I am in Minneapolis with over 650+ clergy from all over the country to witness and offer solidarity to those experiencing a violent federal occupation.
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It has been powerful to witness the way that the community is showing up in tangible ways to protect and care for their neighbors. You may be seeing terrible and scary things on your social media feeds and those are happening.
But also what is happening is an upwelling of care and love for each other that is less visible but so, so powerful.
People are coming outside to stand on their porch in silent protection as kids walk to and from school. Regular guys are buying and delivering groceries for a family of six they’ve never met because the family is too scared leave their home. Churches are raising money to fund rent for families because the breadwinner has been kidnapped. Somali aunties are making hot crispy sambucas to pass out to protestors. Groups are waiting outside the detention center to offer safety, warmth, and phone access to those released from being detained, since ICE takes all of your belongings when they yank you off the street.
The Poet Laureate of Minneapolis Junauda Petrus shared a poem at the opening of our gathering in which she describes what we are protecting is softness. Softness. And the systems we are resisting, that are raining harm down on our communities, don’t know softness.
And softness, between each other, in our lives, in the world, is worth protecting.
I have learned from the communities here that there is room for everyone in the effort to offer softness to others amidst Empire focused on cruelty. So think about what you can do. And start connecting with your neighbors and community to get ready. Because with the $10 billion dollars just approved by Congress for Homeland Security, what’s happening In Minneapolis is coming for all of our communities.
In deep love,
Pastor Amara
