Amplifying local voices and actions for justice.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Resistance Roundup.
Before we dive in, we want to share something special. MN50501 Rochester was recognized by the NAACP Rochester Branch with the Medgar Evers Boots on the Ground Award for grassroots social activism at their annual Freedom Fund Banquet last night. This is really a community honor, not just ours. We’re grateful for everyone who has walked with us, shared resources, shown up, or simply cared about this work. Thank you for continuing to help make Rochester a place where we lift one another up and stand united against social injustice and abuses of government. We thank our NAACP partners and friends for their powerful example of community leadership. To say that we are honored is quite the understatement.
This week, essential supply drives are continuing across Rochester, supporting families, students, and neighbors experiencing food insecurity and winter needs. This week also marks the the annual Give to the Max event in Minnesota, culminating on Thursday, Nov 20th. Find a cause that moves you and give what you can! You will find details below on how to contribute or spread the word.
Also on the calendar this week are ongoing opportunities to stand with your neighbors in public resistance, as well as several educational opportunities to strengthen your resolve and impact in your activism. These actions all help us move toward a more just and compassionate Rochester.
Read on for ways to take action, support others, and stay engaged.
Featured Actions
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Mass Economic Blackout
November 25 – December 2
Support local. Withhold from corporations. Build community power.
[Learn More Below]
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Stay Connected
Follow us to stay informed about local actions, events, and community updates.
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Give Where It Counts
There are so many ways to give this month! From food and essential drives to community drop-offs, every contribution helps strengthen the network of care right here in Rochester.
[See Featured Drives Below]
NOVEMBER FOOD DRIVE - DFLs of Olmsted County
During the month of November, the DFLs of Olmsted County are centering our Latino community. Many of these families do not qualify for SNAP benefits and are facing food insecurity. Quite frankly, many are afraid to leave their homes to shop. Let's ease their burden by sharing what we can.
The DFL will collect the items benefiting COPAL MN, who will distribute the donations to area families in need. Please see COPAL’s list of most needed items.
Drop off shelf stable items at the DFL offices - 1500 1st Ave NE, Suite A throughout the month of November. Our office is open 1pm - 4pm M-F. Additionally, we will have a donation box in the vestibule, which is accessible from 8am-5pm M-F (come through the main door of the 1500 building and take the first left).
PURPLE TOTE CHALLENGE
For almost 7 years The Landing MN has supported individuals experiencing homelessness in our community. Their day center is located downtown near the government center and is open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. They serve 3 meals a day, with hot breakfast and hot dinner Monday-Friday. They also have shower and laundry facilities, a medical clinic, and social services on site. Let’s do what we can to help them meet these critical needs
From Nov3rd to Nov 21st, Rochester's FedEx is collecting donations for The Landing MN.
Please see details in the flyer and you can email Erin Sinnwell at erin.sinnwell@thelandingmn.org with any questions.
Website: www.thelandingmn.org
WE AIN’T BUYING IT
November 25 – December 2, 2025
Many communities across the country are participating in a coordinated Mass Economic Blackout aka We aint buying it! /Blackout the system!— a weeklong pause on spending at national corporations to remind political and corporate leaders that everyday people still hold economic power.
This action falls during one of the highest-profit weeks of the year (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), which is exactly why organizers chose it.
The goal is simple: disrupt the cycle of overconsumption, redirect our dollars locally, and take a collective breath from systems that rely on our constant participation.
What the Blackout Looks Like
Participants are encouraged to:
Avoid shopping at national corporate chains
Skip Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales
Pause non-essential subscriptions and impulse spending
If you must purchase something during the blackout, consider:
Shopping small and local
Paying cash
Supporting community-owned or independent businesses
This is not about perfection — it’s about intention.
