Speaker 0 00:00:00 I'm being loud and the people are not playing with you now. Yeah. You can burn a whole thing down. Yes. Yeah. I don't care if you are uncomfortable, we can burn a whole thing down. You can burn a whole thing down. Couldn't care about a another zone. You can burn a whole thing down. Burn it down. Y'all don't really care about a brother until we burn our own thing down. Y'all. We about to go to work. Yeah, we about to let it burn.
Speaker 1 00:00:27 No, come on. The youngins. What I'm focused on. I'm so old then. Golden then. I ain't know you was talking about Pokemon, but I'm more like me and nerdy next to a burndown system with a candle of gas and a handful of matches and know we ain't miss some famous. Now my mission ladies be so complic watching all the leaders leading banking Nona Minions, but we torture you enough to take us and we give into survivors city of liars, making black people compliant. Coon Rapids. Who are you asking? I'm proof Survivor. Boomba trick bro. Ethics got me laughing at your message. And Black Lives Matter. You would not get so defensive. We got cops and ths and robberies and gas light us. We are not the same. We on the scene we pass typing cuz y'all don't care about us and we ain't come to ask. We just mind up business sitting and people be so stuck in mad. So pass the gun and mask and pass the athe. Nu Y'all can really kill us for anything. Y'all just bend the laws the same performance art, the same performative saving the racist head of norm. It is. You can
Speaker 0 00:01:25 Burn the, the
Speaker 1 00:01:26 Whole thing down.
Speaker 0 00:01:27 Burn. I don't care if y'all uncomfortable, we can burn whole thing down. You can burn it, burn it, burn it down. Couldn't care about it. You can burn a whole down down. Y'all don't really care about brother until we burn Whole thing down. Burn. Yeah. We about to go to work. Yeah, we about to let it burn.
Speaker 3 00:02:15 All right, we are here on Views from the Ground. Um, I am your agender host, dj. And with that we are going to jump into our first segment, which is gonna be our, uh, words from Fri segment. So with that being said, go ahead Brandon and take it away.
Speaker 4 00:02:43 What up everybody? It is Brandon. Uh, I use he him pronouns and I will be your host for this segment. Um, this segment is titled Words of Freedom, which is a segment here on views from the Ground where we give local poets a chance to free their minds, free their hearts, and liberate their souls with their words of freedom. Um, normally every month we have a featured poet, but it is December, wrapping up the year. So we are doing a yearly recap. We are going to, uh, take it back and, uh, listen to some of the work that we've had featured by different, um, poets monthly throughout, uh, 2022. So the first poet, uh, we will listen to is my friend by the name of Zach Russell. Uh, we will listen to his piece titled I Am. And then after that we will listen to a piece by Ms. Murray titled Survivor's Rage.
Speaker 5 00:03:45 I am I am I am a black man, strong man. Confident, optimistic, well gifted. But to society. I'm a statistic. Taught to hate my complexion. Taught to shut up and listen. So what do I say? You know, I could follow the path of letting someone describe who I am, basically following the path of destroying the black man. Is that who I am? Who would you want to define you? Someone else or yourself? Wives. Words from nip. As I increase, I want every bit of success I deserve. There is power in these words. There is power in these words. I speak can be weak, built in strength. I obtain. I am a black man, fall from a lane. I am a black man. Far from a lame, I am a black man. Far from a lane.
Speaker 5 00:05:02 I had to endure pain to realize the essence of my existence. Think about that. I had to endure pain to realize the essence of my existence. Unraveling hidden characteristics like was I lost playing to in my emotions? Maybe I lost my focus. Can't dwell in the past. I'm simply better than Nat. So I am not your typical average Saturn type of assumption you think is right. You know what's funny? How people think a book could be judged from far sight? You must got 2020 vision. 2020 year of the pandemic. 2020 year of economic recession. 2020. Wait. So I'm supposed to lose my progression, dive deep into depression, let people know I'm stressing. Just for you to understand. Just for you to understand. Just for you to understand the worth of my complexion. Nah. See, as a backwards pedent, I simply ate a misconception playing. Guess who in immature mindset seems to surround you? I am. I move on from stress. I live and grow thoughts of success stay on my mind. I am who I am. I plan to shine within each rhyme. I plan to stay divine. I have to realign my focus. I had to realign my focus,
Speaker 5 00:06:53 Kind caught up in chasing nothing. Mindset was so bogus, doing myself a disservice, falling asleep, doing church service. I learned from my mistakes. You know, I relate. I can relate. I relate to testimonies that tell real stories, that inevitably help tells my the story, my story of who I am. One of a kind. I am.
Speaker 7 00:07:38 We all shook our heads with familiarity that day, having been well acquainted to evil and its audacity side with disappointment that not even social distancing can keep us safe from the wicked and obscene.
Speaker 7 00:07:53 We are no longer just accustomed to this trauma, but are now wrapped in the cold perverted embrace of this pain left lifeless from the crossfires of imagery and reports we find ourselves dying along with them. When we watch these videos, our breath taken away, we die along with them. In these videos, our backs left crippled and broken. We die along with them. In these videos, our eyes glazed and glued open, unable to turn away. I have no tears left to cry. I have no musings left to groan. Instead, seething animosity coats my insides blistering rage in my bones. I know these days come along every year like a grim holiday, a new anniversary. We're forced to keep observing. So we light up the night sky and let shards of glass glitter the streets to show how deep we are hurting symphony of sirens, harmony of chance. This concert is meant to be disconcerting. I have ulcers layering my spirit, welts glazed along my heart. I need to do something about this burning for every black man and woman who called out to their mothers because heaven was approaching faster than the paramedics. I now see the privilege not in my circumstances, but in the breath. I still breathe because the driver's license I carry reads more like an obituary when found in the hands of the police.
