‘Op-Ed’ Archives
All Immigrants Have Left is to Defend Themselves and Resist
By MARCO DÁVILA Marco Dávila The force of the State is being brought down on immigrants, and a reactionary campaign of persecution and fear-mongering has begun. The Trump administration has already managed to normalize anti-immigrant hate speech to a certain extent, trying to put everyone in the same bag as “dangerous criminals.” Conservatism has continued to play its role as trickster from 2020 to 2024 (and beyond). In the latest election cycle, Trump and his party obtained more than 77 million votes, and they currently have a majority in the Senate and Congress. Trump may also have some level of sympathy within the military and police forces nationwide, as well as the support of neo-Nazi groups scattered throughout various parts of the United States. And yes, Trumpism must believe that it has a free path and the absolute power to do whatever it pleases for the next four years and, if possible, beyond. The current vandals in power must believe that the power they [...]
Work Until You Drop?
Not if You Can Avoid It…
Plan Ahead
By LEE LEICHENTRITT* I used to believe that you should “work until you drop”. That means I was naïve enough to believe that I was going to be able to work until I died. Not-so-funny things happened. Forces beyond my control trashed my seemingly foolproof “work until I drop” plan. I lost my job due to no fault of my own. I had a great boss who worked with my Parkinson’s disease, but he found out that his government contracts were not going to be renewed. If you are part of the “Work Until You Drop” Club, drop out of that Club and create a new plan.I signed up for Unemployment Insurance, went to Career Force classes, and had my resume upgraded. I went to over eight interviews, but once prospective employers saw me shaking, they lost all interest in me. I have worked with outstanding people at Minnesota DEED and with the Dislocated Worker Program and Career Force. I want to thank Abigael, Gina, and Sandra. Yesterday, I was diagnosed with Lymphedema which is [...]
Open Letter to Walz and Ellison: The Takeover of McKeever Case is Just Plain Wrong
By COMMUNITIES UNITED AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY (CUAPB) Reprinted with permission. Dear Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison:Our organization protests, in the strongest possible terms, the Attorney General’s takeover of the prosecution of the McKeever case. This case involves the manipulation of two teens, ages 15 and 17, by an adult into committing a heinous crime. According to media accounts, the reason given for this takeover was that the decision to offer the teens plea deals for their testimony against the adult, was “so far outside the normal course for the prosecution of such a heinous crime, and so far outside of community expectations.”It is routine for prosecutors to offer plea agreements to defendants who are deemed less culpable by age, mental capacity or role in the crime in exchange for their testimony. These kinds of plea deals are not “far outside the normal course for the prosecution” but are standard practice for prosecutors.The decision to offer [...]
