I never thought I would dream about the faces of the murdered citizens in my city, or clench my fists so tight in my sleep they’d ache all day.

I never thought I’d see my face in the New York Times for documenting federal agents and blowing whistles at them.

I never thought as a therapist I’d be holding the hands of clients as we walk through fascism and an occupation together.

Until November 2024 when I knew. I knew this was all coming and the only way to prepare was to commit to believing our own eyes and never straying from our ethics and values at work or in public or at home. To make escape plans and stay close to friends and neighbors while we waited for the ice storm.

And when it hit, it still felt like a blow bigger than we can handle. It feels like George Floyd being murdered every other day over and over.

And yet, I have never been so moved by so much love and compassion and courage. I am so proud of Minnesota and wherever I go in the world, this is the place I will be most proud to have lived and been “from” and fought with and for.

Stay safe and stay strong, Minnesota is all of us.

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Abortion scares “pro-lifers” because it allows women economic independence and freedom. Both of those things put their patriarchal narratives in danger, and they only know how to define themselves by what they own.

Abortion is stressing the rest of us out, because without it, we know mothers, young girls, and infants will die, women will be forced to carry rapist’s babies, women will be trapped in abusive relationships, and invisible from public life.

Either way, I want to keep exploring how we’re all coping with that threat, and what we do now that the sphere of impact is widening across the country.

American Mother-load is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

American Mother-load is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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