Dear John,

I hope you’re doing well.

You’ll have to look for it, but the subtheme of this week’s News Digest is religious conservatism and blurring boundaries between church and state. Help us get a pulse on these issues in Minnesota by taking a short survey on rights, faith, and democracy now.
[link removed]

Let’s get to the Digest.

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. SCOTUS
“Since the Court’s Republican majority became a supermajority, the Court has treated religion cases as its highest priority.” Read more about the blurring line between the separation of church and state. Help us get a pulse on this issue in Minnesota: Take our short rights, faith, and democracy survey now.
[link removed]
[link removed]

2. Daunte Wright
Wright’s father said he had been cheated. There are no words. Read the breaking news on the two-year prison sentence given to ex-police officer Kim Potter who murdered Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center last year.
[link removed]

3. Amir Locke
The calls for justice have not stopped. Highly recommend this Truthout piece: activists say reforming the police isn’t enough.
Read this deep dive and problematic history of no-knock warrants.
[link removed]
[link removed]

4. Paid Time to Care
No one should have to choose between caring for themselves or a loved one and a paycheck. Cities and states around the country have passed Earned Sick and Safe Time laws, including three in Minnesota. Read this piece by City Councilors Jeremiah Ellison, Mitra Jalali, and Azrin Awal calling for paid sick days to finally pass the Legislature.
[link removed]

5. LeAnn Littlewolf
The Duluth News Tribune published an incredible profile on LeAnn Littlewolf, the new co-director at American Indian Community Housing Organization (and TakeAction’s board chair). She’s a quiet, fierce, big-thinking leader with heart. Read more about LeAnn’s leadership and impact.
[link removed]

6. Starbucks Union
Read about the Rhodes scholar and barista leading the fight to unionize Starbucks in the Washington Post.
[link removed]

7. Solidarity
This is huge: St. Paul and Minneapolis teachers and support staff voted this week to authorize a strike. The last time Minneapolis public school teachers went on strike was 1970.

8. Music
Listen to this demo of a new song that might be called, “Life in Minneapolis” by jeremy messersmith.
[link removed]

9. Perfect Strangers
Netflix released its first Arabic film this year. Read more about reactions to the remake of the Italian film Perfect Strangers in the New York Times. This commentary calls it a breath of fresh air.
[link removed]
[link removed]

10. The Righteous Gemstones
My friend who grew up in evangelical megachurches got me hooked on HBO’s dark comedy The Righteous Gemstones. Have you seen it? Let me know what you thought! Season two is out now. Check out the trailer for season one of the Gemstones.
[link removed]

That’s a wrap. Send me what you’re reading.

- Kenza Hadj-Moussa

Paid for by TakeAction Minnesota

TakeAction Minnesota
705 Raymond Ave Ste 100
Saint Paul, MN 55114
United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .