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Ceasefire advocates want voters to send Biden a message
Supporters of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza ask DFL voters to choose ‘uncommitted’ in Minnesota’s presidential primary.
MINNEAPOLIS — The war in Gaza may seem completely beyond the control of everyday Minnesotans, but there’s a movement afoot to make it part of the decision-making process for voters in next Tuesday’s presidential preference primary here.
Supporters of an immediate ceasefire are calling on Democrats to vote for “uncommitted” rather than for President Biden, to send the president a message about the need to end civilian casualties in Israel’s fight against Hamas.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 30,000 Palestinians dead from Israel’s strikes against Hamas in retaliation for an Oct. 7 surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. Hamas still holds more than 100 Jewish hostages, most likely inside of Gaza.
There’s now a humanitarian crisis as refugees from northern Gaza have been pushed to the south.
“We’re very hopeful that many people are going to come out because they want to send a strong message to President Biden, and that message is this war is untenable,” said Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations in Minnesota.
President Biden told reporters Monday he’s hopeful for a temporary ceasefire by next week, and is still optimistic about a two-state solution at some point in the future that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to peacefully coexist. Supporters of the “uncommitted” movement hope to nudge the president to take a harder stance with Israeli leaders.
“It’s not a huge ask. In fact, it’s the most basic ask we can ask, a ceasefire to the murder of children in the name of the United States. We are embarrassing ourselves in the world. The United States continues to veto resolutions, language that says, that Israel should protect innocent life.”
The Democratic Presidential Primary ballot in Minnesota contains an oval next to the word “uncommitted” along with nine candidates. That choice is there to give voters the power to send uncommitted delegates to the DNC convention in August.
But backers of a ceasefire in Gaza are asking people to go with uncommitted to stay active in the political process and yet deliver a wakeup call to the president. They’re inspired by a similar movement in Michigan ahead of that state’s primary.
As of 11 p.m. Tuesday, 12.7% of Michigan Democrats had picked uncommitted.
“What we are doing right now is to stop the loss of human life. And the only way we can do that is to get a permanent ceasefire, and we’re doing that by voting uncommitted next Tuesday,” Asma Mohammed, who works to combat Islamophobia in Minnesota, told KARE.
She expected that many of the DFL precinct caucuses held Tuesday night would end with ceasefire resolutions being passed.
“We’re seeing people all over the country saying we want our president to do better. We were all in for Biden, so many of us. And this is the only way our democracy allows us to hold him accountable.”
The movement has drawn the support of some Twin Cities elected leaders, including St. Paul City Council President Mitra Jalali.
“I haven’t talked to a constituent of any background who is okay with the devastation, who wants us to keep going unfettered, and who supports just an ongoing war with American unconditional aid,” Jalali said.
She said her own experience as the daughter of an Iranian immigrant has made her deeply appreciate this country’s commitment to democracy and civil rights, but the people she represents aren’t isolated from the impact of what’s happening in Gaza. At the same time, her family was affected by the Trump-era Muslim immigration bans.
“We are aware a Trump presidency is more dangerous for our country, and there’s a conversation that needs to be had with our current president about how this current course of action is also dangerous for many of our neighbors and friends,” she said.
Some American Muslims have joined the “Abandon Biden” movement over the lack of a ceasefire. Jalali isn’t on board with sitting out this election in protest.
“I don’t agree with the Abandon Biden calls because I think that when you elect somebody, what you are doing is saying we want to govern together, we want to you to account for what our communities need who fought really hard to get you elected.”
When asked about the uncommitted movement at a state capitol press conference Monday, DFL Chair Ken Martin urged Democrats to keep their eyes on November.
“While there may be differences of opinion with President Biden on certain issues, I would encourage folks, not only in the Muslim community but in other communities who might have concerns, to remember the stakes of this election in November. They’re tremendous. And there is a deep, deep difference between President Biden and Donald Trump when it comes to issues like this.”
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A police sergeant says the incident started as a grease fire just after 12:45 a.m. and then spread through Pub 819 and the second floor.
HOPKINS, Minn. — Inspectors will be determining the extent of damage Monday after an early morning fire roared through a popular bar and restaurant in downtown Hopkins.
