Minneapolis, MN – Más de 50 personas protestaron aquí, frente al edificio del gobierno federal, el 15 de septiembre, para exigir justicia para las victimas del huracán Katrina. La protesta fue organizada por el Comité para el Derecho de Asistencia Pública.

En la protesta, Virginia Amy Weldon del Comité dijo, “Estamos aquí hoy para denunciar el gobierno de Bush y su intencionada traición a los pobres y los Afro-Americanos residentes de Nueva Orleans y la Costa del Golfo. La perdida de vida sin razón debido a la indiferencia despiadada de Bush nos da mucha rabia e indignación. Mientras la gente de Nueva Orleans, la gran mayoría pobre y negra, se ahogaba, se deshidrataba y moría de hambre pidiendo ayuda y evacuación, Bush siguió en su vacación y la gente incompetente de su administración en Washington no hizo nada tampoco.”

Tracy Furney, también del Comité para el Derecho de Asistencia Pública, postuló las siguientes demandas: que el gobierno satisfaga las necesidades de los sobrevivientes en cuanto a dinero, hogares, comida, ropa, medicina y otros recursos; que restauren y reconstruyan completamente los vecindarios de gente de bajo ingreso económico de la Costa del Golfo; que los residentes de bajo ingreso tengan derecho de regresar a sus vecindarios; reparaciones para los sobrevivientes de Katrina; un fín a la política racista y anti-pobre del gobierno de Bush; y que Bush y sus compinches tomen responsabilidad completa por las consecuencias de su premeditado fracaso y su traición a la gente de la Costa del Golfo.

Trishalla Bell, otro miembro del Comité, habló de sus experiencias en Houston, Texas con los evacuados de Nueva Orleans, donde ella paso tiempo haciendo reportajes para el periódico ¡Lucha y Resiste! Ella criticó fuertemente a las operaciones de ayuda que tildó como no adecuadas.

Las pancartas en la protesta dijeron, “Bush jugó, la gente se ahogó”, y “Katrina – una obra de la naturaleza, una falla del gobierno”, y también hicieron llamadas para las reparaciones. Muchas personas que pasaban en carro, a pie, en bicicleta y en bus tocaron sus bocinas y mostraron su apoyo cuando pasaron por la protesta.

El Comité para el Derecho de Asistencia Pública también colectó más de $600 para su organización gemela, el Comité para el Derecho de Asistencia Pública de Nueva Orleans. El director de dicha organización todavía no se le ha encontrado después del huracán.

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Las oficinas de la Policía del Capitolio y Patrullas del Estado habían intentados a prevenir que los manifestantes entraran al Edeficio del Capitolio aúnque tenían licencia para hacerlo. Después de un debate muy tenso de 30 minutos, la policía se rendió.

“Hoy nos encontramos aquí para reclamar justicia,” dijo Trishalla Bell del Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition, quien insistía que el Gobernador saliera y escuchara las demandas. Una manta de 30 pies decía “Condenamos” cubría la entrada de la oficina de Ventura, y la gente gritaba, “Ventura es un Cobarde,” reverberó por el edeficio.

Ventura se quedó en su oficina con el campeón de wrestling, Bob Backlund, y envió a su portavoz principal John Wodele para recibir las demandas. En un discurso para la prensa, Ventura se quejó sobre la manifestación del MWRC. “No me gusta que me llaman atacante de los pobres,” dijo Ventura. “Yo creo que la asistencia pública no es un derecho.”

La manifestación del 23 de abríl era parte de la lucha que sigue por MWRC contra ataques a la asistencia pública. “Los pobres de todas partes de Minnesota, ¡ya, basta!” dijo Derek Parker. Organizaciones de bajos ingresos de Moorhead, Duluth, y las Ciudades Gemelas mobilizaron una gran cantidad de gente para la manifestación.

