WMMN-AF Blog
Real stories. Bold action. Powering all women & their communities to dismantle oppression.
Watch Your Reps - Minnesota
As Mn Leg gets into the last stretch, here is the latest from WatchYourRepsMN on some of the bills that are ready to be voted in the Senate.
Power, Pain, Politics & Prosecution
Black, African and African Americans, as well as Hennepin County Faith Delegates have invited Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to New Creation Church as a follow up to our "Repairing the Breach" meeting in the Fall, to further dive into details about the operations of the County Attorney seat.
Minnesota Students Stand Up! - National School Walkout Minnesota
Calling all Minnesota High School students and allies that want to take a stand against gun violence! On April 20, students will walk out of class to arrive at the Capitol by 1:00 as part of the National School Walkouts.
West Metro Walkout Letter Writing Party! Show Up.
Everyday, 318 Americans are shot. Contact your representatives and tell them that enough is enough. WMW is hosting a letter writing party on 4/20 at the Ridgedale Lunds and Byerlys. @Wmetrowalkout on Twitter
Know Your Rights if ICE Knocks at Your Door!
Do you know your rights when ICE is knocking at your door?
Arrests by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) were up 30% last year. No matter what a person's immigration status is, they have rights when interacting with ICE agents (or the police). Let's make sure people know their rights.
Don't Let Our Legislature Bypass Line 3 Proposal Review! Show Up April 12th!
Help pack the room TOMORROW for the hearing of SF3510, a bill to fast-track the permitting to build Line 3!
SF3510 stops the Public Utilities Commission's review of Enbridge's Line 3 proposal. It allows Enbridge to build the pipeline along the route they want - without any regard for the public testimony, public comments, expert analysis and ongoing Tribal Cultural survey of the PUC.
ACLU-MN Sues MN Law Enforcement for Helping ICE Deport Our Neighbors
Last year Myriam Parada was the victim in a car crash, but was unlawfully arrested and jailed by the Coon Rapids police who attended the crash. She was then transferred to Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). As a result, Myriam is now fighting deportation from the US. ACLU-MN is suing Anoka County Sheriff's office and Coon Rapids Police Department for how they handled this case.
Extreme Anti-protest Bills Making Headway in MN House and Senate. STOP THEM NOW!
Anti-protest bills aimed at chilling dissent and stopping resistance need your attention.
2 extreme anti-protest bills have almost made it through committee, ready for a final vote in the Mn House and Senate at any time.
Huge Racial Disparities Exist in MN Child Protection Service
Did you know that African American kids are 3 x more likely to be reported to Child Protection Services than white kids? They are 3 x more likely to be removed from their families for the same allegation, and 3 x more likely to become a state ward.
Broadband Day on the Hill
Rural voices need broadband for civic engagement
The Women's March Minnesota is committed to ensuring that the voices of women from all backgrounds and identities are heard. That includes the voices of the rural populations that lack affordable access to broadband technology.
Time to Clean House!
Kudos to State Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn for taking matters into her own hands. After bill HF3030 (to set up a sexual harassment task force) failed to get a hearing last week, she announced she will convene a work group to address issues of sexual assault and harassment at the State Capitol. As Becker-Finn says - it's time to clean house!
Professor Wanyama of Augsberg College Targeted by ICE - Don't Let It Stand!
Mn Professor to be deported by ICE. Show up!
Prof. Wanyama of Ausgberg College, Minneapolis, is one of a growing number of immigrants who are being targeted for deportation by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) and have no criminal record. Wanyama has been in the US for 25+ years. He has a family, a home, a career and a community here in Minnesota.
What bills are up this week at MN Leg and what to do about them!
Watch Your Reps
For a good run-down of bills worth paying attention to straight away, see @WatchYourRepMn's weekly update. Choose the bills you care about and take action. Call, email, tweet the committee members and particularly the committee Chair. Attend the hearing. Testify at the hearing.
Support Victims of Sexually Violent Crimes
Victims of sexually violent crimes should be able to come forward when they are ready.
Representative Ilhan Omar and Senator Sandy Pappas have introduced a bill (HF3434/SF3206) to remove time limits for charging sexually violent crimes. If this passes, victims of these crimes, including sex trafficking, could report a crime against them when they feel ready.
This bill needs your support. Here's how you can help:
Contact Your Representatives During Recess
Congress is on recess, U.S. Reps and Senators are home. It's a good time to get in touch with your Congresspeople on issues that concern you….gun control, DACA, tax bill…. Find out if they have a Town Hall planned, arrange to visit them at their office, call them or email them.
MN Legislature still has a week to go and they're busy. For a list of bills that need some noise made about them, see Watch Your Reps MN's weekly update. (Warning: it's long.) Find bills on the issues you care about, call the appropriate legislators, write an email, tweet a message, attend a hearing.
This is a short session and things are moving fast. They are already starting to put together omnibus bills. If you feel strongly about a bill, get on it now.
Anti-Abortion Legislation: Act Now!
Take Action on Anti-abortion bills
Here are 2 bills that are working their way through the legislative process. Although Governor Dayton will most likely veto them, they may well be used as a bargaining chip in later omnibus bills, and so it is better to make your position on these bills clear now. Contact your state representatives as well as the Governor and let them know why you oppose these bills. Try also to get your representative to go on record with their position on these bills and why.
Act Now; Gun Laws In Minnesota
There’s still time to fight for gun control bills in Minnesota
Despite HUGE public support for sensible gun laws, there have been NO hearings in the MN Legislature of gun control legislation, apart from 15 minute hearings of 2 bills, forced on the Public Safety Committee by Rep. Dave Pinto. (The bills were then immediately tabled). However, the session is not over and there is slowly growing bi-partisan support for this issue. This is a subject where people in the suburbs should, in particular, take action.
Your legislators are listening and they know the tide is turning.
Don’t Give Up On Talking About Gun Control Bills!
Don’t give up on talking about gun control bills!
Congress is on Spring recess. Your US Senators and Representative should be home. Check to see if they have a Town Hall planned and if not, ask them for one or go to their office to talk about issues and legislation that concern you. Or simply call or email them.
Environmental Legislation Information:
There are some bad environmental bills going through. Let’s take action!
HF3759/SF3510 proposes to grant Enbridge the right to immediately construct Line 3, completely eliminating the current Public Utilities Commission permit process. This means that Enbridge would be able to bypass any processes seeking to make sure that Line 3 would not have a negative impact on the environment or any of the communities who live in the areas the line will run through. For more on this see: Enbridge Fact Sheet
March for our Lives
March for our Lives is one week away! There are over 10 rallies in Minnesota, and 760 across the US and the world!
Join students and allies on March 24th to demand action from our leaders. We have had enough! Join the fight for an America that is free from gun violence. #NotOneMore #GunReformNow
March for Our Lives - Minnesota, starts at Harriet Island at 10am, arriving at the Capitol at 11am for a rally, and is organized by Students Demand Action MN, Moms Demand Action - MN and Protect Minnesota. For details, see - https://marchforourlivesmsp.weebly.com/