Fire rigs were dispatched to Pub 819 on Main Street shortly after 12:45 a.m. Hopkins Police Sergeant James Niemackl says the incident was reported as a grease fire that started in the kitchen. Employees were on scene at the time of the fire but Niemackl believed no injuries were suffered.
Mutual aid partners arrived on the scene to help putting down the fire, which appears to have reached the second floor of the building as well.
The official cause of the fire is under investigation.
This is a developing story. KARE 11 will share additional details as they become available.
Despite the financial pressures, organizations remain committed to their missions.
MINNESOTA, USA — Despite record turn-out for Give to the Max Day, Minnesota nonprofits say help is still needed this holiday season.
In a 2024 report by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, 79% of Minnesota’s nonprofits reported in a survey that they have less than 12 months before they face financial distress.
That’s not the only strain organizations feel. About 73% of respondents reported that demand for services has increased over the past year.
Keith Kozerski, the chief program officer for Catholic Charities, is one of the many working on free foot medical screen exams and giving out shoes at its Dorothy Day Place campus in Saint Paul Saturday.
“In our children’s programs and our homelessness diversion, we saw over 100% increase in our clients last year,” said Kozerski.
The ICA Food Shelf, which also provides home and job services, has seen an uptick in folks coming to them for help amid rising food costs.
“We’re becoming the primary grocery store for a large number of families,” said Dan Narr, the executive director.
An analysis published this year by the Department of Human Services says there were 7.5 million visits to Minnesota food shelves last year, two million more than the year before.
“We want to make sure they have enough, nobody should have to write to go hungry,” said Narr.
The nonprofits say the goal is to serve those in need, but they need your help.
For a list of nonprofits and to explore donations, visit givemn.org.
Trollhaugen started snowmaking again on Sunday night while Buck Hill will turn its snow guns on for the first time this season Monday afternoon.
BURNSVILLE, Minnesota — For those in the business of snow, timing is everything.
“If we can get open Thanksgiving week, that’s pretty ideal for us,” said Nate Birr, chief operations officer of Buck Hill in Burnsville.
Birr said his team usually looks for consistent temperatures of 27 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
“With the temps the way that they’re looking, fingers crossed… we’ll make snow all week long,” Birr said.
The plan is to start snowmaking on Monday afternoon with the goal of being open on Black Friday.
Buck Hill has 70-80 permanent snow guns and another 30 or so portable ones. Three years ago, they put a brand new pump in at the top of the hill.
“We used to have to kind of pick where we would make snow on the hill… But with the new pumps, the new water capacity, and the new guns, when we get ideal temps and we can maximize our water pressure and how much water we’re pushing through the system, we could have every snow gun on the hill going at one time,” Birr said. “In three days with temps in the teens and single digits… we can get 90% open. It might be light in a couple spots, but it’s still rideable.”
Ski areas are hoping for better weather than last year when much of Minnesota experienced the warmest winter on record.
“Last year we spent about a month-and-a-half turning the snow guns on, turning them off,” Birr explained. “A lot of it wasn’t making new snow, it was just repairing the base that was deteriorated because of weather, and rain, and warm temps.”
“We have been at the mercy of Mother Nature, as per usual,” said Marsha Hovey, marketing director at Trollhaugen in Dresser, Wisconsin.
Hovey said they were able to get a jumpstart on snowmaking but a one to two degree change in temperatures over the weekend forced them to temporarily shut down.
“We’re just kind of waiting for Mother Nature to tell us when we can make it,” said Matt Boudreaux, assistant mountain manager at Trollhaugen.
The team planned to restart snowmaking operations on Sunday night.
Hovey said they typically plan to open the first week of November.
“Even though we’re a little slow to start this year, we’re confident that winter will return in full force,” Hovey said.
Trollhaugen is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
“We need people to do their snow dances. So get dancing,” Hovey said.
Meanwhile, Birr said about the first day of snowmaking, “It’s my favorite day… and my kids’ favorite day of the year… it’s just a really happy day.”
For the most up-to-date information on openings, both Buck Hill and Trollhaugen will be posting updates to their social media pages.
