Items
Creator is exactly
Drew Arrieta @itsdrw
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2020-12-04
Kamala Harris is Elected First Woman of Color to Become Vice President
Kamala Harris will become the first woman and first woman of color to become Vice President. She is also the first graduate of a historically Black university in the White House. Kamala graduated from Howard University with a political science and economics degree in 1986. Her sorority sisters from Alpha Kappa Alpha celebrated her victory in Philadelphia after her Presidential ticket won the state. -
2020-12-05
Police Violence
Protestors and families members who have lost loved ones to police violence gathered yesterday to condemn the shooting of Joseph Washington last Saturday. A police body camera video shows Washington getting out of a dumpster running towards officers, naked, and unarmed. Officers then deployed tasers and released a K-9 dog in to stop him — one officer fired his gun hitting Washington twice. St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell fired the officer who shot Washington. His termination is pending a union grievance process. Washington was a suspect in a house break-in and earlier domestic incident. Protestors denounced his actions and declared this should not allow police to become "judge, jury, and executioner." -
2020-12-06
Trump Rally
Yesterday, individuals opposing COVID-19 restrictions and the 2020 Presidential election results rallied for the third consecutive week. Around two hundred protestors countered the scheduled event calling out the relationship between Bikers for Trump MN and white supremacy groups attending like the Proud Boys, an all-male hate group that promotes and carries out political violence. -
2020-12-19
Minnesota Election Day
I had the privilege of documenting what I saw in Minnesota for @aclumn on Election Day. Going into the day I was prepared to see voter intimidation and long lines of frustrated voters, instead was met with celebratory and upbeat voters hosting cookouts and energized to cast their ballot. -
2020-12-22
Air Travel
Despite health warnings from the CDC, air travel in the US exceeded 1 million daily passengers for three consecutive days since last Saturday. If you're planning to travel, the health agency recommends getting tested one to three days before the trip and three to five days afterward. They also encourage you to "reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative.” -
2021-01-04
Dolal Idd Was Shot and Killed by Police
Twenty-three year old Dolal Idd was shot and killed by police Wednesday evening outside a gas station less than a mile away from the site of George Floyd’s death. Dolal's family only learned of his death after police raided their home in the middle of the night. Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo shared that officers were performing a traffic stop as part of a "probable cause” weapons investigation when they approached Idd. Arradondo refused to provide specifics. The edited body cam footage released by the police has only raised further questions about the incident. "We want police officers to have serious consequences for their use of force -- and right now they don't. Right now they’re given a great deal of discretion to kill people,” said Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director of CAIR (@cairmn). -
2021-03-17
Cordale Handy in Mental Health Crisis Killed by Saint Paul Police
In 2017, 29-year-old, Cordale Handy was killed by Saint Paul Police as he was navigating a mental health crisis. Since her son’s death, Cordale’s mother, Kim Handy-Jones, has continuously championed an end to police violence and demand accountability for her son's death. -
2021-01-06
Pro-Trump Rally
After a year where I've had more white men with semi-automatic weapons telling me to "fuck off" than I could predict for a lifetime. And witnessing the lenient policing of outright violent white supremacist groups in MN and DC. Today was not shocking, but it hurt and was disturbing. Throughout the afternoon, pro-Trump supporters rallied at the MN State Capital and Governor's Mansion cheering on the attempted coup in DC incited by Trump. -
2021-01-08
Thank You
I want to thank all the organizers, activists, community leaders, lawyers, journalists, photographers, educators, event marshalls, and medics who against all odds and dangers have raised their hands to dig America out of its messes. We appreciate and see you. -
2021-01-12
Activists Give St. Paul Mayor List of Demands
On Sunday, activists and community members hand-delivered a letter to St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's home signed by over 500 constituents and 25 local organizations demanding the city stop evicting people from encampments during inclement weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter is asking city officials to meet these requests: ➡️ Convene an emergency St. Paul City Council meeting to address these issues ➡️ Place a moratorium on enforcement of any illegal camping ordinance, to last the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic ➡️ Halt the clearing and disposal of tents and other sheltering materials to ensure that unhoused people do not lose what may be their only present means to self-quarantine and practice social distancing ➡️ Adhere to the existing statewide eviction moratorium ➡️ Follow best practices outlined by the National Homelessness Law Center -
2021-01-21
Progressive Activists Call on Biden Administration
Yesterday progressive activists called on the incoming Biden administration to center working people, immigrants, and BIPOC communities in their policy agenda. Their list of demands included community control of the police, no new oil or fossil fuel pipelines, and criminal prosecution of Donald Trump. -
2021-01-22
Construction on Line 3 Pipeline
As Minnesota Governor Walz continues to allow construction on the Line 3 pipeline while simultaneously pushing for carbon-free energy in the state by 2040, pressure is building on President Biden to end construction of it. Immediately after his inauguration, Biden revoked a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline which was meant to carry crude oil from Canada to the U.S. Rescinding this permit delivered a victory to anti-pipeline activists who challenged its development for over 12 years. -
2021-01-25
Voices for Ethnic & Multicultural Awareness (VEMA) Gathered to Honor Estavon Elioff and Eddie Uti
Voices for Ethnic & Multicultural Awareness (VEMA) and community members gathered to honor the lives of Estavon Elioff and Eddie Uti from the Iron Range region of Minnesota. Elioff was a 19-year-old Latinx male who was shot and killed while unarmed by Sheriff's deputies in Mountain Iron, MN last year. There is an active investigation into his death by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Eddie Uti was a 29-year-old Samoan father of two from Hibbing, MN found dead in 2020. His last known contact was with the Itasca Sheriff's department. A medical examiner’s report revealed he died from a drowning after being “found floating near the shore of Pokegama Lake.” -
