Minnesota prepares for an ‘economic blackout’ and a march against ICE on January 23

The streets of Minnesota will witness a day of mass protest this Friday. During this “Day of Truth and Freedom‚” as it’s been dubbed, unions, community organizations, and religious groups have called on the population not to work, go to school, or shop throughout the day. The day of action is part of the ongoing response to the massive deployment of federal immigration agents in the state and the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in early January.

Day of Truth and Freedom

The call is for a symbolic work stoppage and a central mobilization in Minneapolis. At 2.00 p.m. a march and public rally will take place in the city center, which organizers describe as a nonviolent action aimed at demonstrating the economic and social weight of the protest rather than direct confrontation with the authorities.

The protest comes amid heightened tensions following an increase in the federal presence in Minnesota. The Trump administration has sent nearly 3,000 agents to the state as part of what it describes as its largest immigration enforcement operation to date. According to figures cited by the organizers, in recent weeks, thousands of people have been detained in raids that have affected not only migrants without legal status, but also legal residents and U.S. citizens.

The case of Renee Good has become the main symbol of this escalation. The 37-year-old mother of three died after being shot several times by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The federal government claims that Good used her vehicle as a weapon to try to kill the agent, but local authorities, witnesses, and video recordings dispute that account, fueling public outrage and protests that have multiplied in different cities across the state and the country.

Who is participating?

Behind this “Day of Truth and Freedom" is a coalition of several organizations. Unions such as SEIU Local 26, Communications Workers of America, Unite Here, and teachers’ federations in Minneapolis and St. Paul are participating, along with religious organizations and civil rights community groups. Their leaders describe the initiative as a response to what they see as a growing climate of fear in workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, where the presence of federal agents has disrupted daily life.

Union leaders emphasize that, although not all workers can legally take time off from their jobs, participation will take different forms depending on the limitations of each sector. They also stress that the protest aims to exert collective pressure and highlight the role of the workforce in the state’s economy. Some unions have reported that at least 20 of their members have already been detained in recent immigration raids.

Economic blackout and demands

The economic component is central to the strategy. At least seven food cooperatives in the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Stillwater metropolitan area announced that they will close their doors on Friday, although they will continue to pay their employees. Other small businesses have expressed their support and will close in solidarity or become community spaces during the day. Organizers are also calling for a complete boycott of consumer spending in what they describe as an “economic blackout” intended to demonstrate the collective power of the population.

The organizers are demanding the immediate withdrawal of ICE from Minnesota, accountability for Jonathan Ross, the agent who killed Renee Good, the opening of investigations into possible constitutional and human rights violations, and that Congress withdraw or reduce funding for the agency in the next federal budget. They are also calling on state-owned companies to sever ties with ICE and refuse to cooperate with its operations.

Government response

The Department of Homeland Security has accused the organizers of attempting to paralyze the economy to protect criminals and has reiterated that the agent acted in self-defense. The White House has not issued any official comments on Friday’s planned events.

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