Stand With Minnesota Livestream with Tina & Laura Schlieske
5 min read
Strike! Ice Out! Minnesota we love you!
Friday, January 30th there is to be a National Shutdown in resistance to the wake of violence, kidnappings and murders of civilians by US federal forces. Americans will stand together for the first of perhaps many National Strikes. The good people of the Twin Cities have set an example to the nation (and world) through mass peaceful protest and economic resistance. Americans across the country are linking arms and uniting in solidarity to stop this reign of terror. There will be NO WORK. NO SCHOOL. NO SHOPPING. The nation refuses to cooperate with this authoritarian regime.
The people have witnessed the Department of Homeland Security’s henchmen’s brutality in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago and many other blue cities apparently in retaliation for their diverse and inclusive cultures. After the cruel and merciless murders of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Silverio Villegas González, and Keith Porter Jr. by federal agents, Americans continue to be gaslighted by Trump and other right wing politicians who label those who disagree with them as domestic terrorists. That’s about as Un-American as you can get, but we have borne witness. The public can watch the videos from many angles and see clear evidence that the actions of these masked agents of doom are criminal and unconstitutional. The people are tired of the lies the GOP tells to avoid accountability while people are being killed for exercising their First Amendment right to protest with a moral obligation to defend their communities from injustice.
Music as a joyful act of resistance
In response to what is happening on the ground in Minneapolis and across the country, music artists Tina and Laura Schlieske (The Graceland Exiles) sisters originally from Minnesota but now based in Southern California will perform a Livestream Friday, January 30th on Facebook and Instagram to raise money for Stand With Minnesota at 6:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM CST.
Tina Schlieske is Midwestern rock mainstay, commanding a dedicated and passionate following, especially in her hometown of Minneapolis. She’s best known for fronting the band Tina and the B-Sides. Schlieske grew up inspired by the diverse Minneapolis music scene, and you can hear and see the many influences in her writing and performances. She draws creative energy from a wide spectrum of rock, soul, Americana, and singer-songwriters with her own brand of electrifying live performances.
With the B-Sides, Tina released several albums on her own label, Movement Records. Then a chance meeting in an elevator with Sire Records president Seymour Stein led to a deal with the famed label and two more albums, 1996’s “Salvation” and 1998’s “It’s All Just the Same.” Their music has been featured in major motion pictures and Schlieske was even courted to portray Janis Joplin in a Paramount Studios biopic during that period.
Boundless versatility
After the B-Sides took a hiatus in 1999, she garnered rave reviews as the touring rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the late Stevie Ray Vaughn’s band, Double Trouble, and released several solo albums; “Slow Burn”, “Evil Gal Blues” and “One Of The Boys-Pinned Up”.
She has shared stages with Lenny Kravitz, The Wallflowers, the Indigo Girls, Etta James, and more recently, Jeff Bridges and Robert Ellis. She has also collaborated with such renowned musicians as Don Heffington (Dylan, Emmy Lou Harris), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty), Marc Ford (The Black Crows) and Rami Jaffe (The Wallflowers), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Me’Shell Ndegeocello and Elvis Presley’s longtime guitarist, James Burton.
Currently, Tina divides her time performing solo, fronting her feminist-punk band Genital Panic, crooning her Sinatra to Simone jazz standards, and the occasional B-Sides show. Tina also has her California-based Graceland Exiles with Sister Laura, and the Minneapolis all-star band, Lola and the Red Hots.
We will keep on fighting until the end! – Tina Schlieske
The Trump regime has lost its humanity but ‘we the people’ refuse to sacrifice ours.
Economic pressure works and seems to be the one way the people can regain humanity. Don’t stop with Friday’s general strike, support small local business owners, boycott businesses who support the bigotry by going to Jess Craven’s List HERE. Consumer boycotts of Target for it’s acquiescence to civil rights violations knocked them off the Fortune 500. Elon Musk has tanked Tesla’s value by $15 billion globally by embracing fascist ideology. It is, and should be unaffordable to base your brand and politics on hatred.
Support organizations doing the work on the ground
Immigrant Defense Network, Monarca/UNIDOS MN, COPAL MN, Acola, African Career Education & Resource Inc. (ACER), Alight, Ayada Leads, Centro Tyrone Guzman, Communidades Latinas Unidas En Servico (CLUES), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), Esperanza United: Help Minnesota Survivors of Gender Based Violence, Hired, GMCC (Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches) Rapid Response, Groundwork Institute, Hmong American Partnership, Indigenous Roots, Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, International Institute of Minnesota, Keystone Community Services, Latino Economic Development Center, Midwest Immigration Bond Center, Minnesota 50501, Minnesota 8, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC), Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, Multicultural Autism Action Network, National Alliance on Mental Illness Southeast Minnesota, Neighborhood House, Nuestra Lucha MN, Project Legacy, Safe Haven, St. Louis Park Emergency Program, SWOP, Tapestry, The Advocates for Human Rights, The Urban Village, Transforming Generations Rapid Response, We The Gente, WeCare Nonprofit Foundation, West Side Community Organization – Hummingbird Initiative, Whole Woman’s Health Alliance, World Savvy.
Organizations Providing Legal Support
- Immigrant Law Center of MN
- National Lawyers Guild
- ACLU of Minnesota
- Groundwork Legal
- Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
- Southeastern Minnesota Interfaith Immigrant Legal Defense
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
- The Advocates for Human Rights
- Immigrant Connection Mosaic
Funders Providing Direct Service Orgs with Emergency Funding
- Immigrant Rapid Response Fund
- Headwaters Foundation
- Black Collective Foundation’s MN Legal Education Advocacy & Defense Initiative
*Heartfelt thanks to Krista at Elephants & Flowers Media. Learn more about them HERE.