Speaker 7 00:09:14 So what else are we to do when the love, peace, and compassion intrinsic to our genetics and generation falls on deaf ears and does little to prove our blessed humanity? What more am I to be afraid of when beasts of no eyes camouflage skulls and magazines full of rubber teeth once hissed with smoke and word gunfire at us all as they proud the streets? Because the audacity of this evil comes from its creativity to spawn new shapes and take on different forms. And though weary I may be the vitality of my hope will always imagine more. This is what it looks like when love goes to war. This is how redemption settles the score.
Speaker 4 00:10:14 All right, can we please, please, please get some snaps for those beautiful, beautiful words for those amazing pieces? Uh, that first one was by my homie Zach Russell. And that second one, um, from my good, good friend, the amazing, uh, Ms. Murray. Like I said, we've had some amazing talented, creative people on the show this, uh, past year. And so we will continue to highlight more of their, their work as we, uh, go throughout December doing this, uh, recap month. So make sure y'all tune in next week to, uh, words of Freedom here on Views from the Ground. And, uh, we will hear more work from people that we've had featured previously on the show. So, uh, stay tuned, tuned in. Uh, appreciate y'all. Uh, yeah, thank you.
Speaker 8 00:11:07 Welcome back to Speak Economics, the show that gets you real answers on the autonomy of our economy. So tell us, as, as former Head of the Fed, will inflation be under control by the end of the first quarter.
Speaker 9 00:11:19 My economic indicator shows ask again later.
Speaker 8 00:11:24 Are, are you using a fortune telling toy to answer questions on the economy?
Speaker 9 00:11:29 Of course, it's not like we're using a dart board. We phased those out in the 1960s.
Speaker 8 00:11:35 Is there anything definite that can give us some kind of hope for the economy?
Speaker 9 00:11:40 K F A I
Speaker 8 00:11:43 K F A I,
Speaker 9 00:11:45 Of course, K F E I is volunteer operated and donation sponsored through kfa.org. It's a classic example of collective microeconomic actions having a positive effect on the larger community.
Speaker 8 00:12:01 Join us again next week when we look at how the midterm results will affect inflation.
Speaker 9 00:12:06 I'll bring my crystal ball
Speaker 8 00:12:07 On K F A I where community grows.
Speaker 12 00:12:13 Programming on K F E I is sponsored by Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington County's Energy Assistance program. The Energy Assistance program helps low-income households pay a portion of their heating bills. We assist Ramsey and Washington County residents with home energy payments, energy crises, and emergency furnace repairs. We also offer referrals to the Home Weatherization Program. Call 6 5 1 6 4 5 6 4 7 0 or visit the
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Speaker 3 00:12:47 All right, welcome back to Views from the Ground here. Um, this is dj. Just want to give a, a big shout out to Brandon for, um, uh, doing his segment, uh, which what wonderful poetry as usual. Uh, with that we're gonna move to our, like our weekly news segment, which is gonna be Francisco. So go ahead and take it away
Speaker 10 00:13:18 Chess. And I'm here with Panchos Ticas where we'll be talking about indigenous solidarity throughout the Americas. This week we'll focus on the developing situation in Peru through an indigenous perspective. So I wanted to begin with just a little bit of perspective. Um, I mean information, background information on the situation in Peru, in Peru. And just to start, you know, I, I don't know how much people have heard or not heard, um, but there is currently a very widespread social uprising in Beu, um, poor working class, indigenous, um, and women have all have all kind of come together, taken to the streets. And I just wanted to share a little bit about the situation, why this so social uprising started in the first place and the people's demands, what are they, and have progress been made on these demands? Um, so I don't think it's, it's a huge surprise that there's a social uprising in Beu.
Speaker 10 00:14:38 Um, there's been, you know, social uprising in Beu for, they have a history. They have a, they have a really good, a really strong history of social uprising, um, unlike a lot of other countries in, in Latin America. And recently there's been a lot of uprising throughout Latin America. Um, recently in Ecuador there was a huge indigenous led social uprising, um, in Chile. There was a huge social uprising in 2019, and they're currently, um, rewriting their constitution. There was a first draft that was written. Um, it was, it wasn't accepted, you know, the people voted on that first draft and it, it didn't receive over 50% of the votes. So, so they're going back to the drawing board on that one. But yeah, going back to the situation in Beu, um, this most recent uprising started when Pedro Castillo, who made a national address over live television on December 7th.
Speaker 10 00:15:46 And in this address, um, Bero Castillo dissolved the Congress. He declared an emergency government, instituted a national curfew, and also called for an assembly to rewrite, um, be's constitution, which was written back in 1979, not that long ago. Um, but, uh, a lot of people have issue with, with the, with that constitution. Um, so, so those were the, those were the four things that he was calling for. And, and, um, a lot of people are talking about how he called for this, uh, called for the dissolving of Congress because he was facing, uh, impeachment vote, you know, that same day. Um, but actually the forces who the, the, the, the people in Congress who were trying to impeach him actually admitted that they probably weren't gonna get the necessary amount of votes for Castillo to be impeached anyways. And it was actually the third impeachment, um, that Castillo was facing during his, um, presidency, which, which only began in July of last year.
