Jae Yates
Jae Yates is a Minnesota activist. She is active in the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar.
Palestinian liberation panel
On Thursday, February 15, 2024, the Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, in collaboration with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, held a panel in Nicholson Hall on the UMN campus discussing Marxist-Leninist perspectives on Palestinian liberation. Thirty people, both students and community members, were in attendance.
The panel speakers included Mira Altobell-Resendez from SDS, Jae Yates from the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Steff Yorek from the Climate Justice Committee, and Andrew Josefchak from the Minnesota Anti-War Committee. All four are also members of FRSO and specifically analyzed the Israeli occupation of Palestine with a Marxist-Leninist lens.[1]
Tampa 5 supporters
30 people gathered at Mayday Plaza on July 12 2023 to demand that charges be dropped against the Tampa 5. This was also the day of the Tampa 5’s second court appearance. They chanted, “Justice for the Tampa 5! Down with Desantis! Protesting is not a crime!”
“This city is serious about fighting political repression and fighting against police, and fighting against the state that continues to attack and criminalize us for exercising our right to free speech,” said Jae Yates from Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).
Yates cited the burning of the 3rd Precinct police building in Minneapolis during the George Floyd Uprising in 2020 as a message to reactionary legislators across the country that this city will not allow the repression of activists to occur anywhere without fierce resistance.
Also speaking in support of the Tampa 5 on this day were Fa'aumu Kaimana from UMN SDS, CJ McCollum from the Climate Justice Committee, Celia Nimz from FRSO, and Thistle Parker-Hartog from the Anti-War Committee and the Anti-War 23 who were subpoenaed by the FBI in 2010.
The rally was called by the Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota in collaboration with TCC4J. It was part of the National Day of Action for the Tampa 5 initiated by the Emergency Committee to Defend the Tampa 5, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and National SDS.[2]
Fight Back! fundraiser
Nearly 100 people joined together January 28 2023 to celebrate the newspaper Fight Back! and to raise funds for the paper. Emcees Autumn Lake and Robyn Harbison led the night with toasts from Twin Cities movements that Fight Back! has covered over the last year and getting the crowd excited to aim to raise enough for one print edition of the paper.
Charlie Berg from the Climate Justice Committee started off the toasts. Akhilesh Menawat from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee also spoke to the importance of Fight Back! publishing coverage of the struggles for DACA, municipal ID and drivers licenses in Minnesota. Olivia Crull from the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee talked about the political importance of Fight Back! reporting correct numbers of our protests after a post-Roe protest in Minneapolis had 10,000 people in the streets.
Mick Kelly, Fight Back! editor, ended the speeches talking about how important Fight Back! News is. "Fight Back! News doesn't claim to be objective like mainstream media. Fight Back! News has picked a side and it's the side of the people's struggles."
Jae Yates and David Richard Gilbert-Pederson gave the fundraising pitch.
The fundraiser saw activists and groups from across the Twin Cities pledge to hit not only our goal of funding one print edition of the paper but more than two print editions – over $4000, a new high for this annual event in the Twin Cities and ensuring the continued print edition of Fight Back![3]
“Drivers license for all”
On Tuesday January 3, 2022, more than 50 immigrant rights activists and supporters braved a snowstorm to gather on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol demanding “Drivers license for all.” The rally was called by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) on the opening day of the Minnesota legislative session to demand that the new Democrat-controlled state legislature pass the bill for drivers license access for all in Minnesota in this legislative session.
The protest began with a speech in both English and Spanish by Sarah Silva, a member of MIRAC.
Jaylani Hussein from CAIR - Minnesota spoke next, telling the crowd: “It is time for the Democratic Party, who have said that they cared about so many of these issues, to actually prioritize those things and make it happen.”
Jae Yates, a speaker from the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar and Minneapolis for Community Control of the Police spoke on the connections between the fight for community control of the police in Minneapolis and the role that the policing system has on funneling undocumented immigrants into deportation.