Preparing Before the Week Starts
Prepare thoughtfully, not by panic-buying, but by making sure basic needs are covered:
Pick up essential groceries, medications, or household items
Pay time-sensitive bills ahead of the blackout window
Make a list of local shops, markets, and creators you want to support
Share information with friends and neighbors who may want to participate
Why People Are Participating: Economic boycotts have shaped major shifts in U.S. history — from the United Farm Workers’ grape boycott to more recent corporate pressure campaigns. They work when many people take small but coordinated actions together. This blackout is meant to:
Slow down corporate profit during a high-revenue week
Refocus spending power into local economies
Encourage rest, reconnection, and community care
Demonstrate how much influence we actually hold
After the Blackout: The hope is not just to “resume as usual,” but to carry forward healthier habits:
More local spending
Less impulse buying
More awareness of how our money moves
Continued community-centered habits
More info:
https://weaintbuyingit.com/
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/trump-protest-black-friday-cyber-monday-mass-blackout-b2864866.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/11/11/black-friday-cyber-monday-donald-trump-boycotts/87221297007/
https://www.blackoutthesystem.com/the-truth
MONDAY — Nov 17th
$5 5K for Allianse of Chicanos, Hispanics and Latin Americans (ACHLA)
Date: Monday Nov 17th 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM
Sponsor: TerraLoco (1190 16th Street SW #150)
Details: Join us for a $5 5K supporting Allianse of Chicanos, Hispanics and Latin Americans (ACHLA). ACHLA is a non-profit organization that works to connect, empower and integrate Latinos in the Rochester area since 2004.
New this year: rolling start times. We're looking for all of our runners and walkers to finish about the same time: at 6:45 PM. Our non-profits will share information with our participants at the END of the night, rather than the beginning. We're hoping this encourages a more inclusive finish line experience.
Walking? Arrive at 5:30PM to start by 5:45PM
Slower Runner? Arrive at 5:40PM to start by 5:50PM
"Average" Pace Runner? Arrive by 5:50PM to start at 6:00PM
Fast Runner? Arrive at 6:00PM to start by 6:15PM
We will have volunteer pacers available at registration so you don't need to worry about starting alone.
Course is marked. Well behaved, leashed and vaccinated pets may join us. All ages and forms of forward motion welcome!
At 6:45PM we'll learn more about our non-profit for the evening, enjoy some snacks, and announce prize winners! Hope to see you there!
FB event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HATM4QupR/
Questions: tiffany@runterraloco.com
Indivisible 507 Monthly Member Meeting
Date/Time: Monday Nov 17th 7PM
Location: Peace United Church 1503 2nd Ave NE, Rochester, MN 55906
Details: Indivisible’s monthly member meeting. This month’s special speaker will be Phil Wheeler from SMIILD (Southeastern Minnesota Interfaith Immigrant Legal Defense) SMIILD provides legal services for people impacted by the immigration court system. With the Rochester Area Foundation (RAF) as their financial sponsor, they work to ensure every person receives the due process guaranteed by our Constitution. They partner with other local groups such as COPAL and ACHLA to support our immigrant neighbors and ensure everyone has the legal representation they need.
Indivisible 507 is offering a matching grant up to $500 for donations to SMIILD in the month of November!
You can donate online at https://rochesteraf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4069.
In the Tribute Information, please type “Indivisible 507” so Indivisible can track their total donation.
TUESDAY — Nov 18th
Date/Time: Tuesday Nov 18th, 4:00-5:00PM
Location: Barlow Plaza (1131 6th St NW, Rochester)
Sponsor: Indivisible 507
Details: Bring your favorite sign and fight for democracy with us! Please say on the public sidewalk, watch your step, and be peaceful and safe!
More information: https://indivisible507.org
Indivisible Weekly Protest
Digital Safety Training
Date/Time: Tuesday Nov 18th, 3:00PM - 4:00PM Central
Location: Virtual (Zoom registration here)
Sponsor: Right To Be
Details: This Digital Safety training will bring you important tips to help you stay safe online. Bad actors and people who harass others online often use tactics to start or increase intimidation and abuse. In this training, we will reflect on what digital safety is, why it’s important, and how it can protect you from online harassment. The training will explore some important prevention resources, such as how to practice password hygiene, lock your accounts, de-dox yourself, and update your devices. Participants will also learn how to protect themselves from digital threats, including Phishing, Social Engineering, and Malware. Throughout the session, you will be provided with specific actions and practical tools to put everything learned into practice. There will also be room for interactive exercises that will help you feel more equipped to respond to threats. You will leave the training understanding the fundamentals of digital safety and how to mitigate risks and prevent harm.
