“The antidote to overwhelm is action”
“We are not exhausted because we are aware of too much…we are exhausted because we are doing too little…we are getting so much passive information and we have so few opportunities to act…people who feel agentic aren’t as tired or as easily overwhelmed.”
Tressie McMillan Cottom, Sociologist
We have all been witness to the atrocities flying across our screens this week. The very least we can do is bear witness, but if you have only been watching, there is a likelihood you feel overwhelmed, exhausted and helpless. Cottom’s research suggests that the antidote to this feeling is finding meaningful action to take directly within our communities. You can watch the full interview here (only 33 minutes).
The acts violence we have seen committed throughout the streets of Minnesota resulting in the loss of Rene Good and Alex Pretti is not new for this country. It is just new for white communities to experience the brutality of an oppressive government agency. Communities of color have had their loved one’s murders filmed in the streets and posted across social media platforms for the public to critique and justify police brutality for at least a decade. Take an honest look at this country’s history and recognize the harm, oppression and elitism that built this place. If you need support in navigating the realities of the violence this nation is built on, reach out for a reading list and personal conversation. When we take the time to really evaluate the harm systems cause to any person, we give our society the opportunity to move forward together without harming others or ourselves.
Because this reality of our nation is not new, we have generations of revolutionaries who have come before us that documented the change they cultivated. It is our job to continue the work by learning from the examples they led because, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. originated from abolitionist Theodore Parker).
On to the actions that anyone around the country can start taking today (because we’re 4 paragraphs in with all information and no action! Let’s not contribute more to the overwhelm):
Action 1: Donate to Minnesota, Law offices or Mutual aid efforts
Minnesota: There is an entire website dedicated to supporting various efforts in Minnesota that are already vetted and verified needs, so head to https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ and find a way to support with your dollar if you’re able.
It’s critical we take note of the way MN is organizing and realize that our own communities could be needing the very same things: rent relief (for families afraid to leave the house for work), grocery delivery, childcare/school drop-off and pick-up and accompany to immigration court dates.
Minnesota Immigration Law offices: Help support the the law offices defending and representing people being impacted by these unlawful efforts https://www.ilcm.org/
Action 2: Know Your Rights (and share what you know)
Knowledge is power. Being informed is one layer of support and protection you can give yourself. The Minnesota Immigration Law offices website has a plethora of resources in many different languages for various kinds of groups of people looking to protect any human regardless of immigration status.
Resources for teachers 2 page fact sheet- English 2 page fact sheet- Spanish
There are so many resources coming out of Minnesota currently as well as resources from around the country. The next resource is from the Immigration Services Network Austin that can be used more like a textbook. It covers a wide range of topics to support immigrants.
Large Resource from Immigration Services Networks of Austin
Start organizing for your community by reading resources, and then printing them to distribute to families that need them. Most resources can be found in English and in Spanish. If you are local to DFW and want to be included in meeting up to create preparedness kits, respond to the email so we can plan days and times.
Action 3: Contact Representative
Use the 5 Calls app or website to make contacting your representatives easily. My personal experience in calling over the last year is that you’ll always be leaving a voicemail if you call Abbott, Cruz or Cornyn because their offices never answer (okay Cornyn’s did ONE time). Which may lead you to wonder if calling even matters? From my understanding, calls are the most disruptive to the offices. Even if they are screening calls, their phones are still ringing- over and over and over again. At least they are aware that we are all paying attention. Secondly, if we don’t make any calls, then these horrendous leaders can say they never heard from their constituents on the issue.
Action 4: Check Voter Registration
Ensure that you are registered to vote in the primaries happening in March and the midterm elections in November. Texas handed over voter registration to the DOJ (some of the very documents DHS is mad about Minnesota not handing over), so in an abundance of caution just make sure you're still about to vote this year. The last day to register to vote is February 2nd, 2026. The Republican and Democratic primaries WILL NOT be at the same polling locations, so be sure to make a voting plan early and find your correct location! There are new rules in Texas about how mail-in ballots will be postmarked and counted.
Remember to start taking action, especially actions encouraged by those who have been in this fight for decades now. It will begin to energize you and reveal to you the next steps you need to take with community by your side. We get through this together as a community. If you are local to DFW, please stay tuned for more local resources. If you are around the country, share what your community is doing to organize! If you feel alone in these efforts, reach out. We all begin somewhere, and it is finally time that we all begin taking steps.
Stay educated,
Kaitlin Cruise
Together we are more than capable of making a more inclusive and accessible world.
