NEW YORK (AP) — Activists planned protests at over two dozen Target stores nationwide on Wednesday in an effort to demand the discount retailer publicly oppose the ongoing immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
The coalition, ICE Out Minnesota, which includes community groups, religious leaders, labor unions, and other critics of the federal operation, aims to continue sit-ins and demonstrations at Target locations for a full week. Target’s headquarters are in Minneapolis, where federal officers recently were involved in violent incidents against protestors, including the deaths of two residents.
Elan Axelbank, a member of the Minnesota chapter of Socialist Alternative, called out the store's lack of actions against federal agents, saying, “They claim to be part of the community, but they are not standing up to ICE.”
Protests are also scheduled in major cities including Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego. Target has not issued any statements regarding the protests.
The activists are asking Target to resist allowing federal agents into their stores without judicial warrants. Legal experts argue that agents from various federal agencies can enter public business areas without a warrant but acknowledge the expectations of privacy in certain store sections.
Target's CEO, Michael Fiddelke, has not directly addressed ongoing protests or the incidents involving federal agents but previously expressed sorrow over community violence in a message to company employees.
These protests come as Target faces criticism for previous positioning on immigration and diversity initiatives, further complicating its public image.
Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData, pointed out that these protests are detracting from Targets' main business focus, posing a challenge to their corporate reputation amid a struggling retail market.
Furthermore, a national Mennonite coalition organized its own demonstrations across Target stores, emphasizing humanitarian support for immigrant communities and calling for congressional action against ICE funding.
Activist Rev. Joanna Lawrence Shenk stated, “Singing is an expression of our love for immigrant neighbors who are at risk right now.”
