Saint Paul, MN – The struggle for immigrants to be able to get drivers licenses in Minnesota is gaining steam. The group leading the struggle is Mujeres en Liderazgo (Women in Leadership), a grassroots group of Latina immigrant women. They want the Minnesota legislature to allow anyone who lives in Minnesota to get a drivers license, regardless of their immigration status.
St. Paul, MN – About 100 people gathered here Feb. 4 on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol for a protest that coincided with the opening of the Minnesota State Legislature. The Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout organized the protest. Standing at the top of a giant banner reading, “Tax the rich, no cuts to poor and working people,” Angel Buechner of the Welfare Rights Committee led the chant, “Hey politicians, here’s the fix – tax the rich! Tax the rich!”
St. Paul, MN – Governor 'Scrooge Pawlenty' was by visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future at his mansion here on Dec. 22. Said the ghost of Christmas future, “The people of Minnesota will continue to haunt you. They will expose your miserable actions if you continue to push your greedy, poor-bashing agenda. They will warn voters to block your ambitions if you try to spread your lies in a pathetic run for the presidency.”
St. Paul, MN – Anti-war protesters gathered at the office of U.S. Representative Betty McCollum here, Dec. 17, to say to no to the war on Afghanistan and to oppose any new taxes to pay for the war. Rep. McCollum supports President Obama's call to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. In addition, she has proposed a 1% tax increase to pay for this war. The event was organized by the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee.
St. Paul, MN – Más de 200 personas de todo el estado de Minnesota se concentraron en las gradas del capitolio este 2 de marzo. La protesta fue organizada por la Coalición para el Derecho de Asistencia Pública. “Estamos aquí para hablar por nosotros los pobres, los trabajadores. Nuestro mensaje a los políticos de Minnesota y al gobernador Pawlenty es claro: ¡Fondos para las necesidades de los niños, no para la avaricia de los ricos!” declaró Tracey Furney del Comité para el Derecho de Asistencia Pública.
St. Paul, MN – Miembros del Comité para los Derechos de Asistencia Pública protestaron frente a la mansión del Gobernador Pawlenty el 23 de noviembre de este año. Días antes del día de acción de gracias, los manifestantes dijeron, “¡no!” a los ataques de Pawlenty en contra de la asistencia pública, y exigieron que deshiciera los recortes del año pasado. El Comité para los Derechos de Asistencia Pública también está impulsando legislación para recuperar fondos para servicios sociales a través de un aumento de impuestos para los ricos.
St. Paul, MN – A pesar de una de las peores tormentas de nieve que hemos visto desde hace mucho tiempo, la gente de bajos recursos llegó a la capital este 2 de febrero, para exigir que los legisladores deshagan los recortes a la asistencia pública. La protesta fue organizada por el Comité para los Derechos a la Asistencia Pública (Welfare Rights Committee) y la Coalición de Minnesota para los Derechos a la Asistencia Pública (MN Welfare Rights Coalition). Más de cien personas de bajos recursos les dijeron a los políticos minnesoteños que es hora de cobrarles más impuestos a la gente rica, para poder cumplir con las necesidades de la gente más necesitada. La hora de la manifestación correspondió con el primer día de sesiones de la asamblea legislativa del estado de Minnesota.
St. Paul, MN – Más de 100 manifestantes asediaron la oficina del Gobernador del Partido Reforma, Jesse Ventura, el 24 de abríl. Organizadores de la Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition (Coalición para Derechos en cuanto a Asistencia Pública de Minnesota, MWRC) demandaron que Ventura se enfrente al desastre que causó el nueva programa para la reforma de la asistencia pública, y el Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP) [Plan para Inversión en las Familias de Minnesota].
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following greeting from Freedom Road Socialist Organization to demonstrators at the Republican National Convention.
St. Paul, MN – A picket line and press conference took place here Nov. 1, at the office of the police community service unit, to announce that the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War has submitted another application to demonstrate at the Republican National Convention. Permits for protests and demonstrations in Saint Paul are submitted to this office.
St. Paul, MN – As the head of the Saint Paul City Council banged her gavel, Deb Konechne, of the Coalition to March on the RNC & Stop the War and the Welfare Rights Committee, stood up and demanded that council members listen to statements on why permits should be granted now for a massive anti-war march at the Republican National Convention. When the Council refused to hear the statements, protesters chanted, “We need the permits,” and marched out of the meeting.
St. Paul, MN – Standing in front to the Xcel Center, Sept. 1, the site of next year’s Republican National Convention, organizers of the massive protest planned against the war on Iraq pressed their demand for permits. The city of Saint Paul has refused to issue permits and is having subcommittees of the city’s so-called Free Speech Committee meeting in secret. Speakers – including members of Women Against Military Madness, the Welfare Rights Committee and the Anti-War Committee – made it clear that would fight any attempt to restrict their right to protest against the Iraq war at the Republican National Convention.
Minneapolis, MN – Activists planning protests at the Republican National Convention packed a city hall conference room here, Aug. 8, to blast a proposed ordinance that would place big restrictions on the right to demonstrate. Deb Konechne of the Welfare Rights Committee told members of the city government’s ‘Free Speech Working Group’ that the proposal was trash.
St. Paul, MN – Individuals and organizations gathered here for what is likely to the be the first of many community meetings to make plans in response to the Republican National Convention (RNC) which will take place in Saint Paul in Sept. 2008. The event, called “Resisting the RNC: Minnesota Town Hall Organizing Meeting,” was co-hosted by the Protest RNC 2008 Coalition (www.protestrnc2008.org) and the RNC Welcoming Committee. (www.rncwelcomingcommittee.org).
St Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee construct “Venturaville” out of cardboard boxes and tarps, in front of Governor Jesse Ventura's office, inside Minnesota State Capitol building. Low-income people slammed the Ventura's anti-poor budget proposal.
St. Paul, MN – In a nationally unprecedented move, a bill to repeal the time limit on welfare was introduced at the Minnesota State Capitol. Senator Hottinger of Mankato and Representative Neva Walker of Minneapolis are carrying the repeal bill in the Senate and House.
St. Paul, MN – “House Republicans! We're at your door! Stop stealing from the poor!” chanted more than 150 low-income people, outside the doors to the chambers of the MN House of Representatives, May 3. In front of the chamber doors sat 8 determined people. The 8 were arrested, and jailed overnight with bails of $12,000 each.
St. Paul, MN – The Welfare Rights Committee and community supporters went to Governor Ventura's office, Nov. 21, to picket and demand that the he stop the scheduled “Holiday Welfare Cut-offs.”