Planners announce speakers for BansOffOurBodies: March Reproductive for Freedom to happen on October 2 in Minneapolis
BansOffOurBodies: A March for Reproductive Freedom is happening on Saturday, October 2 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The march to Loring Park will begin at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at 11:00; the rally will start around noon when attendees reach Loring Park. Planners are pleased to announce speakers for the program in Loring Park:
Yolanda Roth, Strategic Partnerships Director, TakeAction MN
Shayla Walker, Vision Realization Advisor, Our Justice
Erin Maye Quade, Advocacy Director, Gender Justice
James Darville, Policy and Organizing Director, OutFront MN
Nature Keletso Inger, Human Rights Activist
Kendra Harris, Planned Parenthood Youth Council Representative
Fardouza Farah, Planned Parenthood Youth Council Representative
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Call to Protect the Water and Stop Line 3: Join us at the Treaty People Gathering June 6-7
Join us at the Treaty People Gathering June 6-7
We need to follow the Water Protectors who have been standing up to Enbridge since the beginning. They are asking us to join them by driving to Line 3 and voicing our opposition. Treaty People Gathering, an event hosted by Honor the Earth, Giniw, and many state and national organizations are hosting this event and WMM is forming a group to join them. More details to come, but we want to know if you want to caravan with us on June 6 and 7th (you can stay overnight or join us for a day.)
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Stop Killing Black Men, Women and Children
Daunte Wright was 20 years old. He was a father. He was with his girlfriend when he was pulled over for a traffic stop. He called his mother during that traffic stop. He had a life in front of him. And that was taken away needlessly when he was shot and killed by former police officer Kim Potter, long-time veteran officer, and former union president. Daunte should be alive today.
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Gathering the Grandmothers to Protect Water
So much happening in what feels like plain sight that we are choosing to ignore – but we ignore at our own peril. We are trading the priceless future of our rivers, our lands, our women for nickels that will be overspent and worthless much sooner than we recognize.
So what can we do?
Tell President Biden to #StopLine3 As the ice on the rivers thaw, it’s more important than ever that we contact President Biden and tell him how vital it is that he Stop Line 3 and protect our lands, air and water. President Biden can stop construction immediately.
Sign the petition asking President Biden to #StopLine3
Donate to Honor the Earth (tax-deductible) or to the frontlines.
Join a protest of rally – follow #StopLine3 or Honor the Earth for updates
Monitor the construction with Watch the Line MN
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Moyana Olivia - XRay
Moyana Olivia’s powerful video - X-Ray - and a call to action. “If you want justice for George or Breonna and for every name, use your voice for change. You have the power to fight for freedom and justice for all. If you want an end to police brutality against people of color, use your voice and exercise your right to vote!”
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#METOOMPLS: a CD that lifts up women, supports victims and raises money for Planned Parenthood
#MeTooMpls is an album and song writers collective created to lift the voices of women/ femmes/ trans/ nonbinary folks in Minneapolis, to support sexual assault survivors and to raise funds for Planned Parenthood. The CD release is happening September 24 virtually from the Hook and Ladder; Women’s March MN is pleased to be a sponsor.
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Black Mothers
Black mothers
We lay in bed
we cry and rock ourselves
To sleep with the lulling hums
of our great grandmother's rocking chairs
that sat on hot sweltering
Mississippi porches
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Fundraiser for Elim Church/Strong Towers Shelters a Success
Fifty people signed up to play Undie-Go, our virtual fundraiser benefitting those experiencing homelessness on April 23. Money - $900 - was raised for shelter residents at Elim Church/Strong Tower Shelters. Everyone needs underwear, and our goal was to provide packs of underwear to all residents who stay at the shelter. Elim/Strong Tower Shelters houses 40 women and 40 men and couples each night. In our time of COVID-19, residents need a place to stay so the shelters are often at capacity.
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Food Fuels More Than Just Your Body
To celebrate International Women’s Day, volunteers from Women’s March Minnesota (WMM) hosted Sunday dinner at the Elim Church & Strong Tower Parish Homeless Shelters, two shelters housed in neighboring churches in Northeast Minneapolis. Elim Church hosts women and nonbinary guests, while Strong Power Parish hosts men and couples. Everyone enjoys a meal in the dining room at Elim before separating to settle in for the night.
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Roe vs. Rage: A Reproductive Rights Panel at Third Thursdays
Do you know how many abortion clinics there are in Minnesota? Four – three in the Twin Cities and one in Duluth. Minnesotans, on average, think there are 41. That’s part of what’s driving the rage in Minnesota; there are so many misunderstandings, so many fallacies and, dare we say it, fake news about abortions.