Speaker 10 00:17:04 Um, but after, after Castillo's, um, uh, declaration, you know, NA, national Declaration, he was actually arrested. Um, the, the military and the police took, took the side of Congress and arrested him on, on the case of treason. Um, and vice President Deanna, um, mote was declared president, and, um, initially she was going to serve presidency until 2026. Um, so yeah, so, so then coming, coming up into the protest, since Deante was declared president, there have been mass protests across the country demanding for general elections, and, um, that she basically, she stepped, she stepped down from presidency in, and we're gonna get more to the demands in a little bit. First I wanted to go back again to Pedro Castillo. I think it's important to talk a little bit about who he was, who he is. I mean, um, he was born to a campesino translates to peasant family in the Andes Mountain Range in, in Bua, um, which is one of the poorest, um, places in Beu.
Speaker 10 00:18:33 Um, this region, um, is home to primarily indigenous people. Um, Castillo was an elementary school teacher for 25 years and joined the teacher strike of 2017 and became the most prominent leader in that teacher strike, which ended up closing down schools for over two months. Um, it went from, he was an elementary school teacher and it went all the way up into universities. And here I wanted to insert part of a speech from when Pedro Castillo was participating in those teacher strikes, just so y'all could hear his voice and what, what this man really stands for.
Speaker 10 00:19:43 So in this speech, you hear Pedro Castillo saying, after the protest, we have been able to reach all of the regions of Beru Beru. We have been able to find the teachers thirsty for justice, thirsty for the fight with families, and in our own town squares. We have said, and continue saying that the terrorist is the state, the terrorist is hunger, the terrorist is misery, the terrorist is abandonment, the terrorists are the shameless men who eat the people's money. That's where he started his political work. And then Beda Castillo ran under the free Beu, um, party for presidency in 2021. And the <unk> party is a self-described left wing socialist organization. And Castran saying that he wanted to nationalize mining oil and all energy sectors in the nation, which was a really big deal and has been, um, something that a lot of indigenous focused or indigenous and left wing candidates have run on, um, in Latin America.
Speaker 10 00:20:55 Um, just the nationalization of, of, of resources in Latin America has been a very consistent thing that, that, that when you get down to like people's movements, it's something that they have really pushed for. You know, even going back to like <unk> um, in, in Meko and, and, um, yeah, just the national nationalization of resources and just reclaiming the, the resources that that, um, are there with the people. You know, that's something that's been very common and it's always a really big, um, red flag to like, um, capitalist, um, capitalists and, and, you know, um, foreign, foreign powers and stuff like that. So, um, Bero Castile faced off against 18 other candidates. There's a, there's a ton of, of political parties in Beu, and he ended up getting actually 20% of the votes, which I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but when there's 18 candidates, 20% was, was, was pretty high.
Speaker 10 00:21:59 And then he ended up winning the, uh, uh, uh, uh, runoff election. He had a huge support from porn, indigenous communities throughout the, the election, um, be Castillo came into office while the economy and social sectors were already struggling because of the pandemic. Um, Bedo Castillo gave the example of, of, um, while he was still a teacher in 2020 when, when the country went into lockdown and students were forced to go to schools remotely, only three of his 20 students had access to cell phones. Um, and the rest just had no access to this remote learning. Um, and then oil prices started rising very drastically across, you know, across the, across the globe. But, but especially after Russia invaded Ukraine. And, and that caused a lot of protests in, in beu, just, just for the, for those oil prices, you know, they were being, becoming, um, just increasingly high for, for a country that's, that doesn't have a lot of, um, very strong economics.
Speaker 10 00:23:14 Um, and this was actually cited th those, those social protests around the oil was cited as one of the reasons, um, that they were trying to impeach, um, Bedo Castillo. So Bedo Castillo was, was obviously removed, um, December 7th, the same day that he made that address to the nation. Um, and since then, just, just some, some really important, um, things have happened. Um, four Nations actually in Latin America have made official statements calling for the reinstatement of Pedro Castillo and basically saying that they don't stand with Dina at all. In those four countries are Mexico.
Speaker 10 00:24:00 Um, Pedro Castillo has actually written from jail. Handwritten letters have have surfaced where he is basically saying he's not gonna step down as the president, even with accusations of treason. Um, he's still calling for, for that general assembly to take place to rewrite the Constitution. Um, and pro protests have, have been escalating throughout the week that he was only arrested seven days ago on the seventh. Um, and protests have been escalating. There have been wide, a widespread reports across the globe about who was violent in these protests. Um, and I think a lot of people are here in, in the Twin Cities are familiar with, with these types of reports that go on saying that the, that the, the protesters are violent, they're destroying everything, they're destroying their own, um, communities and, and why would they do this? Um, but it, it's, it's really no different in, in Beu where it's actually the police in the military who, who are the ones causing the violence.
Speaker 10 00:25:08 Um, within the last seven days, protestors have been shot dead. Um, at least seven have been confirmed, including a 16 year old girl. And at least one other minor and indigenous organizations have come together and better to declare a permanent mobilization. Yeah, you heard that, right? A permanent mobilization communities have come together to say that we're not gonna leave the streets until there is an assembly called to rewrite the constitution. And new gen general elections have been scheduled. And they're also saying not only new, new, new general elections have been scheduled, but they're saying that they need general elections where indigenous people and women are guaranteed to vote.
Speaker 10 00:26:04 Um, reports have been made from indigenous communities that police and military have made raids on their rural communities trying to intimidate them for partici from participating in these protests. So there's been nights in, in these small rural communities where people have just been asleep, you know, it's been quiet, and then police will just roll in and cause a ruck, um, commun, um, tell these people that they're terrorists, tell these people to, to call their family members, to call their friends and tell them to get off the streets, um, intimidate the, these, these, these people who are just trying to, to live their lives. Um, and, and, and, and, and yeah, that's, that's kind of the unfolding situation that's, that's in Beu right now. Um, it doesn't seem like these protests are gonna stop. Um, they're focused in, in Beau's capitol, which is Lima, but there's, there's marches all throughout Beu.