Near the end of the rally, Pablo Tapia from Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, who has been involved in the struggle for drivers license in Minnesota for two decades, energized the group after stating he would speak in Spanish, the language of his community. “Están listos para ganar licencias para todos este año si o no?” which translates as “Are you ready to win licenses for all this year, yes or no?”
A statement was read on behalf of Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed, who is the author of the driver's license bill in the Senate. Senator Mohamad said: “Our economy depends on the labor of immigrants, yet our government prohibits them from driving. Restoring immigrants’ right to obtain a driver’s license isn’t just the right thing to do - it will also benefit our economy, make our roads safer, and make life easier for our undocumented neighbors and their families.” Her statement ended with the promise to work on the legislation to ensure it becomes a reality.
The crowd also heard from Minneapolis City Councilmember Aisha Chughtai; Veena Iyer, the director of the Immigrant Law Center of MN; John Banda from the Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, and Eva Lopez and Brahim Kone from SEIU Local 26.
David Richard Gilbert-Pederson of MN Workers United spoke in support of drivers license for all, and also announced a new People's Agenda platform, which includes a broad range of demands on the state legislature. Activists noted that as the Democrats now have full control of the state government and a massive budget surplus, they can't blame financial hard times or blame Republicans if they don't pass bills and a budget that addresses and fully funds working class and oppressed people's needs. Organizations and individuals are being asked to sign on to the People Agenda platform.[4]
Abortion protest
According to Siobhan Moore 10,000 people gathered at 6 p.m. on June 24 2022 outside the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota to condemn the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in their decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. Signs filled the air above the demonstrators, with posters declaring “We won’t go back” and “We won’t back down.”
The program kicked off with chants, filling the West Bank neighborhood with shouts for reproductive justice and protections for women’s rights, as emcees Olivia Crull, of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota (SDS) and Jae Yates of Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar (TCC4J) introduced the first speakers.
Celia Nimz, speaking for the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling and the refusal of the government to codify abortion rights into law. Nimz clarified that mass struggle is required to win these rights back, and that “we need a revolution and socialism to protect your human rights and needs. We cannot vote our way to socialism; we must organize and fight and struggle!” She then invited people to keep up the fight and join the struggle for socialism by joining FRSO.
Sasmit Rahman, a member of SDS, also condemned the ruling, and as well inaction on the part of Joan Gabel, president of the University of Minnesota, and her administration on the issue of abortion rights.
Jaelynne Palmer, from TCC4J, explained the connection between the struggle for community control of the police and for women’s and reproductive rights, and made clear that the struggles have to go hand in hand.
Meredith Aby-Keirstead of the MN Anti-War Committee explained the struggle that those before Roe v. Wade had to go through and made clear that the people refuse to go back.
Other speakers included Sara Resemius of AFSCME 3800; LyLy Vang, a board member of Our Justice; Gabbi Pierce, president of TC Pride at Work, and Aisha Chughtai from the MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee.
The action was initiated by Students for a Democratic Society at the UMN, and endorsed by several organizations, including the Anti-War Committee, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Our Justice, AFSCME 3800, the Climate Justice Committee, Twin Cities Pride at Work, Women Against Military Madnes, MN Workers United, and Immigrant Worker Solidarity.[5]
Justice for Amir Locke
On February 16 2022 , Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota rallied and marched to demand justice for Amir Locke, a 22-year-old Black man murdered by the Minneapolis police in a relative’s apartment earlier this month.
80 people gathered outside the Student Union on Washington Avenue, chanting “What do we want? Justice!” and “Say his name! Amir Locke!”
Bella Harbison, speaking for SDS, said, “Police departments and political leaders across the country are not afraid of committing acts of violence against our Black and brown community members; they are afraid of being caught, and being held accountable for crimes against humanity.”
