With Twin Cities Under Siege by ICE, Minnesota Moves Toward a General Strike

"There is a general strike on the horizon in Minneapolis. More than 50 Minnesota labor unions, nonprofits, and other community organizations have signed onto a January 23 Day of Action, which calls for a complete "economic blackout" in the state. "No work. No school. No shopping," its posters declare. Some of Minnesota's largest labor unions are leading the way, including the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, SEIU 26, and UNITE HERE Local 17."

"Simon Elliott, an organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), one of the organizations that has signed on to the call, said, "This is the clearest and most powerful way that we can send a message, both to the Trump administration and to immigrant members of our community." A list of businesses that have pledged to close down for the day is circulating online, with more joining by the hour."

"There are currently roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents reportedly in Minnesota. Renee Nicole Good's killing by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer Jonathan Ross on January 7 set off a wave of protests, not only in the state but across the country, as Americans grow increasingly frustrated by ICE operations in their cities. Just a week after Good's killing, ICE officers shot a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis, who they claimed attempted to assault an officer with a shovel."

More than 50 Minnesota labor unions, nonprofits, and community organizations have called a January 23 Day of Action for a complete "economic blackout," with posters demanding "No work. No school. No shopping." Major unions including the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, SEIU 26, and UNITE HERE Local 17 are leading the effort. Organizers and participating businesses are circulating lists of closures. The action is being characterized as a general strike, the first in Minnesota since 1934. Minnesota reportedly hosts roughly 3,000 federal immigration agents, and recent killings and shootings involving ICE have sparked widespread protests.

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