 Legislative Update -Dear Neighbors, Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay in this communication. I have been on the ground, working steadfastly within our neighborhoods and championing local initiatives to keep our neighbors’ refrigerators full and ensure they have the basic necessities they need to live. In times of crisis, my primary commitment is to be present where the work is happening—caring for our neighbors and ensuring no one stands alone. If you or anyone you know is leading organizing efforts involving mutual aid or vetted crowdfunding, please share those with my office so I can help uplift that work. We are all in this fight together. I am proud of the compassion and strength our community is showing, and I am even prouder to have the honor of representing our district at the Capitol. Earlier this month, I was honored to stand in solidarity with students from White Bear Lake Area High School for their walkout demonstration. More than ever, our younger generation is looking to the adults, local leaders, and elected officials in their lives to both uplift and encourage their civic engagement and their voice in our democracy. Our students need to know they are valued members of our community and that they have the collective power to make a change and stand up for their neighbors. I would be remiss not to acknowledge and thank our local law enforcement for monitoring the walkout for the safety of our students and giving them the space to exercise their constitutional rights. I am grateful for the students and their bravery and courage. Our students should be focused on their studies and spending the school year with their friends and school community— yet they know in this historic moment it’s important to join the movement in denouncing the brazen actions of the federal government against Minnesotans. Our community is so proud of these young leaders. ICE Harming our Communities The federal government, through ICE and paramilitary tactics, has brought terror to our communities—from the Twin Cities and the suburbs to Greater Minnesota. A week ago, a coalition of local law enforcement leaders from across the Twin Cities metro area held a press conference to address their concerns regarding interactions between federal agents and Minnesota police officers. In his remarks, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley shared that one of his officers was racially profiled and forced to produce her 'papers.' This egregious incident has unfortunately been normalized and encouraged by the Trump administration, backed by the Supreme Court. These state-sanctioned attacks on Minnesotans must end—ICE and federal agents must leave our state. This environment of fear and violence is unsustainable, and our communities deserve better. The violent and lethal escalation we are witnessing in real-time is not hyperbole: children as young as two years old are being kidnapped, families are being torn apart, legal observers are being maimed and maced, and classrooms are being left empty. Within just three weeks, three separate shootings by federal agents have resulted in the deaths of two Minnesotans and the assault of thousands more. Renee Good and Alex Pretti should still be alive. As Chair of the Queer Legislators Caucus, we released a statement on the Department of Justice’s refusal to arrest and charge Jonathan Ross; you can read it here.  Rather than offering accountability, Trump administration officials have chosen to launch a shameful smear campaign against these two legal observers for exercising their First Amendment rights. They have blocked our local and state agencies from conducting an investigation and have further eroded public trust. This is not leadership; it is a campaign of retribution against Minnesotans. Kristi Noem and Greg Bovino should be ashamed for spewing lies to the American public regarding the troubling circumstances of these killings and for labeling these individuals "domestic terrorists." The lack of basic human decency shown to their grieving families and our hurting community is unconscionable. Their immeasurable failure in leadership requires that they, and others responsible for these lies and for inciting propaganda, resign immediately. There is no place for this abuse of power and extrajudicial violence. Where We Stand Now It was recently announced, after a productive call between Governor Walz and President Trump, that Greg Bovino has been stripped of his leadership role and some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) units are reportedly leaving our state. While we welcome this news, it does not change the fact that the federal government has kept the public in the dark regarding their future plans for our state and communities. A lack of transparency is a tool of intimidation. We deserve to know what is happening in our own backyards. I will keep working in our communities and helping every neighbor I can; please continue to reach out to my office so we can assist you in any way possible. While the faces of federal leadership may change, our mission remains the same: We must remain vigilant. We will continue to organize. We will continue to show up for one another. We will continue to provide the safety net that the federal government is currently trying to shred. Our community’s strength has always been found in our solidarity, and no amount of political theatre can break the bonds we have built with our neighbors. Community Resources One of the best lines of defense is knowing your rights and how to exercise them. Every person, regardless of their status, is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Stay informed, reach out to community leaders, and get connected to learn ways you can protect yourself and your neighbors. Keep attending legal observer trainings and keep sharing ‘Know Your Rights’ cards and resources. Here is a list of resources that can be useful when you need it. I’ve broken some out below, especially if you and your neighbors want to print out cards and signs. Below are resources offered to Minnesotans across the state: To address ICE’s violations of state and local laws, Attorney General Keith Ellison launched a form on his website that Minnesotans can use to share information about the ICE’s behavior. These incident reports will be critical in supporting the Attorney General’s Office in defending and enforcing Minnesota’s laws. Minnesotans can access the Federal Action Reporting form using this link. Please reach out to my office if you need resources, support, or a place to share your story. We are in this together. Stay Connected!The Trump Administration’s cruelty knows no bounds, and we need to stay together and support each other in any way we can. It is a deep honor to serve our district, and I will continue to work with my colleagues, community leaders, and local organizations leading this work to defend our neighbors from the unconstitutional actions of ICE in our beloved neighborhoods. Unfortunately, due to technological constraints, replies to this newsletter won’t reach my email account. To share your input or ideas, or if I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to reach out at rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov or 651-296-4342, and I will be happy to help. If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe, click here. If you have a friend or neighbor who would be interested in receiving these, please forward this and encourage them to subscribe! Sincerely, Brion Curran State Representative |