Speaker 10 00:27:05 There's marches in in these local communities as well. People have taken to the streets and, um, and basically stopped working as well. A lot of people have stopped working. Um, and a lot of these people who are protesting are, are, are, are like the agricultural workers, you know, the laborers, um, and stuff like that. And, um, so again, I wanted to say that one of the, the demands was that general election or presidential elections are held immediately. And so far, Dina Mote recently, I think maybe just yesterday, maybe two days ago, um, um, submitted a tiny bit and said that instead of 2026, that, um, they would actually ha hold those, those presidential elections in 2024. Um, so this is a developing situation and I I want to encourage everybody to, to just just keep following up on, on what's going on in Beu and across Latin America. You know, it's really important to, to stay aware of social uprisings that take place out outside of the borders of the United States, um, especially when the United States plays such a large role in, in a lot of what happens outside. Um, so yeah, just, just keep up with go what's going on at beu and across and across the Americas. Um, yeah, and I'm, I'm wondering if Deja Brandon have anything they want to add to the topic.
Speaker 3 00:28:43 Yeah. Well, thank you so much, uh, Francisco for bringing this, uh, great segment. Um, we def I've definitely been following a lot of what's going on Peru, um, and talking it with, uh, with my friends, trying to, trying to get a better understanding and trying to, you know, as, as an organizer, trying to figure out, you know, what's going on around the world and what lessons can we take from it. And, you know, cause, um, because because a lot is happening in Peru, as Francisco was saying, and a lot's happening, um, in, uh, Argentina and, and, you know, we still have stuff going on in Venezuela, so, you know, a lot a lot's happening in South America and, you know, just around the world. And these are lessons that we can all take and, and use in our organizing here at home. So, you know, and also, you know, show some international solidarity, you know, just like Morocco did with the Palestinians. You know, that's, that's what it's all about. So, uh, with that being said, we're gonna go on, um, to our next segment, uh, the Nerdy spotlight. So take it away. Nerdy.
Speaker 0 00:29:56 Hello, everybody out there on the radio world, it boy nerdy rocking around the holiday season. And I am here to give you a little taste of the artist's spotlight. This part of the show we like to highlight. We like to give our flowers to the amazing artists we have in our own community. And all December, we are looking back at the fabulous year that we've had here at Butte from the Ground and all of the amazing artists that have walked through the artist's spotlight today is no different. We are highlighting Niara Forge and Juice, Lord, two amazing MCs who really blow people's minds every single time they hit the stage. I'm so excited to be able to play this song for you, is one of my favorites from the year. This is called hashtag Safe Space.
Speaker 2 00:30:44 Yes.
Speaker 14 00:30:50 Look, I've been running hiding mostly from me. Your love is often the mirror to floss. I don't wanna see reminders of imperfections neglected and left the star un wounded and can't no doctor to do surgery on this heart. You risking a lot to be here. You picked a lot to get in. I'm feeling like that want you to win. Don't have to work for this victory. History says you won't. So I resist getting comfortable while hoping that you don't. I'm a mess. I'm blasting back with no vest. I'm hardheaded the best. Your hardhead is the best. My thoughts be good to, I do too much on the past, progressing in every, every yourself. I'm making a laugh. I'm not addicted to pain. It's just the only thing that never leaves my side. So, even wish this all good, I couldn't shake it if I tried. So if you chose to leave today, I guess I didn't expect you safe. It's just one more block on no wall. I've been building to keep me safe. Yes. Is this a safe space? A safe space? Is this a safe space?
Speaker 14 00:31:44 It safe, safe, safe, safe, safe, safe, safe, safe, safe. They safe, they safe. Safe. They safe. They safe, they safe. <laugh>, I've been ducking the boarding parts of myself and I don't need any sympathy. I don't want any help. Just give me your little time. I didn't expect to fall. Now that I'm on the ground, I'm seeing, despite it all, I, this can't seem to run you away. We break up makeup all out, but at the end of the day, I'll call you the expeditiously. Must admit I'm impressed. Don't always have the right words, but you just tell me, say less. I confess. And securities keep me lonely as it's hard to find understanding and even harder to trust. Remember when I was struggling and down and out on my luck, they celebrated my low point believing that I was stuck. Never that I wrote a D in bed back. Add some more bricks to my wall, like filling for fact this when mys on some paper to go bleed out on the track. Funny, the store A stage can be a grey hot in place one a few times I feel safe. Is this a safe space?
Speaker 14 00:32:44 A safe space?
Speaker 2 00:32:46 Is
Speaker 14 00:32:46 This a safe space? Safe, safe, safe, safe,
Speaker 2 00:32:53 Safe, safe, safe,
Speaker 14 00:32:55 Safe, safe, safe, safe. They safe. They safe, they safe.
Speaker 15 00:33:01 I've been outside running from commitment. Love is what I want. But will I really go to distance fall from a plan? Not done. God played and lets me hurt inside. And that's why I'm kind of this way. So what ass do you want me? Will you really be there? Because I'll suffer some things that made me disappear. If we connected, I respect you. I'll always share. I'll give you my heart, give you my air and my edit the throne. I can feed your soul. Be your backbone. I'm simply myself because that's all I know. If your love is a safe space, we gonna grow. I'll invest in your dreams and have you at my shows. I ain't entertain it is just us on, bro. So when that time hit for you, you can let me know, huh?
