The DFL boycott in the Minnesota House is causing capitol event organizers, like the hosts of Black Entrepreneurs Day, to look for a workaround.
As Minnesota House Democrats boycott the start of the legislative session over leadership disputes with Republicans, Black Entrepreneurs Day, an event where Black business owners meet with representatives from their districts, is finding alternative options for Black businesses to connect with their representatives.
Sheletta Brundidge, the event organizer, hoped the boycott would end before the event’s initial start date on Monday, Feb. 3.
“I’ve been working like for a week up at the Capitol, making calls, sending out emails, trying to make sure that when they come, if their representative is not available, I have somebody for them to talk to,” Brundidge said.
For Black entrepreneurs living in areas represented by State House Democrats, it is unknown if their representatives will show up in person, according to Brundidge’s website.
This event comes in the middle of a dispute between House Democrats and Republicans. According to Associated Press News, House Democrats and Republicans were discussing a power-sharing agreement until a judge ruled DFL representatives did not live in Roseville.
This gave the Republicans a slim majority in the House of 67-66. House Democrats have been boycotting the sessions after power-sharing agreements fell through.
Brundidge has worked with Momentum Advocacy lobbyist Brian McDaniel to help find replacements for the DFL representatives. McDaniel said the absence of the DFL representatives will make it harder for the event.
“A majority of Black and African American people living in districts that are represented by Democrats, it is a missed opportunity for the representatives to interact with their constituents and for the constituents who are taking time off of work or having to get childcare,” McDaniel said. “It’s going to make it a lot less productive for everybody involved.”
Brundidge called Minnesota state representatives and senators from both sides of the aisle, like Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia) and Sen. Judy Seeberger (DFL-Afton).
Democratic Congressional Rep. Betty McCollum will meet with Black entrepreneurs, according to Brundidge’s website.
Both Nash and Seeberger will meet with Black entrepreneurs who do not live within their district for the event. Nash said the Democrats’ absence from the capitol is a negative reflection of the party.
“They have made a decision to not come, and I think that says something to their constituents. It says that we’re holding out for an aggregation of power, and that’s all we want,” Nash said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re doing the right thing.”
Seeberger said she wanted to help because it is a good way for Black-owned businesses to learn about important resources and aid.
“Every year I meet with Black business owners who come to the Capitol, and it’s interesting to hear their stories, how they got their business off the ground, the ventures that they’re involved in and how I can help at the legislature to help them meet their needs,” Seeberger said.
Michael Roberts, a realty consultant at Roberts Properties and Black Entrepreneurs Day participant, said the ongoing boycott should not cost Black entrepreneurs a chance to connect with their representatives.
“I just want more Black entrepreneurs to get in the game and see everybody that is in the building,” Roberts said. “It seems like before, seeing a Black entrepreneur was like seeing a unicorn. And to see so many faces in the building and see how those faces are connected and intertwined because we’re all connected. It’s a very powerful thing.”
Roberts said he went to the event for the first time last year where he met with his representative to voice his concerns about the community and make new connections.
“I didn’t know what to expect because it was literally my first event,” Roberts said. “I then step into this building, and I’m like just lost. We had some prayer said over us, and the pastor spoke and blessed us. And at the end of the day, it was like speaker after speaker, the legislators and everybody that stood up on the podium, speaking about what they wanted to do for me and my business and my people, it was very empowering.”
This year, Roberts will be one of the hosts at the event. Even with the ongoing boycott, he said Black entrepreneurs should still attend to meet with their representatives and other Black business owners.