Jae Yates from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack! made clear that “it is no coincidence that police and slaveowners have so much shared history; both seek to keep oppressed nations and members of the working class in place.” Yates continuing in saying that in order to fight for real accountability, “you should join the fight for community control of police in Minneapolis both on and off campus. We cannot rely on the same people that benefit from policing to defund, demilitarize, or abolish the police. We have to fight for the self-determinative power that Black people have fought for for 400 years.”
Loretta VanPelt, speaking for the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar raised the peoples’ demands: community control, a permanent end to no knock warrants and the charging and arresting of Amir Locke’s killer, Officer Mark Hanneman, and all other officers involved in the murder.
Allison Leopold, a member of White Coats for Black Lives, a student group from the UM medical school, made clear that when police are threatening the lives of Black community members it is a health issue, and that we have a duty to fight back against racist police crimes.
Closing out the protest, Sasmit Rahman, another SDS member said, “We need you guys to sign [the referendum petition], we need more energy, because it is too easy right now for Joan Gabel and the regents to ignore us and to ignore our demands. We need people to share it with their friends, we need consistent action and consistent pressure on Joan Gabel and the regents!”[6]
Black Friday protest
St. Paul, MN - On November 27 2020, the Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar organized a rally and car caravan to protest the mass arrests of November 4. The Black Friday protest started in the parking lot of JJ Hill elementary school, where Philando Castile worked before he was killed by police. During a brief rally, participants decorated their cars, then a caravan of 100 vehicles left for the governor’s mansion, by way of the Grand Avenue.
Governor Tim Walz had mobilized hundreds of police from across the state to "teach a lesson" to protesters on November 4 who were part of a national day of protest called by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. Minneapolis police brutalized supporters, observers and bystanders while state patrol and others spent the six hours arresting at least 646 protesters on Interstate 94.
Arrestees from multiple organizations spoke, including Chaz Neal, from Red Wing, Minnesota; Kaia Hirt of Minnetonka; Shannon Nordby of Native Lives Matter, Mohamed Ibrahim of CAIR-MN, and Loretta VanPelt, Jae Yates and DJ Hooker of Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar.[7]
Founding
Youth Against Empire held its first public event on Oct. 17 2020 called "End the Wars at Home and Abroad."
Moderators were Win-Mon Kyi Resist US-Led War Movement, International League of Peoples' Stuggles, Calvin Deutschbein Workers World Party and International Action Center Participants included Vichina Austin and Kyndelle Johnson, Black Alliance for Peace, and Kala Craddock McIntosh Pan-African Community Action, Jordan Faralan Anakbayan USA, Autumn Lake Minnesota Anti-War Committee, Taylor Cook Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, Jae Yates Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Nicholas Brannan Socialist Action, Carlos Naranjo of POWIR and Colombian Progressives.[8]
Hearing protest
Nearly 500 gathered outside the barricaded Family Justice Center on Friday, September 11 2020 , where the four former cops who murdered George Floyd had a pretrial hearing. Each of them has filed motions for dismissal of their charges and for a change of venue to move the trial out of the metro area. Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar organized what became a six-hour presence outside the courthouse, with speakers, chanting and music.
Among those who spoke, Toshira Garraway of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence gave an impassioned speech calling for an end to infighting in the activist community and for people to recognize the manipulation of the facts by the defense in the George Floyd case. “How many were not filmed? How many did they get to edit? If they’re trying to dismiss the charges and they’re trying to pin George Floyd’s murder off on something else, and we watched it with our own eyes - we saw him get murdered on that ground! So imagine what they have done for what we did not see.”
Michael Toussaint, father of Myon Burrell, spoke about his son’s wrongful imprisonment 17 years ago. Burrell’s case has received a great deal of attention since Amy Klobuchar used it in her failed presidential campaign as an example of her positive work on behalf of the African American community. Current Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman also prosecuted the case, after the first conviction was thrown out. Burrell is still fighting for his freedom today, despite overwhelming evidence that he had no part in the murder of Tyesha Edwards. Toussaint called out Freeman’s role in the Burrell case, along with his failure to prosecute the cops who have killed dozens of civilians during his time as county attorney.
