and neighbors of white men: We hope you’ll join us starting at 8PM to deepen relationships and celebrate the vibrant, multiracial and multigender movement toward racial justice in Minnesota. No need to register, just show up! More info here.
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Is the Federal Consent Decree on the MPD in danger?
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Concern is rising about whether Donald Trump’s intrusion on the Department of Justice, along with most other government agencies that benefit working people, will nullify the hard-earned Federal Consent Decree finalized and imposed on the Minneapolis Police Department.
There is no direct evidence of it, yet, and we’ll keep you updated. Meanwhile, please refer to the Southside Pride article, “Can Trump Block the Consent Decree?.”
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Defend our Social Studies Standards and Ethnic Studies
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Two years ago, the MN Dept of Education adopted a progressive set of standards for teaching social studies in K–12 schools statewide (including charter schools and private schools). These standards, set to go into effect in the 2026-2027 school year, add ethnic studies to the basic subjects of geography, civics, history, and economics which already make up “social studies”. Not only that, the new standards write treaties and Native tribal authority into the study of government, add Latinx and Southeast Asian immigration into the study of economics, and much more.
Not surprisingly, with the legislature so closely divided this session, a bill has been introduced into the MN House of Representatives which would repeal the ethnic studies requirements and suspend the implementation of revised social studies standards. It has cleared one subcommittee already and is on the docket of the House Education Finance Committee. No companion bill has been introduced in the MN Senate yet.
SURJ members sent letters in support of the new social studies standards when they were adopted two years ago. Time to write again! Democratic members of the House and Senate are likely to want to retain the legislation requiring ethnic studies, and it is possible that one or two Republicans may agree as well.
What you can do:
Go to this page to find out who represents you in both bodies, and urge them to resist changing the 2023 social studies and ethnic studies standards. If you’re unsure what to say, use this outline and add your own voice. This is a chance to address systemic racism in the way our children are taught; it’s an exciting opportunity.
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GET INVOLVED WITH SURJ-TC!
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SURJ-TC is a local chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice, a national organization organizing white people to build the political will to end white supremacy. White people have been told for years by Black, Indigenous, and people of color that we need to educate and organize our own people. So that’s what we try to do. Learn more at www.surjtc.org. SURJ-TC is one of 150 chapters and affiliates nationwide. Learn about SURJ National at surj.org.
Our work is local and so are our volunteers. Within this volunteer-driven culture, we strive always to make our work as transparent and non-hierarchical as we know how while holding ourselves accountable to our mission of ending white supremacy and implementing our theory of change (i.e., self-education, action, and calling in more white people).
We welcome volunteers in our working groups and teams and can offer a variety of tasks and areas of interest. If you’d like to find out more or are interested in other ways to get involved, email showingupforracialjusticemn@gmail.com.
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Donate Today: Support SURJ-TC and Community Action
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SURJ-TC is now able to accept online donations via PayPal! Visit our donate page and click the “donate” button to set up your one-time or recurring donation!
How will your donation be used? We are an all-volunteer group, and your donations will be put to good use, to help our chapter cover things like:
- Compensating BIPOC partners for their time reviewing SURJ-TC curriculums
- Supplies and shipping costs for movement projects
- Occasional chapter program costs
- Basic monthly operating costs such as Zoom, our database, e-newsletters and action reminders, and our website.
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Looking forward to seeing you soon!
In solidarity,
Your friends at SURJ-TC
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