Minnesotans showed up for one another during the heightened chaos of Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration-enforcement action that inflicted family separations and losses for workers and businesses.

Community Response

Sahan Journal and Mixed Blood Theatre co-hosted a live community storytelling event, “I Got Your Back,” which featured performances of short narratives by local playwrights and a panel with community advocates discussing ways to deepen community engagement and connections.

The event was the first in a new collaboration between Sahan Journal and Mixed Blood Theatre, which has staged productions that start conversations about complex topics and build community on the West Bank for decades.

The conversation centered on Operation Metro Surge and the ways Minnesotans formed new connections and collaborations to address the difficulties it inflicted, including food drop-off, rideshares, group chats, and GoFundMe campaigns.

Performances and Panel

The event featured original monologues from local playwrights, including “You’re a Lover Not a Fighter” and “Mayday People,” which reflected on the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

After the performances, audience members spent time reflecting in small group discussions, writing and talking about their experiences during the chaos of the surge and what they hoped to carry forward from that time.

Community leaders, including Fahad Mahamud and Luis Argueta, discussed ways they built community networks during the surge and how they’re preparing for whatever lies ahead, including training sessions on election protection and storytelling.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.