Thousands of protesters marched through the chilly streets of Minneapolis, urging an end to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in a display of defiance labeled as a general strike. Despite temperatures plunging to -29 degrees Celsius, organizers claimed around 50,000 individuals participated, although this figure was unconfirmed as the police did not provide a crowd estimate. Following weeks of clashes between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and demonstrators, businesses across Minnesota shut down for the day as workers joined street protests and marches.
Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis a day earlier to express support for ICE officers and seek to ease tensions, emphasizing the agency’s role in detaining immigration violators. Notably, at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, police arrested numerous clergy members who peacefully protested by singing hymns and praying on a road, demanding the withdrawal of federal law enforcement officers deployed to the region.
Demands from organizers included holding the ICE agent accountable for the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renee Good during an ICE operation. Despite police orders to disperse, protesters, including clergy members, were arrested without resistance and taken into custody. Faith in Minnesota, a non-profit group involved in organizing the protest, highlighted the detention of airport and airline workers by ICE and called on airline companies to support an end to the surge in the state.
The protest aimed to be the largest demonstration against the government’s actions, with organizers stressing the federal occupation by ICE in Minnesota. Various leaders, including Indigenous, religious, labor, and community figures, spoke out against ICE’s presence and called for a thorough investigation into Good’s shooting. The aggressive deployment of federal law enforcement by Trump has exacerbated political divisions, particularly following incidents like the detention of a U.S. citizen and school children.
Businesses, including Fortune 500 companies in Minnesota, refrained from publicly commenting on the immigration raids, with calls for action directed towards corporations like Target. Despite facing criticism for its silence, Target did not provide a response to requests for comment, mirroring the lack of statements from other major companies based in the state.
In the face of the challenging weather conditions, community organizer Miguel Hernandez emphasized the importance of solidarity with the community and holding politicians accountable for addressing the issues at hand. The vocal protests in Minneapolis reflect a growing sentiment of discontent with the government’s immigration enforcement actions.