Speaker 2 00:33:41 For
Speaker 15 00:33:41 Real, for real.
Speaker 14 00:34:11 Lovely. A safe space is this lovely, a safe space.
Speaker 2 00:34:17 It
Speaker 14 00:34:17 Aint
Speaker 9 00:34:50 K f A I is proud to present the 11th annual landmark live concert and cocktail series featuring top folk blues and roots artists performing on Friday, December 16th. The Minnesota base barley jacks are jaw dropping instrumentalists and longtime masters of the fiddle, guitar, bass, and gr whoel, their divergent backgrounds of blues and bluegrass, Celtic rhythm and blues and bbo to inspire each other and create something entirely. New tickets for the Landmark Live concert series can be found at the Landmark Center website. Visit www.landmarkcenter.org.
Speaker 3 00:35:32 All right, welcome back to Views from the Ground. Views
Speaker 16 00:35:36 From the Damn
Speaker 14 00:35:36 Ground Stand Ground.
Speaker 3 00:35:37 So just wanna give a, uh, shout out, uh, to nerdy, um, for, um, bringing us such a wonderful spotlight. Vastly appreciated. Uh, with that being said, um, our guests tonight, um, or we actually have some folks from Mik that are gonna come in and talk with us. So go ahead and introduce yourselves.
Speaker 16 00:35:58 Yeah, thanks for having us. My name's Latifa. I use she her pronouns.
Speaker 17 00:36:03 And I'm Vienna. I use she her pronouns too.
Speaker 16 00:36:08 So yeah, we are here from Mik, the Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee. Um, so yeah, thanks for inviting us to be on the show. Kind of want, just wanted to discuss what we've been doing the last couple weeks and what we're gonna be going and doing throughout the next few weeks into the new year.
Speaker 3 00:36:24 Yeah, sounds good.
Speaker 16 00:36:25 Yeah. So, um, I guess what we're working on right now, I mean, we're working a lot of things all the time. I feel like Meac is constantly, like our weekends are filled, they're just, our weeks are filled with like having to plan. Um, so this last week, um, last Thursday the eighth, we actually held an action outside of Amy Klobuchar office in support of daca, tps, the Dream Act, and to make sure that we're still holding pressure to have Amy Klobuchar introduced and hopefully have the Dream Act passed, um, before we lose control of Senate.
Speaker 17 00:36:59 The house, the house. The house. The house, yeah, some things. It's been more than 10 years, I think now. Um, yeah, for like thousands of people, um, who have basically have had to put their lives on hold and they're being held hostage by an immigration system that does not look out for them and has not provided some sort of substantial, um, immigration reform, um, or a pathway to legalization. So yeah, we're trying to hold politicians accountable. <laugh> on that front.
Speaker 16 00:37:34 No, for sure. And I don't think people realize like all the paperwork and the logistics that have to go into renewing your DACA status and doing that. I mean, we've held two clinics this last year that I've been a part of or kind of helped out with. And one, it's expensive. Like who really has what, three
Speaker 17 00:37:50 400? It's $495,
Speaker 16 00:37:52 I believe, yeah. To renew every year. Um, thankfully Minneapolis did kind of pass some more funding for that this last, um, budget hearings and things. So for the new year that will kind of be implemented, but DACA still again in limbo. So last Thursday we held a rally outside even Klo char's office, um, and then actually did, gets her attention. Um, she's obviously in DC doing her thing, trying to hopefully hold people accountable and cut the votes in for everything. Um, but coming up this upcoming Tuesday, it's the 20th. It's the 20th of Tuesday, um, we'll actually be out. We'll be actually at her office again at 9:00 AM So if you are interested in supporting, definitely come check us out. We'll be there all day, um, to kind of continue to raise awareness and make sure that we're being, we're able to help the immigrants that need to renew their DACA and to eventually earn their citizenships and be able to stay here.
Speaker 17 00:38:49 Yeah. And I think that action really shows that, um, actually like showing up <laugh>. Yeah. Uh, does, um, do something in the end? Uh, because before that rally, um, Amy Klobuchar had not really talked about daca, the American Dream Act for like years <laugh> mm-hmm. <affirmative> basically since Donald Trump was in office, um, back when it was sexy and cool to stand up for immigration rights <laugh>, right. When it
Speaker 16 00:39:17 Was on a hot topic.
Speaker 17 00:39:18 Um, but yeah, now that there's a Democrat in, uh, the executive office, um, crickets <laugh>. Yeah. Like I looked, I looked up her socials. There was really no like, not even like a word of like, I support this or nothing. Um, and it wasn't un until after our action last week that she finally put out a little like, blurb on her socials basically saying, yeah, I support this. I support
Speaker 16 00:39:46 Daca, I support the Dream Act. We should get things moving. So
Speaker 17 00:39:49 I'm like, we, we've been doing stuff. What are you doing? <laugh>?
Speaker 16 00:39:53 <laugh>, yeah. So it's been a lot of pressure there. So again, we're going to be continuing to apply pressure. I think that applying pressure does work. I know a lot of people believe that protesting doesn't do anything and us block blocking Washington in 35 for what, two, three hours? Didn't do anything. But look, I mean, Amy Klobuchar actually acknowledged us and acknowledged our existence. She reached out, I think like the day before or something to be like
Speaker 17 00:40:19 That week. Yeah,
Speaker 16 00:40:20 Yeah. To be like, oh, you guys are trying to do something. Like we should talk about DACA and the Dream Act. So applying pressure works for people that don't think protesting works. It definitely does.
