How does white supremacy manifest in Minneapolis? Selling out our city to the Super Bowl, an event that will disrupt and threaten the lives and livelihoods of our local communities for the benefit of the rich and corporate class.
As Minnesota steps into the national spotlight, we have a unique opportunity to turn attention to the racial injustices and oppression that make our state one of the worst places to live for people of color.
Whatever your interests, abilities or level of risk, there’s a role for you! Please fill out this short survey to indicate how you’d like to support, participate and take action!
Read more about the different coalitions and actions below…
Minnesota Divest Invest Coalition:
Background
From the organizers: “Black Visions Collective, CTUL, Inquilinxs Unidxs, the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, the Baker’s Union, MN350, Young People’s Action Coalition, $15 Now and other organizations are organizing a series of actions the week of the Super Bowl.
Our communities are already in crisis and now the Super Bowl is coming to Minnesota. Politicians and corporate interests are implementing a plan to make Minnesota “better” under a neoliberal vision — all subsidized by our tax dollars, creating austerity for the poor and profits for the rich. The Super Bowl will supposedly bring $338 million to Minnesota. We demand that we share in these millions. The Super Bowl is out opportunity to create a vision of a new world we co-create, a world beyond the greed and limited freedom that capitalism offers.”
Watch the video of the press conference announcing the organizations’ demands here.
Actions
February 2, 4:30-6 p.m. | Super Bowl Protest: Tackle Corporate Greed (CTUL)
February 3, 7-9 a.m. | Super Bowl Breakfast: Support $15 and Workers’ Rights (CTUL)
February 3, 12:30-3:30 p.m. | Join Water Protectors to Stop US Bank from Funding Pipelines (Indigenous Environmental Network, MN350 and others)
February 3, 3-5 p.m. | Taste of Justice (Bakers’ Union, BCTGM Local 22)
February 4, 3 p.m. | Super Bowl Anti-Racist, Anti-Corporate Rally (Super Bowl Anti-Racist & Anti-Corporate Coalition)
Fundraising
Black Visions Collection Bail Fund: $20,000
Black Visions Collective is a Black, Trans, and Queer led organization in affiliation with the autonomous BLM Network. Our genesis story begins as the official, Black Lives Matter Minneapolis chapter. We are grounding our work in community engagement and political education, leadership development, and cultural organizing rooted in transformative justice, in order to create powerful campaigns for long-term systems change. Currently we are working on a campaign to intervene in the violence that Super Bowl LII will be bringing to our homes. Please support our on-going efforts for programming supplies, *bail/legal fees*, and action materials.
Super Bowl Anti-Racist and Anti-Corporate Coalition:
Background
From the organizers: “The Super Bowl Anti-Racist Anti-Corporate Coalition (SAAC) will bring together more than a dozen local community organizations for a rally that will begin at Peavey Park, followed by a march to the stadium.
During this year’s football season, players, and in some cases entire teams, have spoken out against racism, police brutality, and white supremacist violence. Players that took a knee inspired a national conversation that reached far beyond the football stadiums. While Trump and the NFL threatened, silenced, and blacklisted players for speaking out, we support Colin Kaepernick, Michael Bennett, Marshawn Lynch, and all athletes – from the NFL to local high schools – who’ve used their voices to demand justice.
Super Bowl 52 is coming to a community that has taken to the streets many times against local police killings. From Jamar Clark and Justine Damond, to Philando Castile and Phil Quinn, justice has been denied for these and many other lives stolen by Minneapolis and St. Paul cops. Our communities will dish out millions to these same police departments to provide “security” for the Super Bowl, while nothing has been done to address police violence.
SB52 will be played in US Bank stadium, which was built contrary to the wishes of Minneapolis voters, in partnership with one of the banks behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. Local officials have engineered an NFL corporate takeover of Minneapolis: Areas of downtown will be designated “clean zones,” allowing the National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security complete control of the areas, posing a special danger to our immigrant neighbors; they are removing the homeless from our streets & shelters; mass transit systems are being privatized for use by Super Bowl attendees only… these efforts make our city unlivable and whitewash the realities of poor and working people in our city.
Join us to oppose police brutality, racism, and the giveaway of public resources. #ResistSB52 #KneelStandFightSB52“
Actions
February 4, 3 p.m. | Super Bowl Anti-Racist, Anti-Corporate Rally (Super Bowl Anti-Racist & Anti-Corporate Coalition)
February 4, 3 p.m. | Black Super Bowl (Black Saint Paul, BLM MN and others)
Fundraising
Check back soon for ways to support this work!
Take a Knee Nation Conference and Rally
Background
From the organizers: “On the first weekend of BLACK HISTORY MONTH and professional football’s Super Bowl Take a Knee Nation is hosting a conference: RACE, POLICE VIOLENCE & THE RIGHT TO PROTEST followed by a protest and rally of our own on Sunday, February 4.
The purpose of the conference is to bring together everyone across the country who has protested police brutality, especially those who have taken a knee to protest police violence and the families of victims particularly those who have remained on the front lines in this struggle. The Conference is designed to deepen our understanding of the issues of police violence, racism and our right to protest. It’s also an opportunity to meet and be in community and fellowship with others in this struggle for justice. It’s a chance to work together to come up with ways we can continue to put pressure on this government to end this scourge on our society.”
Actions
February 3-4 | National Take a Knee Nation Conference and Rally (Take a Knee Nation)
Register here: https://www.takeakneenation.com/
Fundraising
Donations are needed and encouraged: https://www.gofundme.com/dvc4g-take-a-knee-nation