SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Thursday, Jan. 29, over 50 legislators from 15 states gathered in-person at the Minnesota State Capitol for a Day of Solidarity with their Minnesota colleagues, including North Dakota State Sens. Tim Mathern and Ryan Braunberger, as well as Reps. Jayme Davis, Gretchen Dobervich, and Austin Foss. That same day, a national virtual press Zoom conference was held with over 100 state legislators from across the nation, including State Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille.
The virtual press call was coordinated and hosted by Gaby Goldstein, the founder and president of State Futures, a nonprofit organization that has a network of over 600 state policymakers, empowering them to learn from each other, innovate together, and take coordinated action across states.
“The message today is simple,” Goldstein said. “State legislators across the country are standing together, locking arms, raising their voices to support the people of Minnesota, to reject authoritarian tactics, and to voice their immovable commitment to the rule of law and defending communities.”
Sen. Mathern (D-Fargo) stated that this Day of Solidarity of state legislators would confront increasing federal authoritarian tactics and the escalation of force against Minnesota residents in the wake of the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Sen. Braunberger (D-Fargo) added that Minnesota is a testing ground for the federal government, as part of a national project to suppress the power of the people.
Rep. Foss (D-Fargo) clarified that, in addition to the in-person press conference and national virtual press call, the event also featured the Minnesota Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts Hearing on ICE activity in Minnesota.
The session began with remarks from those gathered in the Minnesota State Capitol press room, including Rep. Kelly Moller, a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), who thanked Goldstein and her fellow lawmakers who joined them either in person or virtually. “First, they are here to learn about the unlawful and unconstitutional actions of federal agents in our communities, especially against our immigrant neighbors and communities of color, actions that are still happening today in spite of what the administration says. … What our colleagues learn here will help them prepare when this happens in their states,” she said. “Second, our colleagues are here so we can collaborate on policy ideas to hold federal agents accountable for their crimes and create stronger protections for our states. Third, they are here to show our collective commitment to protecting democracy.”
“It has been said countless times that the unconstitutional actions of the federal government are unprecedented,” Moller continued. “However, the world has seen this totalitarian playbook throughout history. This also means that we have seen how communities can defeat an authoritarian regime. Minnesotans are a shining example of how to do that. But it takes all of us, including the press, to look to lessons from history, to ensure the preservation of our constitutional rights and our democracy. To communities across the country, thank you for standing with Minnesota, because together we are all Minnesota.”
Rep. Finley-DeVille (D) of District 4A of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, was on the road and joined by phone. “I and my five North Dakota colleagues that are present there, stand in solidarity with all of you gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol,” she said. “We are united by a shared belief that government power must never come at the expense of human dignity, community safety or the rule of law. What is happening in Minnesota matters to all of us. Minnesota has become a testing ground for broader, federal actions and how we respond here.”
“The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti are not abstract policy failures,” she continued. “They’re human tragedies that demand transparency, accountability and change.”
Finley-DeVille also spoke about what was happening to Native Americans in Minneapolis, and how many of them were targeted during the ongoing immigration crackdown, including a Native woman she said was violently thrown to the ground by U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents, sustaining an eye injury and possible permanent vision loss. “We can see that this is not about immigration as much as it is about targeting people of color, including Native people who are simply living in their communities,” she said. “Authority does not override sovereignty, treaty rights or human dignity. Native people were here first. We are still here and we will not be erased. Solidarity is not symbolic. It is a promise that no one stands alone, and no community is disposable.”
Later in the call, South Dakota State Sen. and Assistant Minority Leader Jamie Smith (D) appeared with Sen. and Minority Leader Liz Larson (D), as well as Rep. and Minority Whip Nicole Uhre-Balk (D) who were all unable to join in person as they are three weeks into a 10-week session of the South Dakota Legislature. “Know that we’re there with you in spirit,” Smith said. “We admire you for the tenacity that you have in the face of what’s going on, and you know that you have our full support here, your neighbors to the West. Thank you to everybody that joined in today and put this on. This is not acceptable and should not be normalized, and we need to all work together to make sure that we live in a decent world, and we’re so thankful that you’re all here.”
Over 100 state legislators from 27 states participated in the nationwide virtual call, including Maine, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington State, and Wisconsin.