Speaker 3 00:40:31 Yeah. And, and can you, uh, elaborate a little bit more of like, what, what happened, um, at the protest?
Speaker 16 00:40:39 Yeah. So we ended up blocking, um, the street. So between Bobby and Steves, if you're familiar with Washington, uh, we kind of closed off and had a rally outside of Amy Klobuchar office. Um, just really trying to support and bring attention and to disrupt, um, just a daily occurrence. I mean, it was a Thursday afternoon, that street is busier than I anticipated. I mean mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it took 30 marshals, 14 cars to make sure to keep everybody safe. So shout out to everyone that was able to do that. Um, but yeah, we were just really trying to raise awareness and just make sure that the office knew that we are here to take some action and kind of shake things up a bit. Yeah. There
Speaker 17 00:41:20 Was, oh, sorry. Um, there was a great like, like display of community as well. Yeah. Um, like I was so excited to see so many like college students mm-hmm. <affirmative> and like teenagers at the action. Um, yeah, I just thought it was beautiful <laugh> because I remember there was, um, uh, an artist, their name is Kay, I believe, who performed, um, like a, a rap that they were working on. And I did not think I would do it, but I started crying <laugh> like some like words into it. And yeah, I think it's moments like that that really like bring community together and sometimes is even more important than like actually getting message
Speaker 16 00:42:07 Message across sometimes. Yeah. It's like knowing that you can confide in people and that people do support you and will show up. Cuz I think it, it was a, honestly, a pretty decent size rally for it being December. And I know it's been a long time since there have been, there's been like a really large rally. I think the la last one I remember is after they overturned Roe versus Wade. Like, we didn't have those numbers by ch by say, but like, it was, it was pretty powerful. It was cool that it went as smoothly and it went as well as it did. Um, so I'm glad that what we did and what we'll continue to work for will hopefully get DACA and the Dream Act passed.
Speaker 3 00:42:39 Yeah. I, I think, um, it definitely was a lot of people considering the fact that it was a Minnesota winter. Um, yeah,
Speaker 16 00:42:47 It was cold.
Speaker 3 00:42:48 It was definitely cold. And I just, uh, thought it was beautiful shutting down one of the busiest streets, um, downtown Minneapolis during rush hour. And you could see like there were people on the streets that were shutting the streets down. Then there was like, the rally that was going on. And I mean, so many people spoke like so many people just got inspired to go up there and speak and to tell their story, which was just so powerful. And then also knowing while the people are in the streets and the rallies going on right there, knowing that there are people that were on the inside talking to Amy Shaw's, like staff members, it was just like, it felt like it was like just a really powerful action mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, to witness and be a part of. So, um, yeah. And so yeah, I just want to thank, um, Murk for their, um, thoughtful, um, you know, the intentionality, the, the levels of escalation and the demands. Like, just really appreciate y'all being intentional about that. So
Speaker 16 00:43:47 Yeah. Thank you. A lot of work definitely went into it. And I think it showed tough because of how well it went. Um, shortly after we had that rally, we decided to, I mean, we said we were gonna come back and now we're coming back on the 20th and we have a lot of other actions planned. I know. Um, so back in 2018, municipal ID was a thing that was passed within Minneapolis. And so this last year we've really been campaigning with city council to make sure that we could implement the municipal IDs just because there's so many benefits. I mean, you're benefiting like the, it's not just immigrants, it's the in-house community. It's the trans community. It's, um, the Native American community who might just have reservation IDs, um, people who can't get their preferred gender or pronouns or their preferred names on IDs or people that just don't have a local or like a residential address because they're unhoused.
Speaker 16 00:44:34 Um, so we've really been fighting for that too. And, um, this last couple months we've been going to the budget hearings also to just kind of discuss that and make sure that we were hoping to get that done. We had MURK members meet with city council and really, really push, um, unfortunately they did not pass and voted against, um, having that in the next year's budget. But again, we did get them to pass the, um, funding for DACA recipients and kind of more funding towards that. So hopefully we'll kind of see how that plays out in the next year.
Speaker 3 00:45:05 Yeah. And, and municipal means like, uh, city, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, yes. Yeah. So like a city id and it's something that they've already passed years ago mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it already exists. Now the thinging is to actually get the program up and running to get the IDs into the hands of the people who need it. Correct. They just need to give it money.
Speaker 17 00:45:24 Yeah. There, it has been several years since then, obviously. Um, so there would be things that like would have to be worked on in order to get it up and running, but I really do as well as many others believe that, um, that is work that is worth to do. Um, like Tifa said, municipal IDs could help so many people, and it's been done in Minnesota before Rochester did it. I don't know if it was if it was this year or last year, but they passed municipal IDs and for as much as Minneapolis likes to tau itself as a progressive city, a sanctuary city mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, it's ridiculous that we've gone so long trying to get this through and we haven't gotten it implemented.
Speaker 16 00:46:18 Yeah. And I think the issue is right now, so after like the midterm there, the recent elections, um, there was a push for driver's license for all mm-hmm. <affirmative>, and I think that's why a lot of the municipal ID was kind of pushed to the side. Um, but the municipal ip, the municipal ID was already passed. So waiting for the driver's license to maybe be passed is kind of just waiting on something that may or may not even happen when we already have something that's implemented. You can go to the Minneapolis website and there is a whole page on the municipal ID and what it's for and all the benefits and all these things, but it's just sitting there. It's been sitting there for since 2018 in limbo because they haven't done anything about it.
