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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“We have come here today, from all over Minnesota to demand that Minnesota politicians stop the war on the poor! Stop the war on our families. And stop the attacks on welfare,” said Didi Francis of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition.

Protesters traveled to St. Paul from Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud, Fargo/Moorhead, and Winona. Many participants were Hmong and Somali immigrants.

“When the federal government passed the federal welfare 'reform' law in 1996, they declared a war on poor families all across this country. When Minnesota lawmakers went along with the criminal federal law and passed Minnesota's welfare 'reform' law in 1997, they brought the war to Minnesota's poor. And when Minnesota's welfare program, MFIP-S went into effect in 1998, the bombs were dropped on families across this state,” Francis continued. “Today, one year after Minnesota's new welfare program started we are here to testify that MFIP-S is a disaster! It is causing more hunger, and more homelessness for our families.”

Opening Shot

The January 5th rally marked the beginning of this year's battle between state politicians and Minnesota's poor people's movement. The Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition has announced that it will pressure legislators to expand educational opportunities; end the sanctions which cut benefits; stop forced work and create livable wage jobs; end the $100 grant cut for families in subsidized housing; make up all food stamp cuts; end attacks on immigrants; and abolish the 5-year lifetime limit on receiving benefits.

The Coalition is also pressing legislators to hold hearings on the effects of MFIP-S. State officials argue that the welfare reform law is a “success.” Reports from counties across the state show a pattern of abuse, and discrimination. Sanctions that cut or end benefits are causing serious hardships across Minnesota.

A Coalition statement noted, “The truth is that MFIP is making us more poor. It is taking food off our tables, it is forcing our families into the streets and it is cheating us out of getting decent jobs that we can survive on. MFIP cuts our chance for education, cuts our food stamps, and cuts our lifeline out from under us. MFIP opens the door for racist discrimination, abuse and attacks on immigrants and refugees. Welfare workers and job counselors make us take any job at any wage, giving rich corporations an easy pick of cheap labor, and giving us a one way ticket down a dead-end street.”

Hector Martinez, of Centro Cultural de Fargo Moorhead stated, “Already thousands of Minnesota families have suffered huge cuts because of sanctions, throwing us into deeper crisis. Politicians, who have never walked in our shoes, are trying to force us to our knees and accept their criminal attacks. But we will not be silent – we will stand up and speak out and fight back!”

The Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition has prepared legislation to reverse these attacks.

Speakers at the January 5th rally called on newly-elected Governor Jesse Ventura to take a stand on the side of the poor. The Capitol echoed with the chant, “Jesse, Jesse, you must know – welfare cuts have got to go!” During the protest, Ventura was several blocks away in the studios of Minnesota Public Radio, blaming homelessness on the homeless.

Growing Struggle

“In 1999, we will make it clear that the low income community has had enough. We have no intention of suffering in silence,” said Deb Konechne of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition. “The politicians have given us no option but to fight back! We have built a poor people's movement that will never give a moment of peace to those would deny us justice.”

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Doth, an appointee of ex-Governor Carlson was one of the main architects of Minnesota's current welfare system. He agreed to meet with the Coalition after chanting protesters filled the lobby of the Human Services Building in mid-November.

Doth, who was visibly enraged throughout much of the meeting, was forced to act on some of Coalition's demands.

A statement by protest organizers said, “In the end, the Commissioner agreed... to send a letter telling job counselors to stop lying and abusing us, and to stop doing illegal actions against us. He would not guarantee he would tell the truth to legislators or work to undo harmful parts in MFIP-S.” Doth also agreed to some of the demands relating to the need to investigate the problems with MFIP-S.

Much of the meeting was devoted to reports on how the new welfare program is impacting on Minnesota's low income community, and the pattern of abuse that people on public assistance are getting from case workers and county-contracted job counselors

Kathy Krueger of Minnesotans United for Social Justice in St. Cloud told Commissioner Doth that the MFIP-S program in Stearns and Benton Counties is “failing miserably.” She continued, “Job Counselors are constantly threatening families with sanctions, and are not telling us what our rights are. Job counselors are lying and forcing us out of school by telling us that if we are in school, we still have to do 35 hours a week of job search on top of school with no additional child care. Education plans are only being approved if they are six months or less.”