Los Ricos Tienen 3 Partidos

Tomando en cuenta la sesión Legislativa de 1999, Lisa Barrett del Welfare Rights Committee (Comité para los Derechos en cuanto a Asistencia Pública) dijo, “Los tres partidos mas grandes que reclaman victoria deben estar agachando la cabeza por verguenza porque traicionaron las familias pobres de Minnesota. Le recortaron a los pobres mientras le echaron más dinero al plato de los ricos.”

Mucha gente de bajos ingresos se metieron en las audiencias legislativas, lo cual hizo a los politicos sentirse defensivos. “Los politicos en contra de los pobres no querían hablar sobre asistencia públicas este año,” dijo Marvella Davis de Duluth. “Hicimos de esta una cuestión muy grande porque MFIP es un desastre muy grande. Nos están negando nuestro derecho a una educación, nos están exigiendo que acceptaramos trabajos de mierda, y las sancciones nos están empujando hasta las calles.”

Victorias

“Impedimos el corte de 100 concesiones para gente en vivienda pública. Dinero para comprar comida va a seguir para los próximos 18 meses para inmigrantes. La imagen de MFIP ha estado dañado sin esperanza de repararla. Y, lo que está quebrado, sólo se puede reparar tomando en cuenta nuestras necesidades,” dijo Linden Gawboy.

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St. Paul, MN – The MN Welfare Rights Coalition (MN WRC) won a victory at the State Capital in the 2000 legislative session. After packing hearings, protests, and civil disobedience actions, they triumphed in killing one of worst bills. The politicians, mainly Republicans, tried to pass a law that would have forced 100% sanctions on families receiving welfare from the Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP).

“If this bill had become law, it would have been the biggest attack on welfare since Clinton signed the welfare reform bill into law in 1996. It would have cut families completely off welfare and thrown them into the streets,” stated Didi Frances of the Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) in Minneapolis/St. Paul. “We needed to be a force there to show that they can't pass laws that would devastate families.”

Other Victories

The MN-WRC won other important victories. They were able to hold off the bill that would have cut $100 from the grants of families who live in any subsidized housing (Public Housing, Section 8) and also receive MFIP. “The MN-WRC has been fighting for the past three years to stop this $100 cut. And every year we have been successful in stopping the cut from going into effect. Politicians just refuse to eliminate it completely,” stated Deb Konechne, WRC.

MFIP and General Assistance money for some immigrants were set to stop this summer. The MN-WRC has fought for the past three years for Minnesota to make up any cuts in federal money to immigrants. “This year again, we were successful in pushing Minnesota to continue cash assistance, food stamps, SSI and welfare cuts for immigrants who would be cut from the federal programs for another year,” stated Didi Frances.

Keep the Fight Back Going

“A group of voices united in a single cause can make a difference. Members of the People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) and students from a nearby college rallied together against Representative Kevin Goodno's proposed 100% sanction bill. Through a flood of e-mails, picketing, phone calls, and letters, we let him know that while he may represent our district, he is not representative of those who live within it. We do not support his efforts to increase sanctions at all,” Penny Simiu, Community Organizer of PEPP in Moorhead, Minnesota.

“This just shows that when you speak out and fight against unjust laws, you can win. When we stood together as a people and a coalition, the power of the people was unstoppable!” stated Dolly Cater, Low Income People Organizing for Power, Duluth. “And we will be back next year to continue to fight and demand economic justice for all.”

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Minneapolis, MN – “It's time to declare war, on the war on the poor,” said Glen Johnson of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition (MN-WRC) as fighters gathered here, June 23, for a crucial statewide meeting. At the meeting, MN-WRC groups laid plans for a campaign against time limits on welfare.

“We demand that the Federal Government undo any and all time limits on welfare. We also demand that the State of Minnesota ensure that no one is cut off, ever. They should put a time limit on poverty instead!” declared Deb Konechne, of the Minneapolis/St. Paul-based Welfare Rights Committee.