At one point, news reached the crowd outside that Judge Peter Cahill had ordered Mike Freeman off the case (the prosecution is led by state Attorney General Keith Ellison), in part for his sloppy work early on in this case. Despite this ruling being in favor of a defense motion, the crowd of protesters cheered the decision. Freeman is wildly unpopular.
In an official statement read at the event, TCC4J also reiterated the need for community control of the police. “If we had that, these killer cops would not even be on the force. New recruits would not be trained to kill, maim and brutalize as a first resort. Bystanders would have been empowered to step in and save Mr. Floyd’s life, without fear of being killed themselves.”
As it became clear that the crowd was committed to stay until the end of the hearing, emcees Jae Yates and Angel Smith El brought many other community leaders up to speak to the crowd and hold the space. These included Elizer Darris of ACLU-MN; Anika Bowie of NAACP-Mpls’ Mohamed Ibrahim from CAIR-MN; Trahern Crews of Black Lives Matter MN; Danielle Burns, Jamar Clark’s sister; Monique Cullars-Doty from TCC4J, a member whose nephew Marcus Golden was killed by SPPD in 2015; Michelle Gross of CUAPB; Yariah Myers representing TCC4J; Chauntyll Allen of Black Lives Matter-Twin Cities Metro; Marques Armstrong from Racial Justice Network, and Cortez Rice, George Floyd’s nephew.
Shortly after the hearing ended, the killer cops walked out of the building. As soon as they were spotted by protesters, the crowd erupted with angry chants and jeers. Thomas Lane and Aleander Keung were escorted through the crowd by police, and hundreds took off after them, following them down the block and around the corner. A smaller crowd of protesters spotted Derek Chauvin taking a different exit and shouted as he was placed in the police vehicle for his return trip to jail.
Once Chauvin was off the scene, protesters returned to the courthouse, where George Floyd’s family and their attorneys held a press conference and addressed the crowd of protesters, thanking them for their support. Rather than ignore the crowd, the family’s representation took a wireless mic from organizers so that the crowd could hear the address. Attorney Ben Crump spoke to the allegation that George Floyd’s death was caused by overdose. “They are trying to claim that the knee on his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds had nothing to do with his death. The only overdose that killed George Floyd was an overdose of excessive force and racism.”
As part of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, TCC4J’s is organizing a march for the upcoming National Day of Protest on September 19. Nationally, they are demanding community control of the police, an end to the slaying of Black lives, and an end to police and military forces being deployed to suppress protests. In Minneapolis, TCC4J will also call for the re-opening of local cases of police murder that were never prosecuted. The march will begin at 1 p.m. at Plymouth and James Avenues North, at the site where Jamar Clark’s life was taken by the Minneapolis Police Department in 2015.[9]
“Taking Back Pride”
June 2020 marks 51 years since the Stonewall Riots in New York City, which helped spark the Gay Rights Movement.
Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community typically celebrates with a huge parade in downtown Minneapolis, but this year was different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a plan involving a virtual parade and virtual events.
But organizers canceled this year’s virtual events to support a different message in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Protesters marched through downtown Minneapolis Sunday, declaring “Black Lives Matter” and “Queer Lives Matter.” There was a feeling of joyous celebration throughout downtown streets. Minneapolis Public Schools teacher Mina Leierwood was on hand.
But this is also a protest, calling attention to real issues and their rallying cries, according to “Taking Back Pride” organizer DJ Hooker.
“We’re standing in solidarity with our Black and Queer friends and brothers, especially Black Trans lives, which are under attack, too,” Hooker said.
Jae Yates, who is Black and Transgender, marched at the front of the crowd.
“I deserve rights,” Yates said. “I’m a citizen of this country.”
They say they reject performing gender on the traditional binary man-woman scale.
“You can believe that or not, but it is what it is,” Yates said. “I want to look however I want to look, and I want to feel, I want to feel like I am embodying my body.”[10]