Thousands of protesters gathered in Minneapolis on a day with temperatures as low as -29 degrees Celsius to take a stand against the Trump administration's anti-immigration policies. The demonstration, which organizers billed as the largest yet, aimed to show defiance against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who have been patrolling the city for weeks.
As many as 50,000 people showed up to join in the march, braving the bitter cold along with a general strike that saw dozens of businesses across Minnesota close for the day. Workers took part in street protests and marches, while others gathered indoors at the Target Center sports arena.
Organizers said their demands included calling for ICE to leave the city and an investigation into the shooting death of Renee Good, a US citizen who was killed by an ICE agent in her car. They also demanded accountability from Trump administration officials and called on airline companies to stand with Minnesotans against ICE's surge.
Local police were seen arresting dozens of clergy members who sang hymns and prayed as they knelt on the road outside Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, calling for Trump to withdraw federal law enforcement officers. The arrests came after weeks of sometimes violent confrontations between protesters and ICE agents.
Faith in Minnesota, a nonprofit advocacy group, described the demonstration as a "largest strike" against ICE's presence in the city. Indigenous leaders, including Rachel Dionne-Thunder, called on ICE to withdraw and for an investigation into Good's shooting.
The protest is part of a broader push back against Trump's immigration policies, which have been met with widespread criticism from communities across the US. The president has faced accusations of using federal law enforcement as a tool to intimidate immigrant communities, including the detention of schoolchildren, including a five-year-old boy.
In a move that further polarized the debate, US Vice President Mike Pence visited Minneapolis earlier in the week to show support for ICE officers and call on local leaders and activists to reduce tensions. However, his visit was met with protests and anger from community leaders and advocates who oppose ICE's presence in the city.
As many as 50,000 people showed up to join in the march, braving the bitter cold along with a general strike that saw dozens of businesses across Minnesota close for the day. Workers took part in street protests and marches, while others gathered indoors at the Target Center sports arena.
Organizers said their demands included calling for ICE to leave the city and an investigation into the shooting death of Renee Good, a US citizen who was killed by an ICE agent in her car. They also demanded accountability from Trump administration officials and called on airline companies to stand with Minnesotans against ICE's surge.
Local police were seen arresting dozens of clergy members who sang hymns and prayed as they knelt on the road outside Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, calling for Trump to withdraw federal law enforcement officers. The arrests came after weeks of sometimes violent confrontations between protesters and ICE agents.
Faith in Minnesota, a nonprofit advocacy group, described the demonstration as a "largest strike" against ICE's presence in the city. Indigenous leaders, including Rachel Dionne-Thunder, called on ICE to withdraw and for an investigation into Good's shooting.
The protest is part of a broader push back against Trump's immigration policies, which have been met with widespread criticism from communities across the US. The president has faced accusations of using federal law enforcement as a tool to intimidate immigrant communities, including the detention of schoolchildren, including a five-year-old boy.
In a move that further polarized the debate, US Vice President Mike Pence visited Minneapolis earlier in the week to show support for ICE officers and call on local leaders and activists to reduce tensions. However, his visit was met with protests and anger from community leaders and advocates who oppose ICE's presence in the city.
anyway i think its kinda awesome that so many people are standing together against trumps immigration policies, its not fair to immigrant communities and it feels like hes trying to intimidate them with all this law enforcement. ICE has no business being in minneapolis especially after what happend to Renee Good her family deserves justice too 
. It's crazy how low it had to go for them to make their voices heard, like -29 degrees Celsius and all 
. But I guess when you feel strongly about something, you gotta take a stand, right? 50k people is insane! 
What's even crazier is that there's been violent confrontations between protesters and ICE agents before... it just shows how heated this issue has gotten 
. I'm not sure what to think about the arrests of clergy members though... seemed kinda extreme 
.
. I'm curious if the arrests of clergy members will affect the momentum of the protests, and what's next for the movement?
it's not just about the cold, it's about standing up for their rights and demanding change 
i feel so much respect for these protesters, they're not just fighting for themselves but also for others who have been affected by trump's policies 
and yessss let's give props to indigenous leaders like rachel dionne-thunder for speaking out against ice 
. Like, 50k people braving -29°C temps to make a statement? That's dedication, I guess... but can't they just use their voices instead of taking it all the way to the streets and risking arrests? And what's up with clergy members being arrested for praying on the ground?! 
It's not like they're doing anything illegal. Target Center is basically abandoned, so good luck getting work done today anyway 
. And seriously, when are these politicians gonna listen to the people instead of just sending in the ICE agents? This is just a bunch of polarizing, divisive stuff... can't we all just get along? 
But seriously, how can you protest against something that's literally suffocating you 
? On a more positive note, it's amazing to see so many people standing up for what they believe in, even if it means facing harsh conditions and arrests. I mean, Rachel Dionne-Thunder is giving me all the Indigenous leader vibes 
️ with bold fonts and plenty of white space (to represent all the empty spaces where freedom should be). And can we talk about how some people are using their platforms for good? Like, Mike Pence's visit was just a masterclass in "how not to show support" 
. I remember when we used to be a country that welcomed people from all over the world with open arms. Now it feels like we're at each other's throats. I hope these protests can help bring some much-needed change and unity to our communities.
I mean, can you even believe it? Thousands of people braving -29 degree temps to stand up against Trump's anti-immigrant policies... 50k people!!! That's just insane! And the fact that local police are arresting clergy members for praying and singing is just heartbreaking 
. The fact that ICE agents are patrolling cities and detaining schoolkids is just unacceptable 
. We need to stand with these people and fight for what's right, not against them 
. We need to start valuing our community leaders and activists, not trying to silence them with arrests. And let's talk about this shooting death of Renee Good - it's time for answers! Accountability from Trump administration officials is long overdue 
.
. Like, shouldn't they be allowed to express their opinions without being harassed by the police? I don't think it's right that these workers took a general strike and closed businesses just to make a point, though 
it's also super sad that there are ppl like vice president mike pence who think its okay to visit a city with thousands of protesters while making things worse 
but seeing this level of unity and courage is amazing 
i was watching this protest on the news and saw those clergy members getting arrested just kneeling in prayer its like they were trying to serve their community but got caught in the crossfire 
, they were just trying to show love and peace. And yeah, Renee Good's family deserves justice 
. Can't believe Pence visited Minneapolis and sparked more protests 
... it's like, can't we all just get along?