“Friday is ‘ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom,’ a general strike supported by Minnesota’s unions, progressive faith leaders, Democratic lawmakers and community activists,” the Minnesota Reformer reports. “The ‘ICE Out’ day proponents are encouraging all Minnesotans to stay home from work, school and refrain from shopping — suspensions of normal orders of business to protest the presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota.”
Frigid air is expected to blanket Minnesota on Friday, and it’s forecast to get cold enough to cancel some Amtrak trips on its Empire Builder and Borealis lines, the Pioneer Press reports. By Thursday evening, wind chills could dip to -45.
Neighborhood watch groups have popped up around the state. ICE Watch patrols are growing in cities under federal occupation. “As Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel drive around these cities, they’re often tailed by people in the neighborhoods,” reports Mother Jones. “The idea is to make sure witnesses are present for any immigration arrest, to catch incidents on video, and to protest—or at least get the detainee’s name. These ICE watchers are passionate, determined, and just about everywhere—and ICE is getting frustrated. Trump administration officials have called the protesters domestic terrorists. But they say they’re just ordinary folks trying to help their neighbors.”
The Guardian reports that an appeals court “has temporarily lifted restrictions from a federal judge in Minnesota that blocked ICE agents from pepper-spraying and arresting peaceful protesters.”
Restaurants across Minnesota are struggling: The surge of federal agents has caused fear and chaos in the industry. “Many chefs and restaurant owners are reluctant to speak publicly, wanting to stay under the radar for fear of retaliation,” the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. “Business has dropped sharply for those that are open, with waves of reservation cancellations compounding the strain.” But there are ways the public can support these restaurants.
Some of those restaurants include 10 local James Beard Award finalists. MPR News has a list of some of Minnesota’s standout establishments.
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