There is a five-year lifetime limit on welfare nationwide. Some states have different time limits, and people in these states have already hit two-year limits. President Bill Clinton started the time limit by signing the Federal Welfare Reform Law on August 22, 1996. “Minnesota's time bomb started ticking on July 1, 1997,” said Michael Wood, of St. Paul. “By July of 2002, over six thousand families could be thrown into the street. Unless we stop it.”

“How dare this system take our kids?” said Marvella Davis of Low Income People Organizing for Power, Duluth. Fellow LI-POP member Nancy Polonia continued, “One of the things going on right now is that orphanages are being built.” One poverty pimp in Minneapolis is planning to open an orphanage timed for when the first families would be cut off, in the summer of 2002.

Coalition members agree that time limits on welfare will shape up to be a major issue. “This is the Federal government undoing a promise it made 60 years ago. It would be the worst poverty since the 1930s!” said Alice Solheim of the Welfare Rights Committee. “Their whole agenda is to get cheap labor for businesses,” added Martha Crowe of St. Cloud's Minnesotans United for Social Justice. Duke Schemp, People Escaping Poverty Project (Fargo, ND-Moorhead MN), said, “The time limit is anti-poor and just plain mean. It doesn't eliminate poverty, it just eliminates the program.”

MN-WRC plans to build a coalition of groups against the time limit. Members say that the time limit won't affect just people on welfare, but the whole community. “In two years, if everyone is kicked off, people will be looking out their windows and seeing all the homeless families,” said Kathy Krueger of St. Cloud.

“The idea of the time limit is racist, sexist, anti-children and anti-immigrant at its core. A lot of groups are accepting the time limit, saying that it's federal law and that we can't do anything about it. That's bull!” stated Glen Johnson of St. Paul. “We did not vote for this, congress did, and we can unite to defeat it. We need to set aside our differences, organize, and understand this limit as an attack against the people!”

MN-WRC plans to issue a declaration, along with an action checklist, that other groups can sign on to. A statewide day of action and protest is planned for August 22.

“We have to hold the government accountable,” said Derrick Parker, from Low-Income People Organizing for Power, Duluth. “This is definitely a racist thing. It attacks people who are already shut out of access to jobs and a decent life.”

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St. Paul, MN – More than 100 people, from across the state, came to the governor's mansion on August 20 to demand that Governor Ventura “stop the time clock” on the 5-year limit on welfare. The demonstration was organized by the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition (MN-WRC).

Stop the Time Limits!

MN-Welfare Rights Coalition protests five year time limits on welfare at Governor Ventura's mansion

Photo by Kim Defranco

The chants, “Jesse, Jesse, you must know, the five year limit has to go!” and “Jesse, Jesse, we're at your door, stop the war on the poor!” rung out around the mansion.

The demonstration brought out the message that Minnesota's welfare law, MFIP (MN Family Investment Plan), is a disaster, and that Governor Ventura has the power to fix it.

The Minnesota welfare law put a 5-year lifetime limit on people receiving public assistance, and there are 3 years left. MN-WRC states that if the federal government refuses to stop the time clock, Governor Ventura should do it for Minnesota.

Frosty Cunningham, of Virginia, Minnesota and MN-WRC, pointed out, “The protest furthered our message that the welfare law isn't working and is hurting so many people. It caused many more people to use the soup kitchens, be homeless and there isn't enough help for everyone. The MFIP law is a disaster.”

She continued, “[We are] keeping the pressure on Ventura because he's not doing right and he is not for the poor people of Minnesota. We only have 3 more years to go [before the 5 year time limit is up] and we have to keeping moving forward to change this disastrous law.”

smash the 5-year limit clock!

Smashing time clocks at Governor's Mansion to protest 5 year limit on welfare

Photo By Kim Defranco

Protesters smashed clocks with sledge hammers to dramatize the need to stop the clock that is ticking on our lives, and they shouted, “Jesse what time is it? It's time to stop the clock!”