2021-01-30
Protesters March to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office
Hundreds of protesters marched to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in St. Paul to demand President Biden direct them to revoke Line 3's water crossing permit. The additional carbon emissions from the proposed Line 3 expansion is equivalent to operating 50 new coal plants over thirty to fifty years. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found if global emissions continue to follow their current trajectory, the global temperature will rise roughly 5.4 degrees (F) by century’s end, resulting in catastrophic changes to the planet. -
2021-02-04
Photographer Develops Photos From 2020 East Asia Trip
I'm finally developing rolls of black and white 35mm film taken in January 2020. During this time, I solo backpacked through Japan, Hong Kong, and China -- this was just before COVID-19 was known to be spreading through East Asia. Here is shot of me looking up from my hostel's (@wontonmeen_) patio. Thanks to @drkrm_mpls + @brooklynn.kascel for teaching me the magic of developing film. -
2021-02-08
March for Justice
These photos were taken at the Bloomington March for Justice on July 25, 2020. At the same time - less than a mile away - a 'Black the Blue' and Pro-Trump event was being held and was along the march's route. Moments before these separate events met the sky darkened and it started raining heavily. It almost felt as if the universe knew what was going to unfold moments later. -
2021-02-16
Protest at the Minnesota State Capitol Last Summer
There are 20 days until the trial of George Floyd. This photo was taken at the Minnesota State Capitol last summer, moments before the National Guard and State Police thought using rubber bullets was an appropriate "crowd control" tactic for a peaceful protest. -
2021-02-17
100 Activists Opposing the Pipeling
Last month, it was reported by Healing Minnesota and The Intercept, that the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office requested that Enbridge reimburse them for nearly $72,000 worth of riot gear and more than $10,000 in weapons and ammunition, including tear gas, batons, pepper spray, bean bag rounds, and flash-bang devices. These items were identified as necessary PPE to "maintain peace in and around Line 3's construction site." Since December 2020, more than 100 activists opposing the pipeline have been arrested for attempting to delay construction. -
2021-02-28
Transphobia
From Drew Arrieta: Dolores "Lola" Gonzalez was an employee at a South Minneapolis Cub Foods for seventeen years. After asking management at the location to act on ongoing transphobic and discriminatory harassment received from co-workers and customers, she was dismissed from her position on February 17th. Yesterday, community members and customers rallied to show support for her and condemn Cub Foods for upholding transphobia. -
2021-03-01
Syrian Attack
From Drew Arrieta's post: Last Thursday, President Biden ordered airstrikes against two facilities used to smuggle weapons into Syria by a Iranian-backed militia. The Biden administration did not receive authorization for this attack and the US is technically not at war with Syria or Iran. Senate Democrats have pushed back against Biden over the airstrikes, calling on him to provide a briefing why military action was taken without congressional approval. This weekend protestors gathered to condemn Biden's airstrikes and demanded his administration redirect military budget towards pandemic relief efforts. -
2021-03-02
George Floyd Square Artists
From Drew Arrieta's post: On Sunday, George Floyd Square held space for black creatives to showcase and celebrate their creative excellence. The Twin Cities hands-down has one of the best spoken word and poetry communities. Thanks to @b_tulloch + @siriuslymarie + @toussaintmorrison for putting on this event. -
2021-03-04
Pipeline Actions
From Drew Arrieta's post: Activists and community members are taking part in a series of actions in Minnesota this week to stop Line 3 construction. The replacement pipeline will bring nearly a million barrels of tar sands - one of the most carbon intensive forms of energy - daily from Canada to Wisconsin. Almost 30 years ago, the current Line 3 pipeline ruptured in Grand Rapids, MN, spilling 1.7 million gallons of oil onto the frozen Prairie River. It is the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history. On Tuesday, a letter was delivered to management at multiple Chase locations signed by 41 Indigenous women supported by over 150 organizations requesting they stop providing financing to Enbridge, the company which operates and is building the pipeline. -
2020-03-08
Jury Selection for Derek Chauvin Silent March
From Drew Arrieta: Today, the jury selection begins in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for second-degree murder and manslaughter. Last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ordered Judge Cahill to reconsider adding a third-degree murder to his charges. Hundreds of protesters participated in a silent march yesterday, honoring Floyd and over 240 individuals who died in police-involved shootings in Minnesota over the last 20 years. -
2021-03-12
Preparing to protest
From Drew Arrieta: Visual Black Justice (@visualblackjustice) is a black-woman led org blending art and social justice. In preparation for the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, they collected mirrors to display messages of solidarity and accountability outside the courthouse. -
2021-03-09
Justice for George Floyd
From Drew Arrieta: As court proceedings for the trial of Derek Chauvin were underway, hundreds of community members, activists, and students demanded justice for George Floyd outside the courthouse. Judge Cahill, who is overseeing the trial, yesterday said he would proceed with the jury selection despite a dispute on the potential reinstatement of a third-degree murder charge that could potentially delay the case. The prosecution criticized the judge's decision, arguing the lack of clarity on charges when selecting a jury risks the case being thrown out on appeal. -
2021-03-13
University of Minnesota students rallied to demand community control of the UMPD
From the Instagram post: The city of Minneapolis on Friday agreed to pay $27 million to settle a civil lawsuit with George Floyd's family just weeks before opening statements were scheduled to begin for the former officer charged with his death. This payment marked the second multi-million-dollar payout for police actions in the past two years. According to MPR News, the settlement in Floyd’s death raises the total amount the city has paid to settle police officer misconduct cases to $71 million over the past two decades. Yesterday, University of Minnesota students rallied to demand community control of the UMPD, call out racism on campus, and stand in solidarity with the family of George Floyd.