On Saturday, November 2, a group of local workers and members of the labor movement participated in a peaceful march and rally in front of the Minneapolis home of Darryle Owens, a member of the Heritage Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The Heritage Foundation is a right-wing think tank that has pushed anti-worker policies since the 1970s. Most recently, they authored Project 2025, a 900+ page wishlist of extreme right wing policies that will trample on the rights of all workers.
The aim of the march was to raise awareness of Project 2025, the effects it will have on the working class, and its ties to the Twin Cities. It was organized by the Twin Cities Labor Solidarity Circle, a coalition of local groups that includes Black Cat Workers’ Collective, the DSA, and Red Pine Collective. Around forty workers met up at a busy intersection a few blocks from Owens’ house. Local labor organizers spoke about the impacts Project 2025 will have on the working class. They talked about how Project 2025 will destroy workers’ legal rights, gut unions’ legal protections, and eliminate access to reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare. They also called out the Democratic Party’s failure to meaningfully protect workers’ rights and fight fascism while in power. They emphasized that voting is not enough to stop Project 2025 - as workers, we must band together and use our collective power to fight this latest wave of fascism.
The workers then marched through Minneapolis’ Kenwood neighborhood and took the street in front of Owens’ house near Lake of the Isles. Workers pointed large red arrow-shaped signs that read “FASCIST” and “A FASCIST LIVES HERE” at Owens’ home, while Owens himself scowled down at the crowd from a window. More organizers gave speeches about Project 2025, highlighting its calls for mass deportations of immigrant workers, closing the Department of Education, and ending federal efforts to fight climate change and environmental destruction. Workers gave out flyers about Project 2025 to passers-by, some of whom joined the protest after looking over the flyers. The group rounded out the rally with some pro-worker cheers, before marching out together, along with the passers-by who had joined in along the way.
Feelings of solidarity, militancy, and hope prevailed throughout the rally. It both raised awareness of Project 2025 - passers-by reported being surprised and outraged that a Project 2025 fascist lived in the neighborhood - and raised morale among those who attended. Passers-by asked how they could get involved in fighting Project 2025’s anti-worker policies, and attendees reported feeling energized for the coming fights. Those who were involved in planning the rally felt it was a successful coalition effort, and looked forward to continuing to work together.
While the rally was a success, there are a few improvements to be made for future actions. Advertising future events earlier and more broadly will improve turnout, and having broader participation during planning will make it easier to plan larger and more ambitious events. More thought could also be put into planning routes that allow the follow car to stay with the group for the entire march (there were some issues with a one-way street that required the follow car to briefly separate from the group).
This event was just a warm-up. In the coming weeks, months, and years, Twin Cities workers will continue working together to fight the rising tide of fascism.
Solidarity forever!
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