BACP/BLUE June 2, 2025, Meeting Minutes

1. Report on the 1 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2025 st peace vigil held in front of the Little Falls' Coburn grocery store.
Seven people attended. Many honks, one irate woman who told us to 'get out of out town.'

2. Report on the Sunday May 18th, 2025, webinar: Nicaraguan Maternal and Child Health: A Cross-National Comparison
No one was able to view this but it is available online at www.nicasolidarity.com.

3. Report on the 11 a.m. Saturday, May 17th, 2025, highway cleanup project and Larry and Gayle's potluck.
Clean-up went well with six of us. Good conversation at the potluck afterward. 

4. Report on the Saturday, May 10th, 2025, peace vigil in Brainerd
Four members attended.

5. Report on the BACP/BLUE group and member donations to Palestine Action.
At the last meeting, a $100 donation to Palestine Action was approved. Individual members have added to that for a donation of $250. Richard will get donation information from their website. 

6. Report on the May CodePink/Veterans for Peace actions in opposition to Israel's atrocities in Gaza.
From Veterans For Peace website:

Please join Veterans For Peace Chapter 27 in a national VFP call to action to help call attention and attempt to stop the horrific starvation and genocide of our Palestinian family by fasting for 40 days. The vigil will take place from 9 am until 5 pm daily (not Saturday or Sundays) on the federal court house plaza at 300, S 4th St, Minneapolis.

7. Discuss the proposed resolution:
Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace and Brainerd Lakes United Environmentalists (BACP-BLUE) condemn the Brainerd city council's callous approach towards homelessness. BACP-BLUE opposes the harsh anti-public camping ordinance which treats homelessness as a crime instead of trying to offer genuine assistance to the homeless. BACP-BLUE strongly supports every effort to help the homeless and staunchly opposes policies to criminalize homelessness. BACP-BLUE opposes the Brainerd city council's recent decision to not allow the Bridge on 7th homeless shelter to operate year-round. The shelter has provided crucial support for the homeless since opening in December 2021. BACP-BLUE supports the movement to reverse the Brainerd city council's decision and allow the Bridge on 7th homeless shelter to operate year-round. BACP-BLUE also calls on the Brainerd city council to give the Bridge on 7th homeless shelter a three-year permit, allow the building of a proposed boarding house to provide shelter to homeless individuals, and repeal the harsh anti-public camping ordinance. 

Present members support the resolution. Doug will post on Facebook page and Richard will post on website.

8. Update on the 1 p.m. Saturday June 7, 2025, peace vigil at the Hwy 210/371 intersection (near Kohl’s) in Brainerd.
Will be held. Encourage attendance.

9. Update on the Brainerd 4 th of July parade at 6 p.m. on a Friday, July 4th, 2025.
Doug is waiting for application. We likely will not be notified of our place in line until a few days before. Larry is going to uncover the float and make sure it's in good shape and will assess transport.
We hope for a larger turnout than usual in response to 57,000 Palestinians having been killed by Israel in the current conflict. The threat to our environment by the Trump administration is also critical. 

10. Update on hosting the BACP/BLUE booth at the Crow Wing County Fair (July 29th through August 2nd).
Richard will send out signup sheet in mid-July.

11. Update on participating in the Brainerd "Pride Festival" on Saturday, September 13th.
Neither Gayle or Doug has heard from anyone about this. DSA meeting on Tuesday may provide more information.

12. Update on participating in a Brainerd area "Sun Day" event over the weekend of September 20-21.
We are still interested in participating in this but will table for now.

13. Treasure's Report
Current balance is $614.90 before donation to Palestine Action.

Announcements:

We are still planning on the Camp Ripley event on September 14th.
Invisible is planning another action. Info below.

10:00 AM - Sign-Making + Coffee @ UCC (415 Juniper St)
Fuel up and get fired up. We'll have materials ready. Just bring your voice.

11:00 AM - Rally in the Street @ Washington & 6th
We're taking a stand against authoritarianism and for the power of the people. Rooted. Ready. Holding the line.

12:00 PM - Root Beer Floats + Reflection @ UCC (415 Juniper St)
After we hold the line, we come back together. These moments of connection are where relationships grow and movements are made.