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Ron Paul’s MN Support Crosses Political Boundaries

Sign outside Ron Paul Rally in Minnesota

Click photo to watch rally and hear why Ron Paul's Minnesota supporters are backing him for President.

Hundreds of enthusiastic Ron Paul supporters jammed the meeting room at the AutoMotoPlex in Chanhassan Minnesota on Saturday to show their support for his Presidential bid. Video of his entire speech available here.

There was standing room only in the room and the garage bay doors were opened to handle the overflow crowd that almost circled the building.

“He was Tea Party before Tea Party was cool.” said one of his supporters who introduced the Republican Congressman from Texas.

The crowds choice in the 2008 election ran the gamut. Lots of Republicans – one had cast his first vote for Reagan – but also a number of 2008 Obama voters, Ron Paul write-ins plus votes for Libertarian and Constitution parties. A few claimed to be undecided, but most were very clear on their 2012 choice: Ron Paul— even if they had to write him in.

Video and photos: Ron Paul’s Minnesota supporters say why they back him. … Continue Reading

Palestinian Farmers Struggle to Continue Harvesting Olives

February 2, 2012 by Jacob Wheeler Environment, Israel, Palestine, War/Peace No Comments

Click on Photo to See Video Previewing Series on Palestinian Olive Farmers

Farmers in the Palestinian West Bank have harvested olives for generations. A full 45 percent of agricultural land in the territory is used to grow olives, employing 100,000 Palestinians. But that livelihood is in danger, as the Israeli military has uprooted olive trees to make room for new settlers, and those Israeli settlements have seized much of the Palestinian water supply.

“The olive tree plays a very important role as a symbol of our perseverance,” said Vivien Sansour from the Canaan Fair Trade network which supports Palestinian fair-trade olive farmers. “Planting an olive tree is a huge message of hope. When you plant an olive tree, you’re planting a vision for the future.”

The UpTake’s Jacob Wheeler and Michigan-based videographer Aaron Dennis will travel across the West Bank in early February to document the struggles of Palestinian olive farmers in conjunction with the Run Across Palestine — a philanthropic effort that will feature half a dozen Midwestern athletes running 129 miles in five days — virtually a marathon every day — across the West Bank to raise money for those farmers.

Wheeler and Dennis will post their videos and blog updates on The UpTake. Look for them this month.

MN GOP “Fires” Dayton Apointee

January 30, 2012 by Michael McIntee Environment, MN Senate, MN Senate Live No Comments

Click photo to watch Senator Julie Rosen lead GOP charge to remove Governor Dayton's appointee

On a strictly party line vote, Republicans vote to not confirm DFL Governor Mark Dayton’s pick to run the Public Utilities Commission.

Former State Senator Ellen Anderson has been serving as PUC Commissioner for nearly a year. It appears it wasn’t Anderson’s record as Commissioner that Republicans objected to (most of the votes on the PUC during her tenure have been unanimous), but her past work as a Senator where she advocated against “dirty energy”.

In response to the Senate Republican’s rejection of Public Utilities Commission Chair Ellen Anderson today, Governor Mark Dayton issued the following statement:

“A very good person, a very dedicated public servant, and an excellent Chair of the Public Utilities Commission was wrongly maligned and cruelly rejected today by Republican Senators, who showed once again that they are unfit to govern this state.

GOP “too extreme to lead” says Governor Dayton … Continue Reading

Not “Yes HE Can”, But “Yes WE Can” Says Rep. Ellison

January 15, 2012 by Michael McIntee Environment, Health Care, Immigration, Labor/Unions, Minnesota, War/Peace Comments Off

Congressman Keith Ellison at 2012 Blue State Ball

Click Photo to watch Congressman Keith Ellison speak at 2012 Blue State Ball

Despite Republican congressional resistance that’s made it difficult to make headway on progressive issues, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is optimistic about 2012.

“America is ready” Representative Ellison told a supportive crowd at the “Blue State Ball”. “This is a progressive moment.”

Republicans have made a lot of mistakes since winning a majority in the US House. The latest gaffe of opposing a payroll tax cut has hurt their standings in polls even more than Democrats. However Representative Ellison says despite that, and a group of Presidential candidates that even the Republican base finds uninspiring, Democrats need to unite and fight or they will not take advantage of the moment.

“We cannot depend upon the incompetence, ignorance and bigotry of our opposition. We have got to hang together and move forward. We are in a progressive moment, y’all.”

Movement needs to power Obama, not the other way around … Continue Reading

Obama NDAA OK Draws OccupyMN Protest At Reelection HQ

December 26, 2011 by Bill Sorem Economy/Jobs, Environment, FBI Actions, Minnesota, Occupy Movement, War/Peace Comments Off

Protest against NDAA outside Obama campaign office in Minneapolis

Click on photo to watch video of protest against NDAA

Think bad thoughts about the government and you could go to jail…forever. That may sound like a Soviet-era law, but civil libertarians say it’s possible under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which is awaiting President Obama’s promised signature.

The NDAA, was passed by the US Senate 86-to-13. Minnesota senators split on the act, Franken opposing and Klobuchar voting for it.

OccupyMN organized a pre-Christmas protest at the Minneapolis Obama Reelection Headquarters.

The act is characterized by the ACLU and many others as a major assault on the Bill of Rights. The 600 pages contain provisions that allow indefinite detention by the military of anyone, including US Citizens on US soil, without trial and without legal representation.

The act makes it virtually impossible to close Guantanamo Bay.

FBI would have to give way to military.
… Continue Reading

Court OK’s Occupy MN To “Re-sign” Plaza

December 11, 2011 by Bill Sorem Campaign Finance, Economy/Jobs, Environment, FBI Actions, Minnesota, Occupy Movement Comments Off

Under court order, Occupy MN returns to re-sign the plaza.

