In brief
On a fiercely cold day in Minneapolis, more than 100 groups, including labor unions and faith leaders, have called for a boycott against work, school, and businesses to protest the presence of ICE officers in their community. This mobilization follows a tragic incident linked to immigration enforcement that has heightened tensions in the area. Organizations are showing their solidarity by participating in marches and holding prayer services, advocating for the cessation of ICE activities in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A wide network of labor unions, community organizations, and clergy are rallying Minnesotans to refrain from work, school, and shopping on Friday as a protest against immigration enforcement activities in the state.
We really, really want ICE to leave Minnesota, and they’re not going to leave unless there's substantial pressure on them, stated Kate Havelin from Indivisible Twin Cities, one of over a hundred groups mobilizing for this event. They shouldn't be roaming freely in our communities.
This comes after a significant surge in ICE operations following the death of Renee Good, who was tragically shot by an immigration officer during a raid earlier this month. Daily protests have unfolded in the Twin Cities since, with residents tracking ICE movements and confronting federal agents.
Additionally, a civil rights attorney and two activists faced arrest during a protest at a Minnesota church that interrupted a service aimed at addressing immigration enforcement concerns. This illustrates the escalating tensions surrounding ICE’s presence in the area.
As part of the planned protest, participants are preparing for extraordinarily cold weather conditions, with temperatures plunging to dangerous lows. Despite these conditions, the mobilization is billed as the largest coordinated protest against ICE to date, signifying public outrage and collective resistance.
Minnesotans recognize that when there’s a severe weather warning, we all adjust our behaviors. Similarly, ICE's intrusion requires us to respond differently, mentioned Havelin, highlighting a community-wide call for solidarity in the face of this issue.
In a show of support, more than a hundred small businesses in the Twin Cities, predominantly cafes and restaurants, plan to close or donate parts of proceeds to the cause. Ethnic businesses particularly emphasize their struggles during ICE enforcement, leading business owners to stand in solidarity rather than risk unexpected enforcement actions.
Faith leaders from various traditions also plan to participate, signaling a diverse coalition united against ICE activities. Bishop Dwayne Royster of Faith in Action expressed, We want ICE out of Minnesota and out of all American cities where they exert extreme overreach.
As the day of the protest approaches, community leaders and activists articulate a unified front against the pervasive climate of fear caused by immigration enforcement, emphasizing a deep desire for justice and safety for all residents.
