As ICE officers descended on Minneapolis, the literary community came together to support people in need who were afraid to leave their homes. Their support became even more essential as protests spread following the murders of poet Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti.
Several bookstores lost business after federal agents descended on Minneapolis because fewer customers are venturing out. Nonetheless, many independent bookstores joined the ICE Out of Minnesota movement and closed their doors on Jan. 23 to show solidarity. Local bookstores handed out free whistles, gave away anti-ICE posters, and participated in patrolling and protesting.
Here are a few ways to support the book community of Minnesota, whether through donations, buying books, or reading about their experiences.
- Stand With Minnesota is collecting stories from Minnesotans about what life is like and has collected a directory of places to donate.
- Publishing for Minnesota, organized by publishing professionals, is auctioning off items Jan. 29-30 donated by authors, editors, and agents to benefit organizations providing legal aid, emergency assistance, food, and community resources.
- A Book of My Own is working with Minneapolis and Saint Paul school teachers to get books to kids who are afraid to go to school following ICE actions detaining teachers and students. The need is so great that last week, they said they had run out of books in Spanish. Make a donation or shop from their wish list.
- Black Garnett Books, a Black-, queer-, woman-owned bookstore in St. Paul, co-hosted an action with its sister company Blackbird Revolt where protesters were given “Abolish ICE” crewnecks and protest signs. They also gathered donations of hand-warmers and snacks for protesters.
- Louise Erdrich’s Birchbark Books closed for the day of protest and welcomed children in the community who needed a safe place to play.
- The children’s bookstore Wild Rumpus Books donated a portion of sales to local organizations fighting to end immigration raids and supporting families impacted by ICE. “We are in acute crisis right now,” the store said, “but Wild Rumpus will continue to show up for our community moving forward, especially for our youngest neighbors.”
- Moon Palace Books closed for the city’s general strike, but kept its doors open to the community. They have distributed whistles and printed zines in Somali that explain how to stay safe.
- After an image of Greg Ketter, the 70-year-old owner of DreamHaven Books, circulated on social media, the store received so many orders and donations, its website crashed. Ketter said donations to the store’s GoFundMe page will be redirected to local food shelves.
- Show solidarity by reading books from or donating to one of Minnesota’s literary presses – including Coffee House, Graywolf, Milkweed, Lerner, and Capstone. (Two Graywolf books – Natural History, by Brandon Kilbourne, and Run the Song: Writing About Running About Listening, by Ben Ratliff – are on the longlist for PEN America’s Literary Awards.)
