01/27/2026
The last two weeks in Minnesota have been frightening. And it matters far beyond Minnesota.
We’re watching DHS and ICE operate in ways that are illegal and deeply dangerous: masked agents, unmarked vehicles, people detained or taken without clear cause, and violence directed not just at immigrants, but at American citizens exercising their right to assemble. This kind of terror ripples outward.
Here in Buffalo, we have yet to see the same level of violence, but we are not untouched. Our neighbors have been threatened, and some have been taken. The fear is real, and we must be prepared for this to escalate.
Buffalo is home to a vibrant immigrant community. People here come from Somalia, Myanmar (Burma), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Central America, and beyond. These are our neighbors, coworkers, business owners, and friends. Most of us are only a few generations removed from immigration ourselves. My own family history includes multiple forced removals and the destruction of an entire branch of my family tree by fascists in Europe. This is not abstract.
This is hard. It’s scary. And it’s not going to be easy.
But we will get through it, and we will win. In the meantime, we need to protect and support each other.
That includes supporting small businesses, which will be hit first and hardest when daily life is disrupted. Keeping local businesses alive is part of keeping our communities alive.
And it means staying strong — physically and psychologically. Community matters right now. At New Moon Mindful Movement, we’re building a space where people can come together, stay grounded, and support one another through uncertain times.
We don’t get through moments like this alone.
We get through them together. ❤️
Rebel Bird: 🙏