At a time when our cities are under siege by a lawless and violent occupying army, we need our state's corporate leaders to show moral courage and stand with us.

Thousands of our immigrant and refugee neighbors have been abducted from our streets, and countless more are staying at home with their doors locked, fearful of being arrested and flown in shackles to a deportation center thousands of miles away. And it isn’t only the undocumented who live in fear - the same violence and lawlessness is being perpetrated against native-born citizens and thousands of immigrants who are here legally, including citizens and permanent residents.

The response of their fellow citizens has been overwhelming and inspiring. Many thousands of Twin Citizens have organized themselves into mutual aid networks, contributing money, buying groceries, and delivering tens of thousands of food boxes to their besieged neighbors. 

The response from you, our corporate leaders, beyond a tepid call for “de-escalation,” has been for the most part a deafening silence.  

It would have been nice if that letter you signed had acknowledged in a more explicit way the pain and violence that is being inflicted on our community. But at this point a more courageous statement is not what we need. What we need now is concrete material support for our cities, and especially the people in our immigrant communities who are in desperate situations, running out of food and unable to pay their rent. 

You could provide this support by each donating one percent of your company’s 2025 net profits for emergency relief. In 2024, the 50 largest publicly traded companies in Minnesota generated a combined total of an estimated $41.6 billion in net profits. A one percent donation would add up to more than $400 million. Personal donations from each of you would be especially meaningful, and would add millions more. That money can be designated for emergency food aid, or rent support, help for struggling businesses, or legal assistance for the many immigrants who have been unlawfully abducted and imprisoned in inhumane conditions.

The funds could be administered by one or more of the local foundations that have built outstanding reputations for integrity and accountability - the Minneapolis Foundation, the St.Paul & Minnesota Foundation and the McKnight Foundation all come to mind. 

We aren't asking you to "take sides." We are simply asking you to meet the humanitarian needs of a community in crisis. Your community. It's the least we can ask from our leaders.  $400 million would have an enormous impact. And you could regain the respect of the community.  It's your chance to become local heroes. 

Photo by Laurie Shaull / Flicker.  Used under Creative Commons license.