WEDNESDAY — Nov 19th
COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE
Date/Time: Wednesdays and Fridays 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM through the end of Nov.
Location: Griot Arts (115 N Broadway Ave., Rochester)
Sponsor: Journie/Griot Arts
Details: Please help local families in crisis caused by the SNAP food benefit shutdown by donating shelf-stable food or essential household items. Drop off at Griot Arts on Wednesdays and Fridays (11am-5pm). *If you are in need of donations for your family, please bring proof of SNAP benefits (or SNAP card) to collect items on Saturdays 11am-2pm. There is also an option to get food delivered to you. At the end of the month, any surplus will be donated to local foodshelves.
Together, we can show what real leadership and community look like.
See https://www.facebook.com/journieproject for more details.
For more information or to help organize a drive, contact: nashauna@journieproject.org
Rural Rally for Democracy
Date/Time: Wednesday Nov 19th, 5:00-6:00PM
Location: Chatfield City Park (305 Main St S, Chatfield )
Sponsor: Fillmore DFL
Details: Join us for a Rural Rally for Democracy and show your support for DFL values! This is a great opportunity to come together with fellow community members and show our community that we believe in democracy. Bring your energy, your signs, and your friends as we show up against the radical Republican agenda!
Event will be held rain or shine.
Please bring a non-perishable donation for the Chatfield Food Bank.
More information:
fcdfloutreach@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/1213253387492759/1213253390826092/
Bystander Intervention to Support the Immigrant Community
Date/Time: Wednesday Nov 19th, 4:00PM - 5:00PM Central
Location: Virtual (Zoom registration here)
Sponsor: Right To Be
Details: Hate, harassment, and violence against immigrants is on the rise—but everyday people have the power to create safer, more inclusive communities. Right To Be’s Bystander Intervention to Support Immigrant Communities Training equips participants with the tools to safely and effectively intervene when they witness anti-immigrant hate, harassment, or discrimination. Using Right To Be’s 5Ds of Bystander Intervention methodology—Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct—this interactive training empowers participants to take action while prioritizing safety. Whether it’s witnessing xenophobic comments, workplace discrimination, ICE encounters, or public harassment, this training provides practical, real-world strategies to support immigrants facing harm. Through real-life scenarios, interactive exercises, and group discussions, participants will: - Recognize the spectrum of anti-immigrant hate and harassment and its impact on communities. - Learn and practice the 5Ds of bystander intervention in different situations. - Understand how to legally and safely respond to ICE encounters without putting themselves or others at risk. - Gain confidence to stand up against discrimination in their workplaces, schools, and public spaces. - Leave with tools, resources, and next steps to continue supporting immigrant rights. This training is encouraged for allies, but everyone is welcome. If you are undocumented or at risk of being targeted by ICE, we recommend also attending a Know Your Rights training and engaging in safety planning. Together, we can create a culture of safety, solidarity, and dignity for immigrant communities. Join us to become an active bystander and help build a more just world.
THURSDAY — Nov 20th
Give to the Max Day!
Date/Time: Thursday Nov 20th (all day)
Participating orgs: Search HERE for your favorite local nonprofit
Details: Give to the Max Day is Minnesota’s annual giving holiday where people from all around the world answer the call to support and celebrate the nonprofits and schools that make our state a better place to work, live and play.
Celebrating giving that gathers in 2025, Give to the Max Day (GTMD) has helped raise over $400 million since 2009, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of thousands of donors who give generously as part of this campaign.
Whether it’s your first time or your 100th time making a GTMD donation, we appreciate you for investing in the causes that strengthen our communities, open doors to opportunities, and help our state thrive. By choosing to participate in Give to the Max Day, you are exercising your greatest superpower: generosity.
More information: https://www.givemn.org/
Thistle Thursday: Funds for NAMI
Date/Time: Thursday Nov 20th (all day)
Location: Little Thistle Brewing Co. (2031 14th Street NW, Rochester)
Details: Join us for a very special Thistle Thursday! This month we are helping raise funds for NAMI. This organization helps to provide mental health support and resources for our community. You can help support this organization by simply stopping by the taproom and enjoying your favorite beverage. We will be donating 10% of this day's sales directly to them.
