Sally Steenland: The People of Minneapolis Are Teaching Us Real American Patriotism
By Sally Steenland
Courage is contagious. That’s one of the important lessons we’re learning from the brave people of Minneapolis, who are resisting the brutal tactics of ICE and the Trump administration. They’re teaching us that everyday people with jobs and families can stand up to masked men armed with lethal weapons, even while armed with only whistles and phones. They’re teaching us that the definition of “neighbor” is wide and encompassing—not just someone who lives on our block, goes to our church, looks and talks like us. In truth, our neighbor is someone we’ve never met, who was born in another country and now lives in our community.
The people of Minneapolis are teaching us endurance. Despite living under an armed occupation that attacks without warning and kills without justification, they are tracking the movements and recording the actions of those forces. They are warning neighbors, guarding schools, delivering food, providing rides and more. Their numbers are growing as people join them from around the country and hold solidarity rallies in their own states.
Faith communities, labor unions, community groups—all are joining together and rising up. On January 23, more than 100 clergy were arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as they protested deportation flights. On January 30, Minneapolis was ground zero for nationwide protests calling for an end to Trump’s cruel immigration actions. That night Bruce Springsteen performed a song he’d written the day DHS agents killed Alex Pretti. He sang it at a concert to benefit the families of Pretti and Renee Good, both of whom were shot and killed by DHS. Within days of its release, “Streets of Minneapolis” was #1 in19 countries.
This collective power is formidable. At the same time, it can still feel weak in the face of guns, pepper spray and tear gas. After all, songs and cell phones can’t kill. But those in resistance are stronger than their opponents in both numbers and conscience. It’s good to remember that David slayed mighty Goliath with a well-aimed stone.
It’s also good to be aware of the connections that make resistance strong. Communities in Chicago and Los Angeles that have already endured ICE crackdowns are sharing their knowledge and strategies with the people of Minneapolis. Countless Americans are giving money, providing legal expertise and contacting their elected representatives.
Inspiration can be hard to come by these days. In the past year, law firms, universities and corporations have bent the knee to the Trump administration, caving without a whimper. When such powerful, wealthy entities seem unable to summon the courage to stand up for what’s right, what hope is there for the rest of us?
A lot, as it turns out. We need only look to Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and other targeted places to see courage—and democracy—in action. We can also look to the increased resistance against proposed immigrant detention centers in places from Utah and Oklahoma to Missouri and Maryland. People are rising up. Courage is contagious.
At the time of the American Revolution, Minnesota was a territory inhabited by many Native American tribes. In the years after the war, the American government forcibly removed Native Americans from their homeland. In 1858, Minnesota became a state populated by immigrants, and it has been so ever since. Scandinavians at first, then Laotians, Hmong, Vietnamese, Mexicans, Somalis and others. All are Minnesotans and Americans.
When our nation celebrates its 250th birthday this year, pay no attention to the UFC fight at the White House or the IndyCar race on the streets of Washington, DC. They will tell you nothing about American greatness and patriotism. To witness those, spend time with Americans who, with their immigrant neighbors, are celebrating victory over a corrupt tyrannical king. So many men and women have died to defend our freedom. Many more are rising up today. This is what patriotism, courage and democracy look like.
Sally Steenland is a nonresident senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. From 2005 to 2015, she directed CAP’s Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative, where she led national and state-based work on religious freedom, reproductive justice, economic inequality, anti-Muslim bigotry, LGBTQI+ equality, and more.
