In a bold display of resistance, Minnesotans have launched a “Day of Truth & Freedom” protest to denounce the surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the state. Spearheaded by community leaders, faith groups, and labour unions, the protest aims to disrupt business as usual, with thousands expected to skip work, school, and shopping on Friday.
The call for action comes in the wake of the tragic killing of Renee Good, an unarmed woman shot by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier this month. Protesters are demanding that ICE leave Minnesota, that the officer responsible be held accountable, and that the agency be investigated for human rights and constitutional violations.
Hundreds of local businesses have announced closures in solidarity, while cultural institutions like the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Minnesota Children’s Museum will also shut their doors. The Minneapo lis City Council has endorsed the general strike, underscoring the widespread support for the demonstration.
Despite the dangerously cold weather forecast, with temperatures expected to plummet to -10°F with wind chills reaching -20°F, organisers are confident that Minnesotans will brave the elements to make their voices heard. Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, president of the Minnesota Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, told The Guardian, “We are a northern state, and we are built for the cold, and we are going to show up.”
The protest will culminate in a march through downtown Minneapolis, ending with a rally inside the Target Center arena. Kieran Knutson, president of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7250 in Minneapolis, explained the rationale behind the action: “The government in the state of Minnesota has not offered any path toward stopping these attacks, this violence.”
The Department of Homeland Security has claimed to have made 3,000 arrests in Minnesota over the past six weeks, prompting the deployment of 1,500 US Army soldiers on standby for potential deployment. However, the protesters remain undeterred, determined to stand up against what they see as an unjust and unconstitutional crackdown on immigrant communities.
As a childcare worker in Minneapolis, who requested anonymity, stated, “We had time to ask the families that we serve if they would be on board with shutting down and we got a hugely positive response.” This sentiment underscores the broad-based support for the protest, with families across the state rallying behind the cause.
With the stakes high and tensions rising, the “Day of Truth & Freedom” protest promises to be a pivotal moment in Minnesota’s ongoing resistance against the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies.