Dawn Leahy of Working Poor of Mankato reported that in Blue Earth County people are not being told about education and ESL (English as a Second Language). “Job counselors are shoving people who do not speak English into jobs without the option of ESL. In both Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties, women are not being told about domestic abuse waivers. If women know about the waivers for domestic abuse, they are being turned down, or are being shamed out of the waiver.” Leahy stated that practically no waivers have been granted in the two counties and that this practice is pushing women back to their abusers.

Sharon Luukonen of Miikana Bimaadiziwin, an organization of low income Native people based in the Iron Range city, Virginia, co-chaired the meeting. She told Doth of the severe shortage of livable wage jobs that can support a family in Northern Minnesota.

Marvella Davis, of Low Income People Organizing for Power of Duluth said that in St. Louis County, MFIP-S is “keeping people in poverty instead of getting people out of poverty.” Davis reported that “parents are being told to quit school and get any job instead. People with disabilities are being forced to find jobs. Parents who have gotten jobs are getting low wages, around $6 an hour, and are not making enough to survive.”

Nafeesah McRenolds of the Welfare Rights Committee-Minneapolis/St. Paul gave Doth a reality check of how sanctions are affecting families. McRenolds related how sanctions are pushing families into more poverty, are causing homelessness and taking food away from children, and are adding extreme stress to families already in crisis.

A statement sent from Bemidji cited the lack of information given to women regarding safety plans. Women in shelters for domestic abuse are being thrown into work and training requirements, causing great difficulties and potentially forcing them back to their abusers.

At the end of the meeting, Leahy urged Commissioner Doth to “consider this an emergency! If this was a fire, you wouldn't stand around waiting until the house burned down! Crimes against the people are happening right now, even as we speak. So the sooner you get moving, the fewer the casualties we'll have.”

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Deb Konechne, a leader of the Welfare Rights Committee, testified that, “MFIP-S is a program for more poverty, more hunger, and more homelessness. In Hennepin County, there is a systematic pattern of abuse and lies. As a matter of policy, people on public assistance are not being told what their rights are and what they are entitled to.” She added that the Commissioners have “the power and money to undo the attacks on welfare” that were enacted by the State legislature.

Many of those in attendance were Somali and Hmong immigrants. Ardo Shvusef Diriye, a Somali refugee charged, “Financial workers abuse Somali women. They insult and threaten us. They make us sign papers without translation or explanation.”

A sharp exchange broke out when Committee member Linden Gawboy challenged the way Commissioner Mark Andrews was running the hearing. She said that there were no time limits when people handpicked by the county gave testimony, but when low income people criticized the County, a three minute time limit was imposed. In addition, when people who needed translation testified, the time used to translate was counted against them.

Campaign vs. County Officials

The September 8th action was the latest in a series of confrontations with county officials. At an earlier meeting, Barry Blomgren, Hennepin County Director of Economic Assistance, faced a packed room of welfare recipients, most of whom were immigrants. Person after person spoke of rude case workers, who pushed non-English speakers into work searches. A woman from Somalia told of taking her teenage daughter to job interviews so she would have a translator. Another group of non-English speaking immigrants told of sitting through a two day “job skills” class conducted in English. At the end they were given a certificate and told that it would help them find a job.

“County welfare heads responded by saying 'everything is OK,'” said Konechne. “Well everything isn't OK. It's not OK that people's right to an education is being trampled on. It's not OK that English as a Second Language isn't treated as a first option over work search. In fact, it's criminal – people are being pushed into the streets.”

Demands On Table

Committee members have placed eight demands on County officials and say that they will continue to put the heat on officials until demands are met.

The demands include: End all discrimination against immigrants; all welfare workers must inform recipients of their educational rights; no one should be pushed into low wage, dead-end jobs; end the sanctions which are cutting benefits; the County must make sure that no one goes hungry and must reject the 5 year life time limit.

“The Commissioners have a choice,” said Konechne. “They can commit to fight poverty or to fight the poor. Until we get justice, they won’t have a moment of peace.”

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JOIN THE FIGHT for WELFARE RIGHTS!

For more info contact:

Welfare Rights Committee / MN Welfare Rights Coalition

310 E. 38th St. #206A

Mpls. MN 55409

#612-822-8020

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Members of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition, a statewide coalition of low income people's organizations from across Minnesota, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Duluth, St. Cloud, Moorhead, Winona, Mankato, Northfield, Virginia and Bemidji, laid out the effects of MFIP-S on low income families in different counties around the state.