Peggy Watkins, of the Twin Cities-based Welfare Rights Committee, has had a lot of problems with the welfare system. She was kicked off the system in the winter of '97 and welfare gave her and her children a bus ticket to Detroit. In Detroit, the welfare law wasn't any better. They made her go to a work program even though she didn't have stable housing, so she made her way back to Minnesota. At the protest, she said that she wants to make changes to the welfare law so others don't have to go through what she did.

Watkins told demonstrators, “This rally is wonderful and we need more of them. It is good to be here in front of Jesse's mansion to deal with him one-on-one. Now his neighbors have a chance to see who this man really is. He's not for us.”

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Capitol police and State Patrol officers had attempted to prevent demonstrators from entering the Capitol Building. “This is our Capitol and we, as the people of Minnesota, have every right to our capitol,” stated emcee Trishalla Bell of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition (MN-WRC), to the cheers of demonstrators. Protesters refused to be turned away, chanting loudly, “Politicians we’re at your door! Stop the war on the poor!”

Following a tense, 30-minute standoff at the Capitol entrance, the police backed down and protesters streamed into the building.

“We are here today to demand justice,” said Derek Parker of Low Income People Organizing for Power of Duluth. Protesters demanded that the Governor come out and hear the demands. A 30-foot long “Condemned” sign was put up to cover the entrance to Ventura’s office and the chant “Jesse is a coward!” echoed through the building.

Ventura stayed in the back office with wrestling champ Bob Backlund, sending out his chief spokesperson, John Wodele, to receive the demands. In a press statement, Ventura complained about the MNWRC protest, “I do not appreciate being called a poor-basher. I believe that welfare is not a right.”

“We’re here to tell Governor Jesse Ventura that he better get a clue, because the biggest recipient of public money in this crowd is Jesse himself. This man is making over $120,000 in public aid with free housing and transportation to boot, and he has the nerve to bash poor families!” stated Didi Francis of the Twin Cities Welfare Rights Committee (WRC).

The April 23 rally was a part of the ongoing battle waged by MN-WRC against attacks on welfare. “Poor people all over Minnesota have had enough,” stated one protest organizer. Low income organizations from Moorhead, Duluth, and the Twin Cities mobilized large numbers of people for the protest.

“Whether you are on welfare or not, you’re still a part of this state and you are still someone’s son, daughter or parent. We should be entitled to housing, to food, to education, and to a chance at life. We should be able to do more than just survive. The fact is, the politicians are trying to pull the rug out from under families and the working poor who help sustain everything in the state,” stated Theo Menge of Moorhead’s People Escaping Poverty Project.

The Rich Have 3 Parties

Looking back at the 1999 Legislative session, Lisa Barrett of the WRC said, “The three parties are claiming a victory. They should instead be hanging their heads in shame for selling out Minnesota’s poor families. They stiffed the poor while putting more dollars in the feeding trough of the rich.”

Low income people packed legislative hearings, putting the politicians on the defensive. Dozens testified from around the state of Minnesota, speaking of the disastrous consequences of MFIP. “We have laid bare the truth about MFIP,” stated Marvella Davis of Duluth. “We have exposed that MFIP is causing more poverty, hunger and homelessness all across the state of Minnesota.”

“Anti-poor politicians did not want to talk about welfare this year,” said Deb Howze of Minneapolis. “The Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition made welfare a big issue this year and exposed the ugly truth of what MFIP really is. We forced politicians to look at the facts that MFIP is a disaster for our families! We are being denied our rights to an education, being forced into low-wage, dead-end jobs, and sanctions are pushing us into the streets!”

Victories

“Over the past few months, poor people from all over Minnesota have been working very hard, coming to the capitol day after day, to fix the disaster called MFIP. MN-WRC has been successful in pushing legislators to offer many bills to fix the worst problems in MFIP. But ruthless politicians inside the capitol have carried out every dirty trick in the book to try and turn us away, to stop our efforts and to kill poor people’s bills!” said WRC member, Kim Defranco. “Despite all their dirty tricks, we refuse to give up and we are continuing to win very important battles.”

