Sorry folks, this is going to be another not-related-to-media update. I’m sorry, but also not sorry. It’s hard to find the wherewithal to write about entertainment and media when you’re living through a siege backed by your own federal government. Especially when it feels more and more like the media (in this case, obviously the news media) is complicit in minimizing it to the rest of the world – and even those parts of the state that haven’t yet been hit. And I bet you’re thinking, “gosh Angie, I bet your parents are so worried about you!” Well, it seems you’d be wrong. Through all of this, I’ve heard nothing from either of them. I’m pretty sure they probably don’t even believe that any of this is really happening. IF EITHER OF YOU ARE READING THIS, I PROMISE YOU IT IS VERY GOD DAMNED REAL. I HAVE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES. I don’t know. But I will tell you this – it feels incredibly isolating. I mean, my family has never been particularly close, but…fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck, man.
Just know that what is happening in Minneapolis/St. Paul is incredibly real. And it’s violent. ICE has been going door to door in some areas looking for people to kidnap. They’re not really looking for “violent illegals.” I don’t think they ever were. They’re looking for people of color and they’re looking for dissidents. We’re living through some real-life fascist, Nazi bullshit here. They’re pulling people from their homes, from their cars; they’re MACING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. They’re terrorizing daycare centers, schools, food shelves, grocery stores, restaurants, clinics. Nowhere is sacred. They’re acting outside of their jurisdiction and oftentimes outside the law. And for the record, the Minneapolis Fraternal Order of Police has released a statement indicating that they side with the hostile occupying force – not with the citizens they are sworn to protect.
We’ve been doing the peaceful protest thing, and it has at least helped band the communities together more closely. Time will tell if it helps us out of this situation or not. But I have hope. Because in times like this, what else is there?
I have hope that with social media around, people outside the Twin Cities, outside the state of Minnesota, and even outside the country are getting a taste of what’s happening here. They see our fear, and the basis for that fear. They can see that we’re essentially living under Martial Law, even if the government isn’t yet calling it that. They can see that so many people are afraid to leave their houses. And I hope that they can also see that those of us who are privileged enough to be at lower risk of ICE violence are banding together to help and protect our more vulnerable neighbors. That’s the thing that gives me hope – that sense of community.
Because I’m not going to lie to you – being occupied by a force comprised of some of the worst people this country has to offer is fucking terrifying. These are the tiki-torch bearing, racist tattoo covered, white supremacist-ass Proud Boy fucks we’ve been seeing on TV since Trump’s first term. They’re the insurrectionists, the incels, and the fuckboys. They’re violent misogynists; every last one of them.
So, while I’m hoping to get back to media stuff soon, I’m not sure when that’s going to be. I guess it depends on how long the Nazis plan to stick around (and I don’t use that descriptor lightly – these are people pushing Nazi ideals using Nazi tactics and describing those tactics using Nazi terminology).
Right now, I’m too focused on existing, on protesting this garbage, and on doing what I can to help or comfort people who need it to worry about telling people about books or movies. Though maybe next week will be different. I know that media can be a vitally important part of resistance, after all. But for now, updates are all I can promise.
Just know, at my house, we are emotionally drained and physically exhausted. But unharmed, so far.
In summation: ICE is a fucking evil operation. They haven’t been around very long, and I think they have MORE than outlived their welcome. FUCK ICE. FUCK DONALD TRUMP.
