This is the year to turn back the clock. Before Governor Pawlenty changed the rule in 2003, Minnesota residents didn’t need to be US citizens in order to obtain a driver’s license.
Women’s March MN and the Freedom To Drive MN Coalition wants to return the privilege of a driver’s license to eligible Minnesotans. The bill is moving quickly as it is important to Minnesotans, such as members of law enforcement, business owners and leaders of faith communities. Each hearing has been packed with supporters.
Did you know that 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, access and dignity to move around the state.
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.
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
There are currently 2,324 mostly Central American boys and girls (13-17 years old) living in canvas tents at Tornillo detention center (LA Times) for migrant teens. More than 1,300 teens have arrived here since the end of October alone. None of the 2,100 staff who work at this Texan tent city have not been properly vetted. Anything could be happening to these teens, in the US in 2018, on our watch. What’s more, the cost of running this detention center is 50% higher than originally estimated and it is thought it will cost the US taxpayer a total of $430 million.
While the inhumane treatment of people seeking asylum at the southern border continues and the President claims the tear gas used on Sunday was "very safe," blames migrants with children for putting them in harm’s way and questions whether the children were theirs at all, there is a growing list of ways you can help.
Did you submit your public comment on DHS's proposed redefinition of "public charge" yet?
This new regulation will make it harder for immigrants living in the US to qualify for permanent US residency if they have received public benefits such as food aid, public housing or Medicaid. It will also make it harder for foreigners to immigrate to the US if they are predicted to need to use these benefits.
Our Constitution demands that every citizen have an equal voice and vote in determining the future of our families, communities, and country. EVERY citizen.
Election judges are the backbone of our democracy. Do you or someone you know speak Spanish, Somali, Arabic, Hmong or any other language? This is an opportunity to make a BIG difference. Unfortunately, some Minnesota citizens with English as a second language, and needing a little help at the polls on election day, frequently leave their polling place because no one is able to assist them.
Some Minnesota citizens have not had a positive experience with government and are very intimidated by the process. Having someone at the polling place they may recognize from their community makes it less daunting.
We need your help in recruiting people to apply as election judges; especially if they are bilingual! Email me and we will get you, or those you send our way, set up: abelladonna@commoncause.org
The last time I did any phone banking was in 1989 and I was a paid telemarketer for Rudy Boschwitz. I hated every minute of calling people during dinner and asking them to fund a campaign during a non-election year. Times change!
WOMEN'S MARCH MINNESOTA ANNOUNCES POWER TO THE POLLS
9/14/18: St. Paul, MN ---- Power to the Polls: Over the past two years we’ve resisted, persisted and created change, and now it’s time to bring our collective Power to The Polls.
On Sep 21st, early voting opens in Minnesota. At that point, it is 45 days until the general election on November 6th.
Join Women's March Minnesota and Women's March for Power to the Polls!
Minnesota is going to retain its title as the TOP STATE to GET OUT THE VOTE again in 2018, and we are going to protect our progressive values, increase voter registration, build community, and ACTIVATE VOTERS!
Now is the time to take action to ensure that we protect our rights and once again live in a country we are proud of. If not now - when? This is why we marched. In addition to the requests to participate, we will be sending out motivational videos and educational pieces about the election process called “Election Central”.
12,800 migrant children were detained this month in federal custody – yes, 12,800! That’s up from 2,400 in May last year! And the WH just announced that they plan to triple the size of the "Tent City" in Tornillo to house even more - a total of around 3,800 children! This is all so shameful and wrong!
Just 55 days to the elections! Want to find out what the candidates running in your district stand for? Even better - want to ask the candidates a question so they will have to go public on issues that are important to you?
Please assist the International Institute of Minnesota reach their goal of helping 1500 people become US citizens this fiscal year. In addition to weekend opportunities the IIMN recently added weekday group processing events to reduce the waitlist of over 80 people.
This is the moment! Join us for a meeting this Saturday, August 25th at 10 AM about Municipal ID in the City of Minneapolis. For those who need an ID, for those who do not have ID, and for those who want to stand in solidarity with impacted communities.
LaDonna Redmond is a social justice, gun violence and food advocate. She is a community organizer, and she is a friend of Women's March MN. We respect the work LaDonna is doing in the community and have learned so much from her. Now she needs our help. Her young adult child had a cardiac arrest and is fighting for their life. Please show LaDonna the generosity she has shown us and contribute to this emergency fundraiser to help her and her child.
Great opportunity THIS WEEKEND to help Get Out The Vote (GOTV)! Let’s get to work! Join us to phone bank with our friends atCOPAL MNas they work to mobilize the Latinx community statewide for the Midterms in November.
