Minneapolis, United States. Dozens of businesses across Minnesota shut down on Friday as workers protested federal immigration operations following the killing of an unarmed woman by an ICE officer. Organisers said the action proceeded despite dangerously cold weather.
Statewide shutdown and protest demands
Organisers described the action as a “Day of Truth & Freedom” strike, calling for a “no work, no school, no shopping” blackout across the state. Community leaders, faith leaders and labour unions demanded ICE leave Minnesota, legal accountability for the officer who killed Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this month, an end to additional federal funding for ICE, and an investigation of the agency for human rights and constitutional violations.
Government figures and deployments
The Department of Homeland Security has claimed 3,000 arrests over the past six weeks, and the Trump administration has dispatched 3,000 immigration officers. The US army has put 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible deployment.
City Council endorsement and march in extreme cold
The Minneapolis City Council endorsed the general strike, which culminated with a march in downtown Minneapolis at 2pm local time. Forecast temperatures were -10F with windchills reaching -20F.
Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, president of the Minnesota Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, told the Guardian that participants would need to pay attention to safety in the cold while also focusing on the stories behind the action.
Union support and worker concerns
The Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state’s federation of more than 1,000 affiliated local unions, endorsed the action along with dozens of local labour unions. Kieran Knutson, president of Communications Workers of America Local 7250 in Minneapolis, told the Guardian that the action reflected a need to find ways to stop what he described as attacks and violence, and said state government had not offered a path toward stopping them.
A Minneapolis childcare worker, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation toward the immigrant families they serve, said families supported shutting down for the day after being consulted, including families on childcare assistance and those paying out of pocket.
DHS response
The Department of Homeland Security dismissed the strike. A DHS spokesperson questioned why labour leaders would not want what the spokesperson described as public safety threats removed from communities, and cited 23 uncaptioned photos of claimed undocumented immigrants with criminal records arrested by ICE.
How did the “Day of Truth & Freedom” strike affect your community or workplace?