Protest

This weekend was a truly inspirational and powerful gathering made possible only by the collective work of thousands of activists like you.

Photo by Linda Panetta of Optical Realities.

Forty-five anti-immigration activists held a small rally outside the state capitol on Saturday. Counter-protest from members of Anti-Racist Action, Bash Back, the Minnesota Immigrants' Rights Action Coalition and others was frequent, vigorous and hilarious.  ("America is not for Russians!  America is not for Germans!  Europeans go home!")  Update: New TC Indymedia video "The Full Story" at YouTube / Blip.TV / Quicktime

The cheerful crowd of immigrants' rights activists held a banner reading "Stop the raids and deportations".  In conversation with members of Minnesotans Seeking Immigration Reform, the activists repeatedly pointed out that all non-native people in Minnesota are illegal immigrants--Minnesota was taken by force by whites from the native people who lived here for centuries before white arrival.  One activist, under the name "Robert Erickson," managed to get on the list of speakers and riled the crowd into a frenzy about the theft, murder and disease inflicted by illegal immigrants... from Europe, upon indigenous populations.  In a "Yes Men" moment, the anti-immigrant crowd sat in silence, trying to figure out what just happened. (transcript below) *NEW* TCIMC Video | Video from Bluestem Prairie & I Don't Hate America (1, 2) | Fight Back News: Anti-Immigrant "Tea Party" Confronted | Robert Erickson on Facebook & Twitter

Counterdemonstraters rallied today at the Midtown YWCA on Lake Street after successfully routing neo-Nazis who appeared to protest a anti-racism workshop held by the Y. The peaceful group played music and listened to speakers throughout the day, after the Nazis fled the scene having tomatoes hurled at them as they went, according to one onlooker. (More photos below)

TCDP Coverage/video | More photos

Previously: Community Mobilizes in Opposition to First Neo-Nazi Rally in Minneapolis in Over a Decade | Uprooting White Supremacy Workshop | Callout | Minnesota Independent | MIRAC Statement

We, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition (MIRAc), strongly oppose this rally by the National Socialist Movement (NSM). We stand in solidarity with other groups that oppose the NSM's racism and homophobia. It is no coincidence that this fascist group has chosen East Lake Street, the heart of the Latino community in Minneapolis, as the location of their event.