BY DEBRA KEEFER RAMAGE
There was a flurry of interesting and useful events in December, but I was not able to squeeze a resistance persistence article into the paper to tell you of them. The one that still sticks with me was put on by an organization called No More Cages, a coalition of socialists and allies from several organizations all focused on highlighting the abuses of ICE, resisting a new detention center build in Minnesota, and ultimately calling for the abolition of ICE. The event took place at the Pillsbury Center/Brian Coyle Center on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. and was attended by about 50 people. Speakers were two members of the MN8 representing the organization Release the MN 8, and a pastor from Elk River representing the Elk River Sanctuary Committee. The MN8 are eight Southeast Asian young men who came to the U.S. as child refugees and were swept up by ICE in 2016. Ultimately, three of the eight were released back to their families, but five were deported to their “home” countries, where they were not part of the society and sometimes had no family there. More information available here: https://releasemn8.tumblr.com/
Here are a few events coming up in the next month or two:
WAMM presents a Report back from Dublin Anti-NATO Conference on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at 4200 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis. The First International Conference against U.S./NATO Military Bases was held on Nov. 16-18, at Liberty Hall in Dublin, Ireland. Three WAMM members attended the conference and will report on themes, the panels from each continent, and final conclusions and further steps around the militarization of the planet as we strive to continue to bring global peace forces together, mobilizing the millions in our countries and around the world for peace. Pizza provided! Beer, wine and soft drinks. Also endorsed by the Anti-War Committee. Share & RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2447855568628948/
Women’s Wave Minnesota is happening Saturday, Jan. 19, from noon at the MN State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Saint Paul. It’s time to march again. Sign up here to learn more about how you can be involved or volunteer to bring a Women’s Wave into 2019. https://tinyurl.com/WomensWaveMN19VOLS. Organized by Women’s March Minnesota and endorsed by the Anti-War Committee. On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2226957234208140/
10 Strikes, One Evening: A Book Discussion with Erik Loomis will be Thursday, Feb. 21, starting at 7 p.m. at the East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St., Saint Paul. The Twin Cities DSA and East Side Freedom Library (ESFL) invite you to an evening with Erik Loomis, labor historian and author of his latest book, “A History of America in Ten Strikes.”
“A History of America in Ten Strikes” is a concise, insightful portrait of America through its labor movements and union organizing—the good, the bad, the racist—set against important political, social and cultural contexts at the time (i.e., the general strikes by slaves during the Civil War). Because labor history is U.S. history, Loomis not only weaves in dozens of other labor actions throughout the book, but also skillfully illustrates the issues that have plagued labor in U.S. society. Loomis calls out the xenophobic, racist and sexist sentiments that have hindered the success of worker power, while also showcasing the solidarity that has united labor movements in spite of it. Today, these lessons are invaluable to the preservation of grassroots organizing.