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Social Justice, Art and Pride
As a person of color, it was difficult to watch. I kept seeing my loved ones in the faces of those young boys. It is a heartbreaking, yet moving, series that serves as a stark reminder of the physical and psychological violence that is inflicted on Black and Brown people at the hands of our criminal justice system.
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Outcry in MN
“In response to the long history of silencing of women and girls I make portraits of women screaming. Through this project I provide women a space where they can practice speaking up and out for themselves. I also provide a space for them to be heard, supported, encouraged and celebrated. I began this project on the night of the Women’s March 2018, and since then have photographed over 200 women.”
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WMM Official Statement on Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar is a voice of peace and trusted friend of Women’s March Minnesota. We #StandWithIlhan and unequivocally oppose the divisive, racist, Islamophobic attacks against her. Her resilience in the face of the slander, attempted censorship, and violent threats against her speaks to her strength and dedication to creating an equitable world. All lawmakers should denounce this bigotry and violence.
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Driver’s licenses for all, regardless of immigration status! It’s time! Support HF1500!
When is the last time you used your driver’s license as an ID? For me, it was when I forgot my library card but wanted to check out the books that I had reserved. For you, perhaps it was when you checked in for a medical appointment, entered your child’s school or ordered a drink in a restaurant.
Approximately 82,000 residents of Minnesota are eligible for a driver’s license or state ID, but cannot get one because they are undocumented immigrants. Many have been living here for decades and were able to obtain a driver’s license until Governor Pawlenty changed the law in 2003. Imagine having your driving privileges and access to an ID stripped away. For undocumented immigrants, having access to a Driver’s License or State ID is both a matter of convenience and access and dignity to move around the state.
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Why I Marched: Josine D.
After the election in 2016, I went into a funk. I turned off Facebook, I turned off the television. I turned inward. For me, it was a time of healing and deep doubt. I questioned myself, my choices.
I had chosen to be here, in the U.S. I came here for school, met my husband, and stayed. Where I come from, I was taught to fight for justice, speak out and up. My parents taught me that I had to fight for everyone. If one person suffers, we all suffer. You need to do something. But I think when I came here, I lost that. Life got busier and easier.
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Please take the WMM Survey – Chance to Win $50
Women’s March Minnesota (WMM) is looking for your two cents and by sharing your thoughts you could win one of three $50 Visa gift cards. WMM is asking people across Minnesota to take the survey. It should take less than 10 minutes and each survey has a chance to win $50 gift card.
We are working with 100RuralWomen to help spread the word.
The survey is designed to assess how WMM can better meet the needs of potential members across the state both in terms of support and programs, and also reflect the policy concerns of people outside of the Twin Cities. WMM appreciates your time and frank answers. Prizes will be drawn Dec 31, 2018.
Take the survey
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“One of us is going to Washington” - what Habon Abdulle of WOW Network wants you to understand about Ilhan Omar’s election.
The first woman who Habon Abdulle of WOW Network recruited to run for office was Ilhan Omar.
"After the election, many of us felt that we can put our bags down. We are here to stay, and now we have a stake in the game. While we recognize this election is not presidential, the effect on marginalized people’s emotions are similar, as prejudice is confronted by elected representation. " - Habon Abdulle
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Great news about the November election voter turnout
Did you hear? Highest midterm election voter turnout since 1914, and Minnesota is in TOP PLACE with 64.3% turnout (according to United States Election Project. Also, Vox article on turnout).
THANK YOU for all your work to make this happen!
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WMM Official Statement Condemning Anti-Semitism, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Earlier this year, Women's March National faced intense criticism because one of the leaders publicly exalted Louis Farrakhan. The national group responded by stating “Minister Farrakhan’s statements about Jewish, queer, and trans people are not aligned with the Women’s March Unity Principles.” They continued by stating “The world Women’s March seeks to build is one free from anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, and all forms of social violence.”
We in Minnesota also responded in a statement in March 2018 by saying “we unequivocally denounce Louis Farrakhan's recent anti-Semitic and homophobic statements. Anti-Semitism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, racism and white supremacy are and always will be indefensible.” We stand by that statement.
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November 7, 2018
Two years ago we woke up to an election that seemed unbelievable. The popular vote was ignored, and our first woman Presidential candidate - who had been ridiculed, mocked and demeaned - was not the new President. We, like many of you, were alternately heartbroken,, shocked, nervous, and grieving. Racism, misogyny, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, and the like was sitting in the oval office and seemed to be on the rise. We vowed to not be silent and instead took to the streets. Over the last two years, women found or reclaimed their voice and their power! We stepped up, spoke up, took action, ran for office and supported candidates we believed in.
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