Much of the media had left by the time I arrived in Minneapolis to cover the uprising that followed the murder of George Floyd and sparked unprecedented protests across the country. Buildings were no longer ablaze, and the media turned their attention elsewhere. But I wasn’t there to cover fires. I came to document the mutual aid that grew out of the uprising, and there was plenty to be found. A hotel was converted into a shelter for the houseless displaced by the uprising in just a matter of days. Free food markets were everywhere, staffed by cheerful neighbors and volunteers. A community was finally having a difficult but long overdue conversation about gentrification and race. Minneapolis can teach us a lot about where to go next. At Truthout, I can bring you such stories unfiltered, even after the rest of the media has turned its eyes elsewhere. But I can only do this with the support of our community of readers. Today is the first day of our June fundraiser and we have less than two weeks to raise $50,000. Can I count on you to make a small investment in our work?
Thank you for your support,
Mike Ludwig, Staff Reporter