Speaker 17 00:46:57 Yeah. And the thing with, um, driver's licenses, some people
Speaker 16 00:47:03 Can't drive, can't drive <laugh> or don't wanna drive
Speaker 17 00:47:05 Or don't wanna drive. And so the municipal ID would cover, um, the gaps that driver's licenses, um, would leave behind mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it just goes to show how sometimes like, like small local spaces can really do big work that bigger spaces like state level work can't cover
Speaker 16 00:47:31 For sure. And like that being said, we're not, we're not against driver license for all. Like that's definitely where we're kind of headed towards just because we, we have to move forward and we have to work with what we have. I think that's kind of what activism is, is just kind of making sure that we're obviously not always gonna get what we want out of people, but we have to hold people accountable and we can still hold Minneapolis accountable for doing that. I mean, banks are already okay with municipal IDs, being able to open bank accounts or, um, apartments accepting that for applications and things and having that as a valid form of id. But if they're not gonna move forward, then we have to continue to move forward and progress. And so January 3rd, we're gonna have a rally outside the capitol to kind of rally for minute, or I'm sorry, for driver's license for all. So that's another big thing that we're gonna be going to into the next year as well. Yes.
Speaker 3 00:48:20 Um, before we start talking about, um, the driver license for all, can you really, um, connect, um, for our listeners here on views from the ground, um, what the, the connection between DACA and the municipal ideas? Can we hit on that one more time?
Speaker 16 00:48:40 Yeah. So those who are undocumented would be able to get the municipal ID and they'd also be able to get the driver's license for all if they choose to do that. And I know a lot of the argument for a lot of city council this last year was like data breach and truthfully, like do they really care? Like are they really worried about these people's information getting out or is that kind of just like a crutch that they're gonna use to fall
Speaker 17 00:49:04 Back on? Yeah. And to that point, recently we got what people are calling the trifecta, where in the state. So mm-hmm. <affirmative>, obviously there is a possibility for, um, changes to be made with regard to state law about data privacy, but even, even so like by not even letting people have the choice to make decisions for themselves, whether because municipal IDs wouldn't be forced upon you. Right. Um, people would have the choice to, um, to, to get one or not. Um, so basically they're just denying people the choice to like make that risk assessment. And like Tifa said, like it would help a lot of undocumented people, um, not just like DACA recipients mm-hmm. <affirmative>, but, um, and of like prevent them from getting into like the, um, the detention to deportation pipeline where oftentimes you have, uh, undocumented people getting into interactions with police enforcement with
Speaker 16 00:50:12 No id,
Speaker 17 00:50:13 With no id, no form of identification. And then they get like booked and then they get into,
Speaker 16 00:50:19 They're jailed, ICE will come in, try to talk to people. I mean, Henman County's obvi, like openly said that they'll allow ICE if they want to, or if they ask, then they can do whatever they want. So it's protecting those from people from having those interactions. It's being able to deescalate mm-hmm. <affirmative> those situations with an ID to protect those. And the idea that improvements aren't smart enough or anyone that needs a municipal ID isn't smart enough to be able to do that and make that decision is kind of
Speaker 3 00:50:46 Yeah. And if someone is undocumented, they can't get a regular like get a driver's license, correct?
Speaker 17 00:50:53 Well, there's like different types of driver's licenses now mm-hmm. <affirmative> with like the real id. Right. Um, like I know there's one where like you can use it as like a, like a federal form of
Speaker 16 00:51:06 Yeah. If you get like the real id, you can use it as like a passport per se or fly throughout the domestic US or whatever
Speaker 17 00:51:11 It is. And then there's like a, I believe it's like the standard mm-hmm. <affirmative>, which like, I don't think you'd be able to use to vote Right. As like a form of identification. So concerns about like, um, voters secure vote fraud or vote fraud or like voter security art.
Speaker 16 00:51:28 But I do believe the idea is that undocumented people would be able to also have a driver's license or register for that id. But again, it's driver's license. It's, I don't know if that necessarily includes like an actual just identification card. Okay.
Speaker 3 00:51:39 Yes. All right. Cool. Cool. Um, so let's, um, move on and talk about, uh, the driver license for all.
Speaker 16 00:51:48 Yeah. So it's kind of something that we're starting up. Like we said, the um, city budget passed, was it last week? We had a really busy week last week with the action and like the budget hearing and budgets were finalized and everything. Um, so after we found out that we're not going to be implementing the IDs, we kind of had to switch gears. And like I said, not that we're gonna stop working on municipal IDs, but that was something that was introduced during the elections was like driver's license for all. And like Tiana said, we have that trifecta of the whole Democratic, um, Minnesota government. So, but in order to get that done, we still have to hold them accountable. We still have to hold their feet to the fire to make sure that we're fighting for this. And I know that there are already coalitions forming Max's trying to get our footing and what we're going to be doing. And I think we're starting with the rally on the third and just trying to continue to work and make sure that we're working with the communities to make sure that we're getting this for immigrants and making sure that we're getting this for, I guess not only just immigrants, but anybody that needs a driver's license or needs say identification.
Speaker 17 00:52:53 Yeah. Um, I was not aware, like aware of this when it first started. I think I was like in middle school because driver's licenses for all has been a thing that's been going on for years. <laugh>. Yeah. Um, and so I've had a big like learning experience with this as well. So, um, it's been like really interesting to like see, um, like different groups come together to really push this forward. So I'm really excited to see what comes along with this. And yeah, we have that action on the third mm-hmm. <affirmative>.
Speaker 3 00:53:31 So how, so the action on the third, um, where's the action at?
Speaker 16 00:53:36 The action will be at the state capitol, I believe in St. Paul. So it'll be out there the third that morning. Um, at what
Speaker 3 00:53:44 Time?
