Dark Enough to See the Stars

By Beth Shogren, Surdna Board Member, Minneapolis, MN
Tim Thorpe, Surdna Board Member, Minnetonka, MN
Don Chen, Surdna President, New York, NY

The killing of Renee Good has brought darkness and terror to the Twin Cities. As swarms of ICE agents surge across the region, families fear leaving their homes, businesses are struggling, and schools are offering remote learning to protect children and their families. One Minneapolis resident told The Guardian, “People come to this country to feel safe, to work hard, and to raise their families with dignity. Instead, many of us are now living in fear. It feels like our own country has turned against its people, and that is heartbreaking.”

Racial profiling is in full force: The majority of people swept up by ICE in Minnesota are Black, Muslim, Latino, Asian, and Native Americans, and many are U.S. citizens. Bao Phi, a Vietnamese American poet, father, refugee, and proud Minnesotan, wrote in Time, “Even though I was sworn in as an American citizen when I was in grade school, I carry three forms of I.D. when I leave the house. I fear—not for the first time—that the color of my skin and the shape of my eyes puts me at risk. I worry about my mother and father, elderly now, both legal residents for five decades, who have done nothing against the law, and yet could be scooped up at any time by ICE.”

Across the nation, countless people are asking themselves, “Am I Next?” Too often, the answer is “Yes,” as careless and cruel immigration agents continue to intimidate communities, separate children from their families and use excessive force on peaceful protesters. The repercussions extend well beyond Minneapolis.

In the United States, these abuses of power are completely unacceptable. So, it is essential for all conscientious Americans to oppose injustice and defend our fundamental freedoms. On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are inspired by what Minnesotans and others are doing to push back against authoritarianism. They are organizing, engaging in nonviolent protest, caring for their neighbors, and insisting that American democracy must protect all its people. They exemplify Dr. King’s philosophy that “The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers” and that “the way of non-violence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community” which is marked by reconciliation and justice for all people.

As leaders of one of the nation’s oldest family foundations, we stand with those who are standing up to injustice and call on all neighbors to work together to build Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community. Conditions may get worse before they start to get better. But we remain hopeful that bright spots will continue to appear. As Dr. King once noted, “only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.”

We see stars in Minnesota in every act of solidarity, every neighbor supported, every stand for dignity. Let’s support their efforts so that light can prevail. 

What You Can Do to Help

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine is continually updating a growing list of resources on how to support local immigrant communities and businesses, including fundraisers, food drives, know-your-rights learning sessions, and trainings on nonviolent protest techniques.