Plus, it's Give to the Max Day! Give to the Max started in 2009 as a one-time campaign to mark the launch of GiveMN.org, Minnesota's digital home for generosity. The results of that day—$14 million raised in just 24 hours—blew everyone's expectations out of the water, and a new Minnesota tradition was born. In fact, Give to the Max was one of the nation's first online giving days and now serves as a national model for giving days across the country. In the years since, nearly one million donors have given more than $355 million to 14,000 nonprofits and schools as part of Minnesota's giving holiday.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1237668624865250/
#IceOUT Campaign National Organizing Call
Date/Time: Thursday Nov 20th 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Details: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become a pillar of fear, surveillance, and authoritarian control. Communities across the U.S. are pushing back through lawful, nonviolent protest to expose ICE’s abuses and resist its presence in our neighborhoods.
Every week, the ResistTrump Campaign (www.resisttrump.us) will convene organizers and activists on this national call to plan actions, share resources, and strengthen the movement to drive ICE out of our cities.
On this call, you’ll be able to connect with others who are:
Leading or joining local ICE protest campaigns
Learning effective, nonviolent tactics for resisting ICE facilities and operations
Building solidarity with immigrant communities
Coordinating creative actions that highlight ICE as a pillar of the Trump regime
This is your place to learn, collaborate, and take bold, lawful action. Together, we can resist ICE and weaken the authoritarian system it supports.
FRIDAY — Nov 21st
Bystander Intervention to Stop Hate-Based Harassment
Date/Time: Friday Nov 21st, 1:00PM - 2:30PM Central
Location: Virtual (Zoom registration here)
Sponsor: Right To Be
Details: This interactive training will teach you Right To Be’s 5Ds of bystander intervention methodology. We’ll start by talking about the types of disrespect folks face right now — from microaggressions to violence — using a tool we call the “spectrum of disrespect.” You’ll learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities. We’ll talk through five strategies for intervention: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct; and how to prioritize your own safety while intervening. We’ll have time at the end for practice, and you’ll leave feeling more confident intervening the next time you see hate-based harassment online or in person.
SATURDAY — Nov 22nd
National Protest: Remove the Regime
Date/Time: Saturday Nov 22nd (with earlier events on Nov 20th and 21st, see below)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Sponsor: Removal Coalition (removalcoalition.org)
Details: We the People mean business. Our presence is our power, and this time we’re showing up with firm demands and intend to change history. Remove the Regime is the moment we’ve been waiting for.
This is not a 50-state protest. On November 22, 2025, we will peacefully descend on the seat of power in Washington, DC to demand that this lawless administration come to an END.
We will no longer tolerate inaction or delay from elected officials as Donald Trump commits actual treason. We are calling out their complicity in the sabotage of American democracy unless and until they honor their oath. We are demanding impeachment and removal, and we are demanding it NOW.
Be sure to join us for two additional days of events on November 20 and November 21 including Congressional visits and a Veterans Rally. We will lobby Congress directly beginning on Thursday, November 20, joined by movement leaders, veterans, artists, pastors, farmers and more. The Dropkick Murphys will headline our main event on Saturday!
Visit removetheregime.com for event details on all three days.
We will have fun, but this is not for fun. We intend to change the trajectory in this country and the conversation around the world. We can only do this if we show up in numbers that are too big to ignore. Take your place in history. Join us at Remove the Regime!
Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/flareusa/event/869504/
Republicans are Closing Clinics - Rally to Fight Back
Date/Time: Saturday Nov 22nd, 11:00 AM -12:00 PM
Location: Caledonia Clinic (701 N Sprague St, Caledonia)
Sponsor: SD26 DFL
Details: In December, the Caledonia Clinic will close its doors. For hundreds of families, this clinic has been a lifeline: a place for checkups, prescriptions and care close to home. When clinics like this disappear, our neighbors must drive hours for basic care.
Join us on November 22 to stand up for our community and demand that we all have healthcare close to home.
Republicans like Brad Finstad keep voting to make healthcare harder to reach. His votes have driven up premiums, cut funding to local providers and pushed rural clinics to the brink.