Speaker 16 00:53:44 I believe it's at nine noon. Is it noon
Speaker 17 00:53:47 Or 11? We should be better at this
Speaker 16 00:53:50 <laugh>. We have so many events and so many things that we've been keep trying to keep track of it is on the third. I know that there are a lot of things going on because I believe that's like a protest day, but, but
Speaker 16 00:54:04 At noon. Yep. Opening rally, um, opening day rally for driver's license for all, um, outside the capitol. So we will be there. Um, also for anybody interested in like continuing to learn, I mean, Miek is always accepting members too. We meet every Thursday at seven o'clock, can always reach out to us via social media for like more information. Um, cuz we're always like, we, uh, I mean there's power in numbers and it's a lot of work. It's a lot of like work in like planning and making sure that we can have people. Um, the nice thing with like a lot of the coalitions, I know a lot of the times like people think immigrants and they think Latino, but I think it's important to know like Minnesota, Minneapolis in general has a lot of like East African immigrants mm-hmm. <affirmative> or we have our Muslim immigrants and we have immigrants from Southeast Asia or East Asia and things like that where those people's voices need to be heard too.
Speaker 16 00:54:53 And like I'd heavily encourage you to make sure you're a part of the conversation and force your way to be infor um, a part of the conversation because it's not fair to continue to let these people in power speak for us when we have such a broad range of diversity with, even with the Latino community, within the Asian community, within the East African community. Like you can't rely on one token person to be that voice. Um, so definitely encourage you to reach out, speak out, join Meac if you are interested, or just come to a meeting and kind of listen in to see what politicians are doing and what they're saying and make sure you're holding your representatives and everyone accountable. Cause it's really important right now we can take advantage of the, of the trifecta that we have.
Speaker 3 00:55:36 Yeah. And, and I think it's important to remind people that you know, this, this is your fight as well, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, this is everyone's fight. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, and, um, joining you can join Mira and help out, you know, as uh, as you have. Right. Because the last time you were on the show, I, you were, I know unaffiliated,
Speaker 16 00:55:54 We were talking about that. Um, I was talking to a couple people and I was like, yeah, the last time I was on DJ's show I was definitely like very solo dolo. Definitely was not affiliated with anything. <laugh> definitely was like, and I, I am pretty sure verbatim I said like I was on the show, I was like, I am unaffiliated because I don't wanna be held accountable. But like obviously that's changed <laugh>. So I've been new, new for the last few months, so I'm a newer member and like completely open arms, like I'm able to be on the show. I'm able to, I've learned a lot. I car marshaled like officially for the first time, time last week. Okay. Let's go. Um, yeah, so I mean I spoke,
Speaker 3 00:56:26 I mean you've been doing that for a while, but like open capacity
Speaker 16 00:56:28 Yeah. For a while. I mean actually like signed up to Car Marshall and didn't just show up and we're like, can you go be at the back of the rally and like go make sure nobody comes through. Um, but yeah, I mean like I think we've both been given opportunities to speak with people to be able to learn about daca, about the dream, act about driver's license for all and just kind of build, cuz I think activism is great when you're our boots on the ground, but boots on the ground looks is, is different in so many ways where you're showing up to city council meetings, you're showing up to budget hearings, you're showing up to radio shows, you're doing all these things that matter because any way that you can change, I know this is really cheesy and I say this sometimes, but like, if you can make a change in someone's life, you've made a change in the world is the way that I look at things. I know right? Like very cheesy, like very sentimental. I like it. Um, but it's important and it's important to make sure that you are standing up for those that may not have a voice. And the thing with undocumented immigrants is a lot of the times they can't show up or they're afraid to show up because you're putting their status at risk. So that's why it's, that's why the work that beer act does is really important.
Speaker 3 00:57:31 Yes. Well, I just want to say I really appreciate, um, y'all coming on and keeping us informed on what's going on. We're just gonna repeat the dates of the protest one more time. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yes. So we have the one that's happening on December 20th Yep. Which is next Tuesday. And that's gonna be at what time?
Speaker 16 00:57:49 At 9:00 AM It's all day. We're gonna be kind of rotating in and out all day, just trying to make sure that we are holding Amy Klobuchar accountable, trying to disrupt a couple things and make sure that we are there and we're being heard. And then yeah. So that's the 20th and then, and
Speaker 3 00:58:04 That's at her office?
Speaker 16 00:58:06 Yes. Her office on Washington right across from Bobby and Steve's. Yep. You'll probably see us there. Make sure you come check us out. Um, and then on January 3rd we will be outside the capitol a noon.
Speaker 3 00:58:20 All right. Um, yeah, so just appreciate y'all coming on, um, and uh, letting the listeners here on views on the ground, um, and just, um, keep them in the loop. So with that being said, I want to thank, um, a Francisco and Nerdy and, and Brandon for contributing today. Um, I really appreciate it. Um, and with that being said, I also want to give a special shout out, um, or um, um, so, um, one of my closest friends, one of my best friends and also one of my former chess students and one of my kids, um, Josiah Oakley actually ended up, um, dying in a car crash, um, this Sunday. So I want to just shout his name out in Memorial. So, um, yeah, so that's my kid. I've been knowing him since he was like 12 or 13, so, and he was 22. So, but, uh, just wanted to shout his name out. Um, with that being said, um, this has been your host dj and this has been views from the ground. We're out,
Speaker 18 00:59:40 They come in with the, of the black and the five in between the protests we protest and r Yes, we are the organized, organized, organized to what we would the lies. All the lies they come in with the tear As and 45 in between the protest we protest and Rio.
