Originally post at Instagram by LACAN
The deadly violence at two homeless encampments in Minneapolis should cause all of us to stop and reflect. This isn’t random. The divisive rhetoric and targeting of so-called enemies by those in power is fueling hate, giving permission to factions ready to put their violence on display.
Minnesota has long carried the myth of “Minnesota Nice.” And yes—there are great people in Minnesota. I saw it with my own eyes during the George Floyd protests, when vehicle after vehicle showed up at encampments with food and supplies, people giving what they could to help others survive. That spirit is real, and it matters.
But just under the surface lives another truth: a history of settler colonialism and racism—fights with Native peoples over land and sovereignty, hostility toward immigrants, and a gun culture that has always been about exclusion and control. I also remember how quickly generosity can be poisoned—literally—when a tainted batch of food was delivered to a protest encampment next to the police station, leaving many deathly ill. That underbelly is real too.
This is not about strangers attacking strangers. These acts are born of the same culture that has always “othered” those who don’t fit. And while Minneapolis gave us Prince and the sound of a city pulsing with creativity, it also holds a shadow that too often goes unspoken.
We must be vigilant and refuse to let division weaken our ranks. Hate does not discriminate—if unhoused people are under attack today, we all have targets on our backs tomorrow. We must be our own keepers, looking out for one another as we weather a storm of huge proportions.
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