This does not reflect our values and it’s time to make your voice heard!
Bring your friends, family and your own handmade signs (we will also have signs on hand). We’ll have a short program with speakers and a positive, family-friendly rally focused on action and hope.
Rally goers should line up on the sidewalk on the Hwy 76 side of the clinic. Please park on the side streets and let us know if you need a ride to the area. The parking lot is not public property so we ask that you do not park there or stand there during the event.
Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/868516/
SUNDAY — Nov 23rd
Peace Thanksgiving Meal
Date/Time: Sunday Nov 23rd, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: 1503 2nd Ave NE
Rochester, Minnesota 55906
Sponsor: Peace United Church
Details: For years, Peace has proudly served hundreds of meals to the community at its annual Thanksgiving Lunch. Join the fun this year, and come hungry! Volunteers needed for food preparation, room setup, and cleanup.
RSVP required.
To-go boxes not available.. Leftovers will be served at the Tuesday evening meal Nov. 25
RSVP: https://peaceunited.onechurchsoftware.com/public/events/1432
Upcoming events…
Support our local businesses!
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Support our local businesses! ☆
Community Spotlight: Griot Arts.
Located in the heart of Rochester, Griot Arts is a creative home in Rochester — a place where books, art, and community meet. Rooted in Black joy and imagination, their space centers stories from across the diaspora and invites all of us into connection, healing, and growth.
Inspired by the African griot tradition, they carry forward the work of storytellers, poets, musicians, and culture bearers who link past, present, and future. Griot Arts creates spaces where belonging can flourish and where art opens doors to transformation.
The owner of Griot Arts, Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara, is a tireless community servant and social justice advocate. She has partnered with MN50501-Rochester in many ways, including offering a reading list and curating our ‘Book of the Month’ (see below). Griot Arts was recently recognized by the NAACP Rochester Branch with the ‘Black Owned Business Community Service Award’, given to a local business leader who works to improve the quality of life for members of the community. So well deserved, Nicole - thank you for all that you do.
Follow and support their work:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griotartsmn/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/griotartsmn
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/griotartsmn
Address: 115 N Broadway Ave, Rochester, MN 55906
Email: griotartsmn@gmail.com
Website: https://www.griotartsmn.com
Book of the Month
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Book of the Month ☆
November's Book of the Month is here!
Read This When Things Fall Apart: Letters to Activists in Crisis edited by Kelly Hayes
This newly published book is filled with timely advice for people working toward justice and collective wellbeing.
"A bundle of letters to activists and organizers on the frontlines in catastrophic times from Let This Radicalize You co-author Kelly Hayes.
In social movements, some heartbreaks are all but inevitable. Campaigns will be lost. Mental health crises will occur. Social ills, like gender-based violence, will manifest themselves in movement spaces. People will experience profound personal losses. Grief, alienation, and despair can grind us under. Sometimes, we need accompaniment. Sometimes, we need to be met where we’re at by a caring voice of experience. Read This When Things Fall Apart is a care package for activists and organizers building power under fascistic, demoralizing conditions. It’s an outstretched hand, offering history lessons, personal anecdotes, and practical advice about how to navigate the woes of justice work. A survival guide for the heart, this is a book for activists to keep close, and to share with co-strugglers in need.
Personal, reflective, and hopeful, Read This When Things Fall Apart harnesses the writers' individual moments of despair into living, breathing wisdom that chips away at the supposed inevitability of fascist life. Restorative like a letter from a trusted friend and invigorating like a story from a mentor, the book is an indispensable companion for all of us navigating challenging times. Featuring letters from Mariame Kaba, Ashon Crawley, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Eman Abdelhadi, Brian Merchant, and more."
To buy this book through Griot Arts, a delightful small business right here in Rochester's downtown, with the convenience of the internet, visit Griot’s bookshop storefront (https://bookshop.org/a/103182/9781849355841)
Each month our friend, Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara, at Griot Arts will bring us a recommended read and invite the community to read along. We hope that these books will inspire and empower you with knowledge and tools to build a more equitable and just community. Read, learn, then pass along to a friend!