Dear Friend,

My name is Evan. I am the IT Committee Chair at AFSCME Local 328 in Oregon, and the Vice Chair of Higher Ed Labor United.

Yesterday, 200+ higher ed union members across Minnesota joined a rapid response action call we organized alongside other higher ed locals on Wednesday to turn out coworkers to the actions on Friday. Higher ed workers, students, and community members in Minnesota are fired up – and ready to take action to say: we want ICE OUT and we have the power to shut down the economy if necessary. Are you in Minnesota and going to an action tomorrow? Use this toolkit and look out for the HELU “ICE Out of Minnesota” banner at the Day for Truth and Freedom march in Minneapolis to join fellow higher ed workers in the streets.  

We know that what’s unfolding in Minneapolis won’t stop there unless we take action. I’ve been energized by the work that HELU and the higher ed labor movement is doing to support rapid response efforts in Minneapolis. Upon learning about the forecast for freezing temperatures tomorrow, HELU leaders in UUP, Rutgers AAUP-AFT, and MTA immediately sprung into action to coordinate a rapid shipment of 4000 hand warmers and 1500 foot warmers to Minneapolis for marchers braving the cold.

And now, you can also take action to directly support the broader labor movement & higher ed community in Minnesota – 

Show your solidarity with the broader labor movement & the higher ed community in Minnesota! Donate $20 or more to the Unite HERE Local 17 Solidarity Fund and submit proof of receipt on this form to receive a special “ICE Out of MN” postcard & HELU sticker. 

Contributions to the Unite HERE Local 17 Solidarity Fund support mutual aid for union members throughout Minnesota who are fearful of going to work, sending kids to school or even leaving their homes regardless of their citizenship status.

We encourage individuals and union locals to make donations directly to organizations doing critical work on the ground in Minnesota.

Our power lies in our numbers. More than 275 solidarity actions are happening across the country on 1/23: Look here to find information on actions near you, and bring your friends and colleagues.

• Higher ed says: ICE OUT! Signs
  Stand in solidarity with higher ed workers participating in actions across Minnesota by bringing these signs to your local action! HELU and Minnesota’s Inter Faculty Organization are providing identical printed signs for the march in Minneapolis.
  

• Share online – let’s amplify each other to make sure we’re heard! Post with hashtags #ICEOUT #ICEOUTMN #ICEOutofMN

• • Tag HELU on Instagram (@HigherEdLaborUnited), Twitter (@HigherEdLabor), and Bluesky (@HigherEdLabor.bsky.social) – we will amplify!

In Solidarity,

Evan Bowman
IT Committee Chair, AFSCME Local 328
Vice-Chair, Higher Education Labor United (HELU)

We invite you to support HELU’s work by making a direct financial contribution. While HELU’s main source of income is solidarity pledges from member organizations, these funds from individuals help us to grow capacity as we work to align the higher ed labor movement.