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Dear Neighbors –
It has been just one week since my last email update and in those seven days, Minneapolis has continued to be the epicenter of the Trump Administration's brutal and unconstitutional overreach. The escalating federal actions have had devastating impacts on our state and communities.
The hostile federal escalation against our neighbors and our community members - citizens and non-citizens alike - is illegal, unconstitutional, and morally repugnant.
Last week, I published a Star Tribune commentary titled Five years after Jan. 6, we the people decide our future in which I observed that “Institutions will not save American democracy; only the people will.” The last week and months has been proof that we the people are the frontline in this fight to defend democracy and rule of law. Despite all the darkness we’re living through, the path forward is being lit by Minnesotans across our state pulling together to stand up for their neighbors, defend our communities, and peacefully protest against the violence and lawless federal incursion.
I’m proud to join our community in standing up for our neighbors and our state. On Monday, I joined parents, neighbors and educators to support Roosevelt students and their walk out in protest of the ICE terror they experienced first hand last week. I’m so proud of our students and their leadership in this moment – watch this video for a moment of inspiration and hope.
Coordinated ICE Response
The Minneapolis state delegation has been working with the Governor, the Attorney General and the City of Minneapolis, since the federal “Metro Surge” began to pursue every legal avenue we have within state and local authority to end this dangerous federal incursion on our state and our communities. Watch our latest news briefing here.
The tactics, presence, and lawlessness of the more than 2,500 federal agents has jeopardized the safety and well-being of all residents in our city and region. They have escalated following ICE agent’s killing of Renee Good. In the last week, I’ve heard from neighbors scared to leave their homes for work and groceries; from Roosevelt and Washburn students worried for their classmates; from residents reporting scary encounters with federal agents, often driving recklessly in unmarked cars with obscured license plates and masked men inside.
This reflects experiences across the state of Minnesota and are the basis for the legal action by the Attorney General, the City of Minneapolis and St. Paul to immediately end the surge of federal ICE, DHS and Customs and Border Patrol agents into Minnesota.
My legislative colleagues and I along with our local and state elected official colleagues have been doing everything we can to try to get these lawless federal agents out of our state and to try and mitigate the danger and harm that they are causing in our communities.
Last night, as we heard reports that another Minneapolis resident was shot by an ICE agent, my colleagues in the Minneapolis delegation were on the ground alongside local leaders and community members to protect the constitutional rights and the health and safety of our residents. The adult victim was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital to receive medical care for his injuries and Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was on the scene to investigate.
Today, we are working to coordinate with community and local organizations to support the impacted residents and neighborhood, and to learn more from the BCA's and the City of Minneapolis about what happened to push for transparency and accountability.
Together, we have been working to:
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When we return to session on February 17, I will be looking to take more steps to defend our constituents from future harm.
As a voting rights lawyer and a student of democracy, I believe in the face of this escalation of dangerous federal lawlessness, an organized, engaged, and connected community is our most important line of defense. I, along with my legislative colleagues, have been working to support local and state community leaders, response networks, and the local organizations and businesses in our community who are pushing back and working to provide safety.
I want to thank you for being engaged and reaching out in support of our community and on behalf of our democracy. I am very proud of our community and our neighbors coming together to navigate this very difficult time.
I will continue to send resources out as I get them. And as always, I am here to help and support in whatever way we can. You can email my office at [email protected] or call 651-296-4200, and we will respond as soon as we can. In case of emergency, please use one of the hotlines above.
Best,
Emma Greenman
State Representative
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