MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced she is boycotting President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address. Senator Smith will be speaking at MoveOn’s “People’s State of the Union” held on the National Mall alongside her guest: Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis. Smith and Lewis’ remarks will be livestreamed around 8:30pm ET here.
Lewis has worked tirelessly to keep students, staff and families in her school district safe in the face of a federal police force operating with impunity and snatching children and their parents off the street. Smith met Lewis after school and drove with her to monitor for ICE in the surrounding suburban neighborhood.
“Brenda is an incredible example of how Minnesotans have organized and cared for their neighbors in the face of a violent federal police force. It’s people like Brenda who have inspired the world with their bravery and dignity in standing up to bullies,” said Senator Smith.“I’ve been to Donald Trump’s State of the Union Addresses, and I don’t need to do it again. His speeches are full of lies, and he uses the occasion to pillory his perceived political enemies and pander to his billionaire donors. Instead, I want courageous people like Brenda to share the reality of this Administration’s lawlessness and violence at the People’s State of the Union. It’s time for us to have an honest discussion about how the Trump Administration is making it harder for people to afford the lives they want to live and feel safe in their neighborhoods.”
“As a superintendent and lifelong educator, I’m looking forward to speaking out about the unacceptable reality our school district has endured at the hands of a federal agency — and to make sure this never happens to another school district in the nation again,” said Superintendent Lewis.
Operation Metro Surge wreaked havoc on Minnesota’s school system, with steep drops in student attendance from families too afraid to leave their homes, especially after multiple documented cases of children being detained by ICE and immediately shipped to Texas. Brenda’s school district is in active litigation alongside Duluth Public Schools against the Department of Homeland Security, claiming the agency broke the law by suddenly changing the longstanding policy against immigration enforcement near schools.” Brenda has been followed by ICE agents twice, and members of the local school board had ICE stationed outside their homes. Fridley added extra security to its schools and trained observers at all buildings during Operation Metro Surge. Every day, Brenda monitors each of the schools in her district for morning drop off and afternoon pickup. One third of her students were absent after Renee Good was killed.
When Border Czar Tom Homan announced a drawdown of federal agents, Lewis felt “a glimmer of hope” until a few minutes later, she was told six ICE vehicles were outside an elementary school.
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