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Dear John, We write with that special magical energy of the first week of school (for many!) – and also with best wishes for rest and recovery this weekend after a hectic transition week in both the school year and the weather. It’s also another week of serious news. We are paying a lot of attention to the RICO charges against Cop City protestors in Georgia – which, like charges being faced by Line 3 protestors here in Minnesota, show a bad trend in the criminalization of dissent. This week’s Digest also includes a couple favorite articles from earlier this year that are the kind that we bookmark and return to for their insight, information, and inspiration. We hope you find some of that here. Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week. 1. Decriminalizing abortion Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalized abortion this week. “It is a huge and historic victory for Mexico and for the entire region,” said Anu Kumar, president and CEO of Ipas, a global reproductive justice organization. “Abortion is not a crime. Abortion is part of essential health care. And that is what the Supreme Court in Mexico now clearly recognizes.” 2. Criminalizing dissent“Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, who used his platform to recruit for the January 6 insurrection, announced blatantly authoritarian RICO charges against 61 people,” The Cop City Vote coalition, an Atlanta-based campaign leading a referendum to halt the construction of the police facility, said in a statement released this week condemning the indictment. “These charges, like the previous repressive prosecutions by the State of Georgia, seek to intimidate protestors, legal observers, and bail funds alike, and send the chilling message that any dissent to Cop City will be punished with the full power and violence of the government.” 3. Stillwater prison protestAbout 100 incarcerated individuals have been protesting conditions at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater. The incarcerated individuals have refused to return to cells, referencing dangerously hot rooms, poor water quality and more. Family members and activists have joined protests outside of the prison to demonstrate solidarity. 4. No special session on student restraint banA bloc of progressive House and Senate DFL members released a statement in opposition to a special legislative session to change a new law that bans student resource officers (SROs) from using certain restraints on students, including banning face-down restraints. 5. Yes housing in ShakopeeInvestigation by Sahan Journal revealed Shakopee city officials attempt to squash an affordable housing project by rezoning. But the housing is going forward! 6. Minnesotans reject tax cuts and neoliberalism at the State Fair7. What is neoliberalism?The Minnesota State Fair bean poll (see above) is a great reason to return to this super helpful neoliberalism explainer from Teen Vogue. 8. Redefining prosperity“Capitalism’s endless economic growth prioritizes the individual over community and creates extreme inequality. But it doesn’t have to be that way,” write Anoa Changa and Ericka Taylor, movement leaders and Yes Magazine guest authors. Changa and Taylor invite us to explore the ways that individuals, movements, and communities are shifting to a more holistic approach to prosperity through a story featuring West Virginia farmer Jason Tartt. “If we want to really talk about prosperity, that means investing back into the community and building businesses in a way that community is benefiting,” Tartt says. “There are opportunities if you have rural communities connected to urban communities. And we’re figuring out: How do we help each other?” 9. Radical municipal governance
Minnesota’s municipal elections have us reflecting on powerful movement moments in in electoral politics. This piece from Dissent is a helpful look into 8 years of movement governance in Barcelona. 10. A cyclist from the USA is leading in Spain!An unexpected entry in Katie’s Cycling Corner! Sepp Kuss, a 29-year-old cyclist from Colorado, is the red jersey holder (aka current fastest rider) one week into the three-week Vuelta a España, the third and final “grand tour” cycling race of the year. It’s been a decade since a rider from the US won a grand tour – and it’s especially exciting because Kuss usually rides as a support rider for his teammates, and is instead somewhat unexpectedly winning the race. And that’s a wrap! Send us what you’re reading, watching and listening to. Until next time, Laura Kiernan (she/her) Jessica Zimmerman (she/they)
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