There was revulsion, she said. There was such an outpouring from people from all backgrounds who came and stood by us. [National Union of Mineworkers'] representatives came to demos. An elderly miner from Newcastle gave me a badge and said: Wear it with pride.
Minneapolis has shown me that even in the middle of grief and fear, people still show up for each other. For that, I want to say thank you. Thank you to this incredible community for showing up again and again - organizing food and rides, making sure our kids get to school, checking in on neighbors, and standing together in the cold. I am so proud to call Minneapolis my home.
In many ways, Alex Pretti and Renee Good could have been any of the dozens of Minneapolis residents I met last week. Among them were teachers, store clerks, Uber drivers, charity workers and clergymen a patchwork of humanity withstanding what many have called the Trump administration's siege on their city, which began in December last year and has led to 3,000 arrests, two fatal shootings, and routine rights violations in an operation defined by government brutality.
Minnesotan here. Everything is as heinous and barbaric as it seems. Our great state is being targeted and terrorized in a political power play designed to wreak chaos and instigate violence.
We know that your cruel new plans do not represent us, our communities or who we are as a country. You said it was a moral mission to resolve division. We agree. The responsibility to end the divisive politics, racist rhetoric and demonising language of the past lies with all political leaders. Your ruthless new plans to erode refugee rights and the harmful language used by politicians in recent weeks will only feed the hostility in our communities.
An event like this Día De Los Muertos, it's an honor because it's creating a space for the representation of our culture, and you know, being a part of the community and always being part of the community,
This village within a city, as locals describe it, came to global attention again last month when Elon Musk amplified anti-immigrant misinformation about an incident allegedly involving a 12-year-old girl who was charged with being in possession of offensive weapons. Scotland's first minister John Swinney accused the multibillionaire X owner of undermining community cohesion after he shared widely circulated video footage of the incident.
It was a shock to someone who grew up with a sense of solidarity between Black Caribbean and Irish immigrants I've always had an affinity for Irish culture. Yes, in that irritatingly reductive, romanticised way that everyone who isn't Irish seems to. But also in a way that, for a number of reasons, has long felt deeply meaningful. Rooted in strong familial bonds. In overlapping histories. In trust.
What happened yesterday was extraordinary - people of all ages and backgrounds came together to walk, run, cheer, donate and volunteer. It was beyond anything we could have imagined. It shows that even when the situation feels overwhelming, hope can grow when a community comes together and that each of us has the power to step forward and make a meaningful difference.
The urgent work of survival often edges out space for strategic visioning, but if nonprofits and activists are to thrive, they must dream different ways of living.
"What knits our communities together is the opportunity to hear each other, to hear differences of opinion, to understand how we're different and how we're similar, and that's what builds the ground on which democracy can grow."
IDAHOBIT, recognized since 2004, aims to highlight violence and discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals, fostering community support and advocacy in diverse environments.
