MISSION
Dear music industry friends and colleagues
What is happening in Minnesota is traumatic, unprecedented, and unconscionable. It has drastically changed how people live, work, gather, and create and is directly affecting workers, audiences, artists and venues.
We’re writing to ask the music industry to show up for Minneapolis now in whatever way you safely can. The challenges unfolding here reach beyond any one city and how we meet them, together as a community, reflect on us all.
This week, especially on Music’s Biggest Night, we need the industry to stand with Minneapolis. There is no single “right” way to do that. Anything said publicly carries risk. Everyone is balancing social responsibility with the need to keep staff, artists, and audiences safe. The stakes are high; literally life and death. We know this sounds overly dramatic but you’ve seen the videos and know it isn’t.
Specific ways to show up:
- Wear a pin to the Grammys - let our city know you see us. We’ll even drop one off for you, your whole office or your party.
- Raise money for organizations and mutual-aid efforts doing the work on the ground. A great place to start is www.StandWithMinnesota.com
- Host a mutual aid benefit and share the details so we can build momentum nationwide.
- Come to Minnesota. Eat at an immigrant-owned restaurant. Shop at a small business. Perform at an independent venue for our amazing citizens who are inspiring a nation. Let us show off our beautiful city and its people.
- Call your member of congress ASAP and tell them to stop the Homeland Security appropriations bill. Call (202) 244-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators and Representatives. They are voting this week.
Beyond the flashpoint stories, here is first-hand perspective of what we are seeing on the ground.
- My African neighbor - a U.S. citizen - was detained by ICE while shopping with her children. Her five kids were left alone at Costco for hours before she was released.
- A fellow small business owner was surrounded by four ICE vehicles while leaving Restaurant Depot. An agent greeted her with, “hola señorita.” She replied, “I’m German, dude.” She was forced to produce her license, passport card, insurance, and carry permit before being allowed to leave.
- Bovino circled our neighborhood elementary school during drop-off, while parents stood watch of the bus line. No wonder an estimated 15% of students are no longer attending school.
- Our employees witness ICE detaining people daily while eating breakfast. They arrive at work shaken, after trying to protect their neighbors.
Fear is changing how people move through the city. We desperately need the resilience that’s built through gathering. As we’ve seen at shows the last few weeks, now is the time we most need live music. But some days employees are too afraid to come to work. Bills go unpaid. Businesses cut back hours or shutter. This is not a political debate, it’s our daily life.
And still, Minnesota shows up. Fifty thousand people gathered in -20 degrees. Because here, it’s never too cold to do what’s right. On Friday, we opened the Depot for free coffee, cocoa, and community. Nearly 1,000 people came through. We didn’t post it. We didn’t do it for the likes. We did it because that’s who we are. We were expected to riot but instead we gathered and it was noticed.
For a second time ICE killed our neighbor just blocks from where we eat, sleep, and work. Near Icehouse, Creation Audio, and Glam Doll Donuts - the same business that delivered treats to our greenrooms that so many of you loved.
So now we are asking you to join us, either in the specific ways we mentioned or however you are able. Communities should not be terrorized, workers should not be afraid to show up, and cities should not be destabilized by enforcement actions that tear families apart.
If you tour through Minneapolis and St. Paul, know how much it matters when you acknowledge what’s happening and stand with your fans and the people who make the shows possible.
When fear takes hold of a city, those spaces and the people who rely on them are put at risk. A society deprived of joy, culture, and gathering cannot grow, thrive, or dream. Today it’s Minneapolis but next it could be your town.
Music has always been a refuge here. Our venues are not just businesses, they are cultural anchors. The arts are built into our DNA and our City has always punched above our weight for developing musicians, showing up to shows, and fostering artistic expression.
Minneapolis has given a great deal to music. Right now, we need the music community to show up for Minneapolis and our entire amazing state.
In Love and Resilience,
Dayna Frank, First Avenue
Lowell Pickett, the Dakota
Chad Kampe, Flipphone Events
Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance (TEMP)
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