Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Minneapolis despite frigid temperatures to protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration policies on Friday. The demonstration, which organizers dubbed a general strike, drew an estimated 50,000 participants, although the exact number could not be confirmed as the Minneapolis police did not provide a crowd estimate. Many demonstrators later gathered at the Target Center, a sports arena with a capacity of 20,000, which was more than half full.
The protest saw the closure of numerous businesses across Minnesota as workers joined street demonstrations against the recent surge in ICE activities. The tensions escalated following confrontations between ICE agents and protesters. The previous day, Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis to express support for ICE officers and urge local leaders and activists to ease tensions, emphasizing the importance of ICE’s mission in detaining immigration violators.
In a notable protest, local police arrested several clergy members who knelt on a road at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, singing hymns and praying to demand the withdrawal of federal law enforcement officers deployed to the area. The organizers’ demands included accountability for the ICE agent involved in the shooting death of U.S. citizen Renee Good.
The protesters, including clergy members, were arrested after disobeying police commands to clear the road. Faith in Minnesota, a nonprofit organization involved in organizing the protest, highlighted the detention of airport and airline workers by ICE at work and called on airline companies to support the demand for ICE to end its surge in Minnesota. The protest aimed to be the largest display of opposition to the federal government’s actions in the state.
Various speakers, including Indigenous, religious, labor, and community leaders, called for the withdrawal of ICE and a thorough investigation into Good’s shooting. The protest also criticized Trump’s administration for aggressive law enforcement deployment in Democratic-led areas, which has heightened political tensions in the country.
Community organizer Miguel Hernandez, who closed his bakery for the day to participate in the protest, emphasized the importance of solidarity with the community and urged politicians to take meaningful action. The protest also highlighted the silence of Fortune 500 companies based in Minnesota regarding the immigration raids, with organizations like Target facing criticism for not addressing the issue publicly.
The protest showcased a diverse range of voices calling for accountability and change in response to the escalating ICE activities in the state.