Members of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition echoed that the new welfare program is a “disaster for Minnesota's poor all over the state.” “MFIP-S is ridiculous,” stated Kathy Krueger of Minnesotans United for Social Justice of St. Cloud. “In Stearns and Benton Counties, welfare recipients who wish to better themselves with an education are being denied anything over 6 months. If there is a limit on assistance, wouldn't it make more sense to become educated so we can get a position that will sustain our families?”

She continued “What's going to happen to people when we use up the system's five-year limit and lose our jobs? We'll end up homeless with our whole family. Welfare recipients can't work their way out of poverty with low-wage, entry level jobs. People can't survive off of $5-an-hour jobs when they have a family to feed. MFIP-S is just setting us up to fail.”

Coalition members from counties around Minnesota related similar stories about the new welfare program in their counties. “MFIP-S pushes work at all cost. The idea behind MFIP-S is that if you work, you'll be better off – but that is a lie,” stated Mimi Molina of the Welfare Rights Committee of Minneapolis-St. Paul. “The fact is, MFIP-S creates a pool of low-wage workers, that will affect not just welfare recipients but the working poor, by driving down everyone's wages and displacing workers. Education should be the first choice because it gives us a better opportunity at a livable wage job, not a dead-end job.”

In St. Louis County, members of Low Income People Organizing for Power, state that MFIP-S is a “big flop.” “MFIP-S just throws you out there to get any kind of job whether it can take care of your family or not. They're just pushing people off welfare to save money for the state,” stated Derrick Parker. “MFIP-S has opened the doors to racism and discrimination. In St. Louis County, more people of color are being pushed off the welfare, with no chance for education, are being forced into looking for low wage jobs, and are being sanctioned right away. Job counselors are also telling folks they can't get education and are counting job hunting as job training.”

Hector Martinez, Director of Centro Cultural de Fargo/Moorhead related that in Clay County there is a large community of migrant workers who come to Minnesota to do agricultural work every summer. “Families are being denied assistance because of the 30 day residency requirement, even when there is no work available.” Young families being forced to take low wage jobs and the threat of sanctions are some of the worst problems, stated others from Moorhead.

Brenda Boettcher of the Winona Chapter of the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition, gave this report: “Financial workers and job counselors are giving out misinformation and denying services to people, that were promised, to help with child care, transportation, uniforms and materials for employment. Workforce counselors are forcing people to leave education plans and take a faster, cheaper route.”

“For example, one woman in her 2nd year of college to be a registered nurse was told by her job counselor to change her major to fit into a shorter program, even though she had already invested time and money into her education. People without job skills are being forced to work at sheltered workshops for low wages – work that will never give us training for decent jobs and will never get us livable wage jobs! I'm working a $6 an hour job full time, and I don't have enough to feed my entire family and I have no medical care for my three kids. Families are going hungry all over, and parents are not eating to make sure there's enough for the kids, because of these welfare changes!” she added.

“There is extreme discrimination and abuse of immigrants being carried out in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. Parents who do not read or write, and do not speak English, are being forced to go do job search for thirty hours a week, instead of being exempted and allowed to attend ESL (English as a Second Language) classes,” stated Debra Howze, of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Welfare Rights Committee.

Repeated stories of abuse, lies, and discrimination being carried out by workers and job counselors were related by Coalition members. “People are being forced to work even if they have disabilities and a doctor's note saying that they can't work,” stated Alexis Neeland of Centro Cultural of Fargo/Moorhead, relating the story of a friend who suffered this abuse by workers. Coalition members demanded that workers be held accountable for lies, abuse and discrimination. “For the first offense workers should be demoted and for the second offense they should be fired,” stated Hector Martinez.

At the statewide meeting, Coalition members laid out demands to the counties, and discussed the fight back that is needed at both the county and state level to stop the lies, abuse and attacks on families in poverty in Minnesota.

“Government and agency people are all saying that MFIP-S is a great program,” stated Brenda Boettcher. “But they want us to just judge a book by its cover. It might look nice on the outside, but when you take a closer look on the inside, you can see that MFIP-S is a disaster for poor families. We have to fight back every attack on welfare and on our lives from our County agencies to the State Capitol!”

The real issue is that poverty is the real problem, and we cannot reduce the welfare 'dole' without first attacking poverty,” stated Kathy Krueger. “We all need livable wages, affordable housing, a decent education, and universal health care to begin reducing the 'problems' of welfare. We demand that politicians attack poverty, not the poor!”

“As low income people, we have to fight back and confront these people in their faces,” stated Derrick Parker. “We have to go to both the Counties and to the Minnesota State Legislature starting in January to get more education, to stop cruel sanctions, to stop forced work at low-wage jobs and to stop all the attacks on our families!”

