Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations

MMIWR Rally Also Highlights Community Opposition to Public Works Development As Minneapolis Mayor Is Confronted and Abrubptly Leaves

MN Native News

People around the state marched and rallied Tuesday for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR). Minnesota Native News reporter Emma Needham was in Minneapolis, where several hundred people gathered at the East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center. 

While several Native state lawmakers were celebrated for their efforts to fund Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, not all officials were warmly received.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was booed away from the rally by protestors, opposing the city’s demolition plan of the Roof Depot site and expanding public works facilities there.

“…Our Little Earth people matter. Our kids our going to die Mayor Fray (sic) and this is going to be on your hands…” said Little Earth resident and grandma Nicole Perez in the video confronting Mayor Frey.

That’s from video posted to Twitter by an account claiming to represent the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute, which is proposing an urban farm for that site.

The mayor’s plan would expand the city’s public works facilities in the East Phillips neighborhood. It would also increase pollution and exposure to toxic substances, like arsenic, to people in the area, including those living in the nearby Little Earth Native-preference housing development. 

Subscribe to Minnesota Native News in your favorite podcast app

Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle PodcastsRadio Public


  • MN House Proposes Budget Boost For Some Tribal Colleges
    Minnesota state Representative Heather Keeler from Moorhead, authored a bill that would direct $3-million each fiscal year for 2024 & 2025. The state Office of Higher Education would then distribute grants to pay for general operations and maintenance.
  • Family, Community Rally to Protect Little Earth and East Phillips
    At the heart of it is a neighborhood’s fight to protect their children’s health. Nicole Perez and Joe Vital As Perez and Vital volunteer their time to grow support for the EPNI indoor urban farm project, they’re also fostering a united community group that feels like family.