Crisis pregnancy centers are predatory institutions that disguise themselves as well-intentioned reproductive health resource centers, but which in reality push anti-abortion sentiments onto their patients and provide paltry healthcare services.

Sorcha Lona from UMN Students for a Democratic Society pointed out that “despite its name, its positioning as a care provider, and its location only a mile from campus, the intent is clear: to take advantage of vulnerable people in life-altering scenarios and to push them away from the safe and responsible decision to terminate a pregnancy.”

Montana Hirsch from the Minnesota Abortion Action Coalition highlighted how people’s movements make up the core of the fight for women’s and reproductive justice since Democratic Party leadership has proven to be useless in making progressive changes. Hirsch reminded us that although the state of Minnesota reelected democrat Tim Walz as governor over his republican opponent Scott Jensen, “the fight is far from over. Walz is still funding fake clinics like First Care. He has not taken action to fund more abortion clinics across the state. Instead, he has asked for our votes, our donations, and support while consistently acting to squash people’s movements.”

Other speakers included Sasmit Rahman from Students for a Democratic Society, Sara from Students for Reproductive Freedom, CJ from Climate Justice Committee, and David Gilbert-Pederson from Minnesota Workers United.

Students for a Democratic Society closed out the action by inviting anyone who wants to help build the fight for increased abortion access and other facets of women’s and reproductive rights on campus to join them in their meetings on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in 112 Folwell Hall.

#MinneapolisMN #StudentMovement #PeoplesStruggles #UMNStudentsForADemocraticSociety #AbortionRights #MinnesotaAbortionActionCoalitionMNAAC

Minneapolis, MN – More than 70 protesters gathered outside the University of Minnesota’s Donhowe building for a demonstration in support of women’s and reproductive rights on Friday, May 20. The action was initiated by the UMN Twin Cities chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and raised demands for university administration’s action on women’s and reproductive rights.

The program kicked off with chants of “When abortion rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!” filling the air on University Avenue. After hearing speakers, the demonstrators began to march through the Dinkytown area, drawing the attention of passersby, many raising their fists in support, or taking out their phones to record. Some even joined the march as it went on.

Robyn Harbison and Haizela Wu spoke for SDS, detailing both the state of the current attacks on abortion rights and the specific demands being raised by them for the university to act on They demanded President Gabel issue a statement affirming support for women’s and reproductive rights, including: a module on reproductive health in freshman orientation; the creation of a Reproductive Health Advocacy and Education Center; and the boycott of states with “heartbeat” bills.

Mira Altobell-Resendez, from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, explained the deep connection between capitalism and these attacks on women and reproductive rights. They made clear that these attacks are “capitalism’s way of keeping itself alive by exploiting women, queer and gender non-conforming people, oppressed nationality people, and the working class. To the ruling class, the safety of these people is expendable as long as their bodies fuel their economy.”

Other speakers included members of the Climate Justice Committee; Meredith Aby-Keirstead, of the MN Anti-war Committee, and Sam Martinez from the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar.

At the end of the action, Students for a Democratic Society invited all students interested in getting involved in this campaign for women’s rights and reproductive justice on campus to join them at their meetings every Thursday at 6 p.m. on the Knoll.

#MinneapolisMN #PeoplesStruggles #UMNStudentsForADemocraticSociety #reproductiveRights

St. Paul, MN – Students for A Democratic Society (SDS) held a sit-in at Eastcliff Mansion, the home of University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel, April 30, to demand police accountability on campus, community control of the police, and to divest from the West Command Task Force. The occupation lasted from noon to 6 p.m. and had an extensive program which included marshal training, cop watch, know your rights training, an explanation of CPAC, and a discussion of disability justice and policing.

The sit-in ended with a rally where community members and students spoke. Almost 100 people attended the rally, while even more came throughout the day to hear the workshops and training.

Andy Oien, an SDS member, frustrated with the lack of response to SDS’s and students’ demands for more police accountability, said, “that’s why we’re out here today, because we are tired of the inaction, we’re tired of her [Gabel] complimenting the UMPD while ignoring us.” Jalisa Sang, another member of SDS declared, “we’re here and we will continue to fight until our demands are met.”

Angered by Joan Gabel’s ongoing history of inaction, students and community members occupied her lawn to demonstrate that although she may try to ignore the voices of the university community, at the end of the day it is the students’ tuition that pays for her mansion.

#StPaulMN #InJusticeSystem #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #UMNStudentsForADemocraticSociety

Shortly after Walz and the event moderator were settled into two cozy armchairs on a stage at the front of a packed auditorium, one person rose from the middle of the crowd to demand that the governor address the epidemic of police murders that have taken place on his watch. “Are you willing to call for the prosecution of police officers that murder of our loved ones?”

In the seven minutes before he ran away, he was asked repeatedly to call for prosecutions. The governor has the authority to take up police murder cases and assign them to the state attorney general, or someone else, after county prosecutors decline to prosecute. Protesters also demanded that Walz take action to stop bogus investigations by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) when police officers murder, and for him to support community control of the police.

Walz had several responses that fell flat. His statement, “I do not have the power to grant pardons,” was answered with, “We don’t need pardons, we need prosecutions!” He praised public conversations like the University event, and was hit with, “We don’t need conversations, we need convictions!” Desperate to end the public questioning, he offered to meet with activists after the event. “No, we don’t believe you!” There have been several attempts to schedule a meeting with the governor around police killings, but for months, his office has failed to respond.

Toshira Garraway Allen, whose son’s father Justin Tiegen was brutally murdered ten years ago by Saint Paul police said, “You have ignored us Governor Walz! They’re killing our loved ones in cold blood and walking free. And Governor Walz is ignoring our families.”

After Walz ran away, protesters chanted “Black lives matter!” as police pushed them out of the auditorium. Outside the hall, and as they were walking away, police grabbed one young Black protester. They handcuffed and held her in a police vehicle outside, admitting they did so to get other protesters out of the building. She was released without charge about ten minutes later. Undaunted, she demanded identifying information from every one of the officers who targeted her.

Walz came back to continue the event once activists were gone, but he was confronted by a second wave of protesters. This group was speaking out against Enbridge Line 3, a tar sands oil pipeline that threatens the environment and violates treaty rights. Those protesters were also removed from the hall. No one left the event thinking Walz’s first year as governor was going well. Least of all, Governor Walz.

#MinneapolisMN #StudentMovement #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #TwinCitiesCoalition4JusticeForJamarTCC4J #GovernorWalz #UMNStudentsForADemocraticSociety