In brief
A coalition consisting of labor unions, activists, and religious leaders called on Minnesotans to stay home on Friday, February 10th, to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement in the state. This coordinated action follows heightened immigration enforcement activities and mounting community tensions, particularly after the shooting of a local resident by ICE agents earlier this year. The protests aim to exert pressure on local officials to cease collaboration with ICE, with anticipated participation in marches despite severe winter conditions.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A vast network of labor unions, progressive organizations, and clergy has urged Minnesotans to stay away from work, school, and stores today to protest against ICE's immigration enforcement in the state.
“We really, really want ICE to leave Minnesota, and they’re not going to leave unless there’s a ton of pressure on them,” said Kate Havelin of Indivisible Twin Cities, one of the more than 100 groups mobilizing for the protests. “They shouldn’t be roaming any streets in our country just the way they are now.”
This demonstration follows daily protests in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul since a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a local resident, Renee Good, on January 7. The community has responded vigorously, tracking ICE movements and confronting federal law enforcement officers.
On Thursday, a prominent civil rights attorney and two others involved in an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a local church service were arrested, highlighting the tensions between activists and authorities.
In organizing this mass mobilization, activists acknowledge the harsh weather conditions, urging participants to prepare for dangerously cold temperatures that could reach -30 degrees Celsius. “Minnesotans understand that when we’re in a snow emergency, we all have to respond differently,” Havelin noted, equating the presence of immigration enforcement to the need for community action during severe weather.
Over 100 local businesses, largely coffee shops and restaurants, are showing solidarity by closing their doors for the day or donating a portion of their profits to the cause. Many are opting for this route rather than facing potential interruptions caused by ICE detaining staff and customers.
The University of Minnesota and St. Paul Public Schools announced closures for the day due to the cold, while many faith leaders from diverse traditions foster a spiritual aspect to the gatherings, praying and fasting in solidarity for the migrants. Bishop Dwayne Royster of Faith in Action emphasized, “We want ICE out of Minnesota.”
As the protests unfold, community members and leaders across the country are uniting in solidarity demonstrations, marking a significant moment in the ongoing struggle against immigration enforcement policies.
