This can be a unusual time to write down a weblog. To be a mum or dad of giggly youngsters. To be an American strolling dwelling from work, consuming dinner, brushing tooth, climbing into mattress. I’m certain you are feeling the identical. What is occurring in Minneapolis and across the nation is so removed from regular, so removed from cheap and moral and humane, that it feels very surreal to go to the grocery retailer or learn a bedtime story on the similar time.
“A lot grief/anger/dissonance proper now,” a buddy in Minneapolis texted me final evening. He was heading out to assist construct an enormous “ICE OUT” signal on native Lake Nokomis — with 100-foot letters for flights to see from the air. By day, snow letters; by evening, candles in white paper baggage.
As we speak, he wrote once more. “On the primary evening, I figured there could be like 10 of us. However at the least 100 folks confirmed up, and I’m certain it should continue to grow. I had the thought on my drive over that ICE brokers is perhaps writing down license plate data, however any concern of this kind isn’t going to cease us from lighting fricking candles.”
“Youngsters and oldsters labored facet by facet, prepping white paper baggage with snow on the underside for weighted ballast,” he wrote. “I lit candles for an hour and felt the other of concern.”
This week, songwriter Billy Bragg wrote an unimaginable tune, above, concerning the heroes of Minneapolis — the lyrics are wonderful — and right here’s additionally a video of Minnesota drummers towards ICE. Everyone seems to be exhibiting up the way in which they’ll.
As we root for these in Minnesota this week, with a lot admiration and gratitude, listed below are methods to assist town (and a meals pantry that makes deliveries), in addition to methods to assist these combating ICE in Maine.
Please additionally keep tuned for information a few Cup of Jo/Large Salad volunteer mission in NYC subsequent weekend (February 6-8). We’re placing it collectively proper now and might be in contact quickly with particulars.
And as we sit at our desks in the present day, or mum or dad our youngsters, or brush our tooth, we’ll be holding one another shut in our minds. We all the time attempt on Cup of Jo to each discuss concerning the onerous, heavy components of life and supply a tender touchdown for readers after they want one. We’ll proceed to take action, as a lot as we are able to, throughout these troublesome instances.
Thanks a lot for studying, as all the time. Sending a lot love. xoxoxoxo
P.S. How are our readers in Minneapolis doing, and what are some small good issues in your life proper now?
(Photographs through Reddit. Daytime photograph through Jonathan Slaght.)
