The Nation nominated the people of Minneapolis for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
The Nation is the oldest weekly magazine in the United States, focused on politics, culture, and social justice since 1865.
TO: THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE
As longtime observers of struggles to establish peace and justice in the United States and around the world, and as the editors of a magazine that is proud to have included several Nobel laureates on our editorial board and masthead—including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—we are honored to nominate the city of Minneapolis and its people for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
Peace isn’t only made by leaders. Sometimes, it’s made by neighbors. The 2026 Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded in early October.
Now It’s Your Turn — One Small Act That Reaches the World.
Take a few minutes to encourage the Nobel Committee to recognize the people of Minneapolis—and the power of neighbors choosing courage over fear. To have the biggest impact, mail a letter to the committee. It’s only $1.70, only 3 first class stamps.
> Mail a letter.
Mailing a letter will have a bigger impact than an email.
Mail to the Nobel Committee urging them to award the Peace Prize to Minneapolis. It only costs $1.70 (3 1st class stamps) and you can drop in the nearest mailbox.
Address:
Henrik Ibsens gate 51
0255 Oslo
Norway
Here are some ideas:
1. Advancing Fraternity Through Peaceful Action
The people of Minneapolis demonstrated the very principle at the heart of Alfred Nobel’s will: fraternity between people. Through overwhelmingly peaceful protest and neighbor-to-neighbor support, they chose solidarity over division—protecting one another and reinforcing the bonds that make peaceful societies possible.
2. Strengthening Democracy and Human Rights
Their actions align with one of the Nobel Peace Prize’s central modern criteria: the advancement of democracy and human rights. By engaging in peaceful civic action and standing for dignity and accountability, the people of Minneapolis contributed to the ongoing work of building a more just and democratic society.
3. A Contemporary Model of Nonviolent Peacebuilding
In the 21st century, the Nobel Committee has recognized that peace is built not only through treaties, but through nonviolent action that reduces harm and prevents escalation. Minneapolis offers a living example—where peaceful protest and civic courage helped channel crisis toward accountability rather than chaos.
4. A Signal Toward a More Peaceful World
Honoring the people of Minneapolis would reflect the Prize’s enduring purpose: supporting efforts that help create a more organized, just, and peaceful world. At a time of rising division, this recognition would affirm that peaceful collective action remains one of the most powerful forces for change.
If you can’t write a letter send an email.
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Feel free to use the language above to craft your own email. Emails should be sent to postmaster@nobelpeaceprize.org
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Please sign your name and state at the bottom of the email.
WHAT IS NEIGHBORISM?
When federal forces arrived in Minnesota, ordinary people did something extraordinary.
They delivered food to families too afraid to leave their homes.
They escorted children to school.
They documented abuses so the truth would not disappear.
And they kept showing up—day after day, even when it carried risk.
They turned “neighbor” into an action.
In The Atlantic, writer Adam Serwer gave this phenomenon a name:
“If the Minnesota resistance has an overarching ideology, you could call it ‘neighborism’ — a commitment to protecting the people around you, no matter who they are or where they came from.”
Neighborism is not an abstract idea.
It is what happens when people decide that the safety of others is their responsibility, too.
It is democracy, lived at the human level.
In January 2026, 50,000 people marched through Minneapolis in ten-below-zero weather.
They were not marching for a candidate.
They were not marching for a party.
They were marching for their neighbors.
What began as a response to federal action became something deeper—a sustained act of presence, protection, and solidarity.
In the cold, in the streets, and in the quiet spaces in between, people chose each other.
Why the Nobel Peace Prize
Alfred Nobel’s will calls for honoring those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind in the cause of peace.
What emerged in Minneapolis was not driven by ideology or violence.
It was rooted in nonviolent, collective protection of community.
The marches mattered.
But so did the quieter acts—delivering food, protecting children, bearing witness.
This is what peace looks like when it is lived, not declared.
Join the MNominate campaign
Add your name and help build a network of neighbors across the country.
50,000+
marched
700
businesses closed
100
clergy arrested
74
days of action
430,000
residents represented
“Neighborism is not a protest. It is a promise.”
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