“We stopped the $100 grant cut to families in public housing, that was set to go into effect in July 1999. Money for immigrants to get food will continue for the next 18 months. We won more rights to education and ESL. Above all, MFIP’s image has been damaged beyond repair and the only way to fix it, is to fix the terrible problems in MFIP and address the needs of poor Minnesotans,” said Linden Gawboy of Minneapolis.

And, according to Deb Howze, “Above all, we are growing as a movement of low income people from all over the state of Minnesota. We will continue to fight each and every attack against the poor and we will never give up until we get justice!”

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MFIP is a Disaster!

On March 5, poor people from across Minnesota arrived at the Capitol to pack a meeting of the Senate Health and Family Security Committee. The huge line of people waiting to get to the hearing carried signs demanding that politicians undo the attacks on welfare. “The politicians and welfare officials say MFIP is working fine, but low income people know that's a lie and today we're going to say so,” said Konechne.

Once the inside, members of the MN-WRC testified, blasting the abuses that have come with the new welfare law. Coalition spokesperson Deb Howze stated, “When the federal government passed the welfare reform law, they declared a war on the poor. When Minnesota politicians went along with this law, and came up with MFIP, they condemned poor Minnesotans to more poverty, hunger, and homelessness.”

Howze also noted that people were systematically being forced into an immediate 30 hours per week job search, and not allowed the chance to get an education. The law allows for an education option, but in practice this is not happening. Federal law says that 30% of the case load can be in education or training programs, but in Minnesota the figure is 8%.

Chee Her testified through a translator, “I went and met with my job counselor and she told me to find a job. I told her I don't know how to read or write English. How about helping me to find an education and I will come back and find a job. She told me, stupid people like me and as old as I am, education is not for me.”

Chee Her also related that while pregnant, the job counselor ignored letters from her doctor stating that she should not be forced into work. Continuing her testimony she said, “If I'm forced to go to work, I would be forced to have my baby before the time. The counselor refused to listen to my plea.” The counselor then sanctioned Her, cutting the amount of assistance that she could receive.

Danni Haden, of Low Income People Organizing for Power, Duluth, testified, “I was in school, vocational school, and they do not recognize that... I was sanctioned and denied food stamps because of that education.”

Nafeesah McRenolds, a member of the Twin Cities-based Welfare Rights Committee told how the grant-cutting sanctions had “pushed me and my family over the edge. I am now on the brink of losing my home... Right now I am living off 69 dollars a month in food stamps with no cash for my family of four.”

Bills Introduced

A serious battle to deal with some of the worst aspects of the welfare system is under way. Some of the legislation brought forward by the MN-WRC deals with the right to education, ending sanctions, and stopping the five-year life-time limit for families on public assistance. The Coalition is also backing bills that continue food stamps for immigrants, and a repeal of the 100-dollar cut to public assistance for those in public housing.

“It's clear that MFIP isn't serving us,” said Linden Gawboy of the MN-WRC. “We have gotten that out in a big way, and the poor bashers in the legislature and Department of Human Services are on the defensive. But reality is, some reactionary politicians like Senator Samuelson won't sleep at night until every poor person has been pushed into the streets. We will fight them every step of the way, this year, next year, as long as it takes.”

All Out for April 23!

The MN-WRC is calling a Rally for Justice at the State Capitol on April 23. Tens of thousands of flyers are being distributed at the welfare offices, housing projects, and shelters across Minnesota, calling on low income people to “Tell Governor Ventura and politicians what poor families need.”

“On April 23, we will once again drive home the message that MFIP is pushing us deeper into poverty. Every senator, representative, and Governor Ventura are going to get the message: Without justice, there will not be a moment of peace,” said Gawboy.

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