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| |  | Protesters march through downtown Minneapolis on Jan. 23. (Adam Sage / City Cast Twin Cities) |
| Another Day of 'No Work, No School, No Shopping' | Community organizers from thousands of groups nationwide are advocating for another day of "no work, no school, and no shopping" today. The day of protest is round three for us in the Twin Cities after similar actions on Jan. 23 and Jan. 30 in response to ICE's occupation. [🎧 City Cast Twin Cities] | - Who's behind today's action? Nationally, a coalition of hundreds of labor organizations known as May Day Strong have signed onto the effort, and they're expecting over 3,500 actions nationwide. May Day Strong is also being promoted by Indivisible and the 50501 Movement, the organizers of the No Kings protests. Locally, a coalition of 20+ organizations unanimously passed a resolution back in February calling for today's day of action in the Twin Cities, and wherever else strikes can be organized. [The Guardian / Jacobin]
- What are the goals? May Day Strong's list includes taxing the rich, no ICE, no war, and no interference in elections. In Minneapolis, there is a march planned at 4:30 p.m. calling for "ICE OUT and legalization for all." [May Day Strong]
- Is one day enough? Days of action like today have been criticized as symbolic and performative, and the U.S. government probably won't decide to tax the rich and abolish ICE tomorrow. Single days of action can be an important part of a more holistic resistance though – the "Day of Truth and Freedom" on Jan. 23 didn't immediately kick ICE out of Minnesota, but it significantly contributed to public pressure that eventually led to the drawdown. In 2020, 250 million people went on strike for one day in India to protest a set of farm laws. The action was followed by a year of sustained protest until the government repealed the laws in 2021. [Jacobin / Columbia Human Rights Law Review]
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|  | Pagliacci, 2024 © Brent Delanoy for The Glimmerglass Festival |
| | For a traveling theater troupe, painted smiles and colorful costumes belie infidelity and betrayal. The façade is shattered when a hidden affair is revealed and a night of theater gives way to jealousy, suspicion, and ultimately violence. As the line between performance and reality blurs and the drama onstage begins to mirror the turmoil offstage, Pagliacci begs the question—does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? | | Tickets at MNOPERA.ORG. |
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| What the Cities Are Talking About |
| Lifeline for HCMC (for now): The Minnesota Senate approved a one-time infusion of $150 million dollars to help Hennepin County Medical Center stay open. Yet to be approved by the House, the funding could prevent the hospital's immediate closure. HCMC officials say the hospital needs a long-term funding source, and legislators are still discussing allowing Hennepin County to boost a sales tax in order to provide one. [CBS News] | | Sacred site dispute: Growing recognition of the Dakota history tied to Mni Owe Sni, or Coldwater Spring, is fueling calls to close the Minnehaha off-leash dog park. Indigenous advocates say the site is sacred and should be treated with greater respect, while some park users are pushing back against losing a popular off-leash space. [Star Tribune] | |  | The Grow Downtown initiative has provided free temporary leases to more than 20 businesses in downtown St. Paul. (Tim Evans / City Cast Twin Cities) |
| Retail revival: A new vintage clothing shop has opened in downtown St. Paul thanks to the St. Paul Downtown Alliance's "Grow Downtown" initiative, which provides free temporary leases to businesses that want to open storefronts in empty retail spaces. Forever Young: Vintage, Thrift & Gift is located in the Wells Fargo Building, and held its grand opening on April 12. [Community Reporter] | | Case closed: Trans athlete JayCee Cooper has reached a settlement with USA Powerlifting after the Minnesota Supreme Court found that the organization violated her rights by preventing her from lifting in women's competitions. The Supreme Court ruling had previously left the door open for USA Powerlifting to argue they have a "legitimate business purpose" to ban trans athletes, but the settlement ends the court's consideration of that claim. [MPR News / 🎥 City Cast Twin Cities] | |
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| | Friday, May 1 | | | Saturday, May 2 | | | Sunday, May 3 | | | |
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 | (Courtesy of Diane H.) |
| This week's Friday Floof is Rutabaga, the very cute and not very sweet pup with a future in politics. From her owner Diane H.: | | "Unlike most of the (adorable) pets on here, Rutabaga is not the sweetest or the friendliest. She's actually a bit of an asshole. She is sassy and WAY too smart for her own good, but we love her. (This is a photo of her contemplating what she needs to do to take over as President of the Senate. First order of business: free cheese snacks for everyone. Or at least all dogs. Actually, just free cheese snacks for Rutabaga. But others can watch her eat them.)" | | Submit your furry friend to be featured in an upcoming Friday Floof here. | | Have a great weekend, y'all! |
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