What the Twin Cities Taught the World About Resistance

Processing local trauma from afar, a native Minnesotan reflects on government overreach, physical grief, and the undeniable power of community care.

By Bailey Ekness

I wanted to share this, but by no means do I ever want to make what happened about me. But I know that if I’m dealing with this, so are the people I grew up with and the people who raised me. We need to talk about it.

I’m PROUDLY from the Twin Cities. After the ICE raids in Minnesota, even from far away, I had no idea a human could feel this way. I had a jaw injury from years ago that crept back up. The day Alex Pretti was executed across the street from where I did homework almost every day after school, there was a chill that went down my spine and then manifested in my jaw. It was the most disturbed I’ve ever felt in my life. When I see news about ICE now, I get that same chill, and my jaw locks or hurts. I didn’t realize I had developed PTSD until a few weeks ago.

It is a traumatic realization that your very own government could very well kill your father, mother, friends, or any loved ones with no mercy and for no reason. It’s sicker to realize that they might enjoy doing it. I hate to be harsh, but that was my reality. That was their reality.

I share this because if I feel this way, I can’t imagine what my loved ones back home are dealing with. A sense of safety was taken from them and from me, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. We’re all prepared for an outside attack. No one tells you what to do or how it feels when you’re attacked from the inside.

These people are my foundation. They taught me what community means and what real love is. You’ll find me being kind to strangers like my old math teacher, Kris W. You’ll find me cracking jokes like Mr. Lambert. You may even find me painting because Ms. Vinson inspires me every day. You’ll find me being interested in the most obscure things because of my father. I see my face, and I see my mother, born and raised in Minnesota, baby.

Keep fighting the good fight, you guys. You didn’t just inspire me again; you inspired the world. You squashed the plans of the feds who wanted to do this in EVERY city. You showed what it means to organize effectively. In order to organize effectively, one must hold immense care for humanity first and foremost. That’s the Minnesota I know.

My jaw may lock, but my voice will never be silenced. I love you, I love you, I love you.

Finally, in the words of a very, very famous Minnesotan, “You can be the president, I’d rather be the Pope.” And that, my friends, rings truer today than ever before.

Bailey Ekness, New York City