International Human Rights Day prompts rally in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - A variety of groups, including the Anti-War Committee and the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) rallied in Minneapolis Sunday to protest several recent Trump Administration policies.

The protest was held on International Human Rights Day, with organizers claiming new polices on travel and immigration amount to a violation of human rights for several communities.

“We raise awareness for issues such as the Muslim ban--which is a human rights violation in itself,” said Christine Hauschildt of the Anti-War Committee. “Also, we try to bring it back to the unjustified endless wars overseas, displacing people and then not allowing them to emigrate to our country is a human rights violation.”

The group marched through several streets in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood, ending up at the park itself, where representatives of several organizations spoke.

“Change is best made when many different groups can come together to speak as one,” said Mari Mansfield with MIRAC. “All of us have different backgrounds, but we can all understand the pain and struggles that we've been through. It's much easier for our voices to be heard when we can all stand together.”

Organizers plan to continue protests into 2018 – a midterm election year. A protest and march is planning for January 20th, the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s Inauguration.