WMMN-AF Blog
Real stories. Bold action. Powering all women & their communities to dismantle oppression.
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.
Show Your Support for International Workers Day - May 1st
April 24 – April 30:
Show your support for businesses closing their doors May 1st, International Workers Day, in solidarity with the Immigrant Movement! All week long, visit and purchase from the businesses below and make sure to tell them why you chose their business that day (and share photos on social media!).
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.
How to Have Those Hard Conversations
How to Have Those Hard Conversations
It's a taboo to talk politics or divisive issues at the holidays. People are afraid of causing a tension or a rift in the family when it's supposed to be a time about coming together and sharing joy.
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.
Positions Open With Women's March Minnesota. Is One Right For You?
Interested in volunteering with Women's March MN? We have some specific positions open - Find out more!
April: A Mid-Session Check-In
Really interesting evening and much ground was covered. What a privilege to have both Minority Leaders! With less than 4 weeks left of the 2018 MN Leg Session, these were our main takeaways:
This Has to Stop! - Statement on Acquittal of Officers in Killing of Alton Sterling
Women's March Minnesota strongly echoes the statement below by Women's March on the acquittal of the officers who killed Alton Sterling two years ago.
We also strongly protest the shooting death of Stephon Clark in Sacramento last week, yet another Black man killed by the police. This violence and injustice against Black and Brown people has to stop and we must do all we can to make this happen.
Gun Violence & White Privilege In America
“White privilege is staging a walkout for gun control and having colleges and Universities say you will not be punished and your admission won’t be changed, when the same was not happening for Ferguson and Baltimore school walkouts...White privileged is not a curse word. It’s not meant to blame or shame anyone. It’s a lens to understand how race works in this country."
Third Thursday Recap: The Fight for Equal Pay
Notes from Third Thursdays event in March - “The Fight for Equal Pay” - hosted by MSP NOW.
Facts:
- Women earn 81cents in the dollar compared to men. When compared with White men, Asian women earn 87 cents, White women earn 79 cents, Black women earn 63 cents and Latina women earn 54 cents.
- The wage gap increases with age, maxing at 55-64 years due to the Opportunity Gap (i.e. women are less likely to get promoted than men). As a result, men are 85% more likely to be in positions of senior leadership, and over 60% of women are individual contributors towards the end of their careers, compared to just 40% of men.
- Of all the Fortune 500 CEOs, just 5% are women, 0.4% are women of color, and there are no Black women Fortune 500 CEOs.
- Minnesota is ranked 12th in the country for gender pay equality, and 49th for racial inequality (above WI).