a few updates

[mellowtigger]

This article is the only objective evidence I have for the observer abductions that happened on Friday last week. I'm disappointed that more mainstream outlets aren't picking up the story.

Yes, I've heard that Homan spoke words claiming that ICE will now stop the extreme escalation in Minnesota that was called "Operation Metro Surge". You do know that this Republican administration lies, right? I'll believe it when I see it on the streets here. And whoever you are, reading this blog post, you had better hope those agents aren't reassigned to your area. What's happening here will happen in other areas of the USA. We haven't defunded or dismantled ICE yet. It still has a bigger budget than most of the world's military forces, although not quite yet bigger than the U.S. Marines. It's still an absurd budget, of course. All of this "action" is so unnecessary.

In more practical good news, I saw that Ring will cancel its business partnership that allows ICE (and other law enforcement) access to home camera footage. Flock confirms it. That's good.

I've slept a whole lot of hours last night and today. Sleep debt is real. I wish it were possible for me to retire someday, because I'm just plain tired. I guess I'll rest when I finally land in one of those spiffy new concentration camps.

Comments

[darkoshi]

Lately, I am relieved when I see a post from you, to know you are still ok, not detained or injured.

The ICE activity in MN is in the spotlight now, but I wonder how much activity is going on everywhere else, and just not being reported on. I've wondered if they have cars patrolling the streets here. I've read articles mentioning ICE activity in other places, but have no big picture. I agree with you that even when or if ICE finally leaves MN, it will be of little relief when they just move on to somewhere else to continue their misdeeds.

[rebeccmeister]

I was rather heartened to read this recent news story:

https://unicornriot.ninja/2026/indigenous-activists-occupy-land-near-fort-snelling-plan-to-stay-until-land-back/

That's a group of people who know a thing or two about US concentration camps, unfortunately!

[mellowtigger]

Thanks for sharing that news story. I am amused, since it's explicitly related to that suggestion to return the land officially to a native tribe to prevent the federal government from stationing their invading troops there. Good for them! :)

P.S. The most likely place to see public updates about this activity that don't make the news are at the "WeThePeopleAtWhipple" subreddit, like this post.

[mellowtigger]

I heard originally that 3 people were taken from north Minneapolis (my area), and that's all that was mentioned in the article. I thought there were more, though, in other areas of the metro. Apparently one of those 3 observers was in a live call and screaming for help as they were taken. It was a harsh experience for the teammates to hear.

I need to make a recommended list of needed resources for other cities to arrange before their own ICE surge. I certainly had no idea of best resources when I first delivered my note to my immediate neighbors. National groups are now offering legal observer training, which is one of the important resources, just documenting the illegal behaviors. Minneapolis benefited greatly from using Monarca as the primary source of "someone is being abducted right this moment" phone calls. ICE is now abusing local resources by filing false reports, using license plates and home addresses of legal observers, according to this claim. That behavior is an escalation from their false identity practices of putting rainbow heart stickers on their abduction van, obscuring their license plates, changing out their license plates, acting as local service workers, and acting as someone needing help. All of which is different from their outright lies to the public and to courts.

Thinking out loud, I think my list would include:
1) emergency notification ("Monarca" but at other locations)
2) emergency observation network (rapid response to get video recording of events, this activity is facing increasing threat from ICE)
3) emergency legal network (getting info from #1 and #2 to lawyers, who can protest within hours of abduction the relocations of people to other states)
4) post-abduction response network (cars left abandoned in middle of streets, children left behind, pets left behind)
5) long-term supplies network (and people in #2 should not be involved in #5 (and maybe #4), for everyone's safety, otherwise it leads ICE to vulnerable people; covers food, supplies, mental health, even laundry)
6) long-term economic network (businesses need to close/lock their doors to prevent ICE intrusions, and local govt needs to be ready for the economic impact of reduced foot traffic and overall purchases and rent payments)

I see that other people are already putting together resources for duplication elsewhere:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TwinCities/comments/1qvge8a/blueprint_for_building_your_own_support_network/
https://www.reddit.com/r/WeThePeopleAtWhipple/comments/1quxocn/httpsdrivegooglecomdrivemobilefolders1fg92xpj7/
https://www.reddit.com/r/WeThePeopleAtWhipple/comments/1r3hjsf/i_made_a_small_resource_website_for_twin_cities/
https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7c8017ac-8e37-4f3f-b101-8cd9925071ff

[mellowtigger]

For less-mobile people like me, there is also a need for stationary foot patrol at fixed locations (like schools), so it's a recurring observational role rather than emergency rapid response.

None of these steps involves shouting in the face of abusive law-breaking federal agents. That's also an important piece of resistance, though. Demoralizing the troops is a useful tactic. It includes posters, insults, sleepless nights, frogs, and even dildos. Every effort can potentially help.