Click photo to watch court-ordered signs return to Occupy MN's Peoples Plaza

The signs calling for income equality are back up again at The People’s Plaza (also known as Hennepin County Government Center) in Minneapolis. Occupy MN went to court and got a temporary restraining order preventing Hennepin County from removing the signs.

In granting the order, U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle wrote “the parties are going to have to ‘learn to live’ with one another.”

Last week, all of the OccupyMN belongings had been removed from The People’s Plaza. Today which marked the second month anniversary of the original occupation the group organized a sign making party followed by posting of the new signs on the plaza.

Fighting Hennepin County … Continue Reading

Oakland Dampens Occupy With Mud, New Port Blockade Planned

December 11, 2011 by Bill Sorem California, Economy/Jobs, Environment, Health Care, Labor/Unions, Occupy Movement Comments Off

Occupy Oakland

Click photo to watch video of latest developments at Occupy Oakland, CA.

Oakland, CA, December 5, 2011. Occupy Oakland’s original site is now a mud flat. The city has turned on the sprinklers to keep the plaza a field of mud.

A few tents border the square. The tree house which has been occupied since day one is still there. Occupiers take turns in the tree house. A bystander noted that since most of the original protestors were not homeless, they’ve merely gone home until the next action.

There are a few specific actions, Burger King was targeted that day. The group has organized a port blockade on December 12 to stretch from Oakland to Portland Oregon. Click here to see blockade organizing poster. At this point it’s not clear if the Longshoremen will support it.

Holiday lights twinkle from the City Center and quiet prevails, a far cry from a few weeks ago. Organizers haven’t given up, they are just waiting. … Continue Reading

OccupyMN Can Stay on Plaza, Just Can’t Sleep

November 20, 2011 by Bill Sorem Economy/Jobs, Environment, FBI Actions, Health Care, Labor/Unions, Minnesota Comments Off

Occupy MN at Hennepin County Government Center

Click photo to hear how Occupy MN isn't losing sleep over new county rules

A solidarity rally convened on the People’s Plaza (Hennepin County Government Center) on the day the county issued new roles for the occupation. New rules prohibit sleeping. One speaker questioned how that was to be enforced. Do deputies have to tap everyone with eyes closed to see if they are sleeping? If they wake up as a result of the tap, they are no longer violating the rule.

The speaker went on to say, “We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted. The one percent would like nothing more than to shift the conversation away from what we have been doing to define the problem of income inequality in this country and have us focus on the sheriff tapping people to see if you are awake or not.”

Union representatives, community organizers, Women Against Military Madness all added their voices in support of the Occupy Movement. One speaker said, “They may take our toilets but they can’t take our ideas.”
The OccypyMN movement began on the Plaza on Oct 7, 2011, so they are now in the second month of occupation.

Arctic Explorer Bancroft Helps OccupyMN Winterize

November 13, 2011 by Bill Sorem Campaign Finance, Economy/Jobs, Education, Environment, Minnesota Comments Off

Arctic Explorer Ann Bancroft

Click photo to watch Arctic Explorer Ann Bancroft offer cold weather tips for OccupyMN

You can tell OccupyMN is serious about staying around through the winter months. Tonight they brought in arctic explorer Ann Bancroft to teach a winter survival course at The People’s Plaza (also known as the Hennepin County Government Center).

Bancroft is the only woman to sky to both the North and the South Poles. Her first pole trek was in 1986 with Will Steeger. Since then she’s been to the North Pole on skis and has skied three times to the South Pole. The first woman to ski across Greenland is also on her list of accomplishments. She’ll be leading another all female expedition of women from six continents to the South Pole during the 2012 Antarctic Summer, about a year from now.

“I get a little tired of people talking about the ‘focus of the message’ like we’re all marketers or something,” said Bancroft. “People are just ticked off. So isn’t that a good enough message?

She told the people attending that, “I hate being cold.” In addition to the usual advice about layering, she emphasized the need for protection from the ground or concrete, tarp underneath plus a pad. Shelter is very important and she suggested sleeping under the overhanging benches on the large plaza structures.

“I have been known to peel back a stick of butter and eat it like a Snickers bar,” she admitted as she discussed food needs in cold weather. The biggest problem for the occupiers will be staying dry as snow and slush accumulate.

OccupyMN may not get a real chance to put Bancroft’s advice into practice. On Friday Hennepin County Commissioners adopted new policies that will make it more difficult for the OccupyMN to remain in the plaza round the clock.

A rally is planned at 5pm Monday and people are being asked to bring sleeping bags and stay the night which would be in defiance of the new policy.

OccupyMN Wins Free Speech Battle With Hennepin County

November 4, 2011 by Bill Sorem Campaign Finance, Economy/Jobs, Education, Environment, Health Care, Minnesota Comments Off

OccupyMN Organizer

Click photo to hear how OccupyMN fought back and won

Chalk up a victory for free speech at The People’s Plaza (also known as the Hennepin County Government Center). OccupyMN’s protest signs are back and Hennepin County workers have relented in their attempts to take them down.

Overnight, County workers had taken taken down OccupyMN’s signs and moved the encampment’s tables, food and everything else to the western side of the plaza. The reason given was the need to “winterize” the fountains and moving water in the plaza.

The participants after initial dismay decided to recreate much of the infrastructure, setting up signs. A face-off with county security was peaceably resolved after consultations with county commissioners and other staff members. Minnesota ACLU entered the discussion questioning infringement of First Amendment Rights. The plaza was reorganized on the western side and activities resumed as usual.

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