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After picketing the Department's headquarters, members of the Twin Cities-based Welfare Rights Committee, and Duluth's Low Income People Organizing for Power, headed inside for the confrontation with O'Keefe.

Low-income people packed the room and proceeded to indict the systematic abuses that are a part of Minnesota's welfare program, MFIP-S. The meeting was firmly chaired by Coalition members, while a sullen and angry O'Keefe tried to defend the welfare law.

“The Department of Human Services, headed by Michael O'Keefe, is leading the attacks against poor people and people of color in Minnesota,” said Tamika Johnson of the MN-WRC.

Chili George, of the Welfare Rights Committee, slammed the planned $100 grant cut for all families living in subsidized housing.

“Commissioner O'Keefe and the DHS should repeal the $100 cut in the bill that will be presented at the legislature, and push the legislators to repeal it,” said George. “The DHS should be working to bring all families out of poverty, instead of pushing us further down.”

O'Keefe agreed to take the matter up with the Governor.

The meeting's sharpest debate took place around the issue of sanctions, the grant cuts that can be imposed by welfare workers or “job counselors.”

Angela Griffin stated, “Economic sanctions are used by government as acts of war against people of other countries. Minnesota's welfare 'reform' program, MFIP, is imposing economic sanctions on women, children and families.”

“I think the sanctions have positive merit in this system” said O'Keefe.

Marvella Davis, of Low Income People Organizing for Power, responded, “You are saying sanctions are good while people are becoming homeless and can't pay the rent.”

One participant in the meeting said that O'Keefe should see what is would be like to be in our shoes, and then corrected herself, saying, “No, you shouldn't, you wouldn't survive”.

O'Keefe, who repeatedly threatened to leave the meeting, got a clear message from the low-income community. The battle lines have been drawn, and the DHS will be among those getting the heat this legislative session.

Duluth Slams O'Keefe, “Enemy of The Poor”

Duluth, MN - Michael O'Keefe, Jesse Ventura's Commissioner of Human Services, faced a picket line of low income people, when he arrived to speak at a meeting of the MN Council of Non-Profits, October 8. Organized by Low Income People Organizing for Power (LIPOP), and joined by the Twin Cities-based Welfare Rights Committee, demonstrators sent a clear message: Minnesota's welfare law, the MN Family Investment Plan (MFIP), is a disaster.

Derrick Parker, of LIPOP stated, “O'Keefe is the new man in charge. This is a good opportunity to speak out and challenge the problems with MFIP.”

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The Republican candidate, Norm Coleman, refused to attend the debate. He has a reputation for open hostility to the interests of poor and working people. Despite tough questioning by LIPOP and the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition, Skip Humphrey refused to take a stand against the attacks on welfare. Green Party candidate, Ken Pentel said that welfare reform was a part of the war on the poor.

Had Enough

There is a rising tide of anger in Duluth's low income community. At a recent LIPOP meeting, Darren Hawpetoss told of being kept waiting four hours by a financial worker at the welfare office. When the worker finally emerged, she stated that she needed to go get a cup of coffee. “Her coffee comes before human lives,” says Hawpetoss. Another participant, Shelly Thygeson says, “We need to hold the system accountable.”

Paul Ebert sees fighting back as a matter of survival and states, “When a CEO gets 230 million dollars in one year, something is wrong with this country.”

Sharp Struggles

Davis notes, “Low Income People Organizing for Power has an impressive track record. We got our Senator Sam Solon and our Representative Mike Jaros to introduce the Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition's Anti-Poverty Bill in the 1997 legislative session.”

“We also put the heat on Rep. Tom Huntley. Huntley works at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. We were nice enough to wait until his class was done. When he came out we cornered him, asked him questions on where does he stand with the welfare issue. The most important question was, 'Are you willing to get more education for those of us who need more education?' He answered with a yes. We also made him sign a contract that he would push for that,” said Davis.

Growing Movement

Duluth is emerging as a stronghold of Minnesota's poor people's movement. “We get new people involved in the organization through door-knocking, leafleting at the welfare office, or some kind of action,” stated Derrick Parker, another LIPOP leader.

LIPOP is now pushing for a public hearing on the abuses that are taking place within Minnesota's new welfare program.

“Our main goal is to get our community involved in organizing and standing up for what is right. We will use our power to fight injustice and oppression that affects every one of us,” said Parker

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