University of Minnesota students are leading a national shutdown on Friday, January 30, calling on Americans to skip work, school, and shopping to protest ICE operations. On Saturday, the grassroots organization 50501 has coordinated “ICE Out of Everywhere” protests in all 50 states. Organizers predict it could be the largest protest in American history — Indivisible’s Ezra Levin told the AP he expects up to 9 million people to participate, reports The New York Times.
The actions follow the January 23 general strike in Minneapolis — the first in the U.S. in 80 years — where hundreds of businesses closed, and thousands marched. That was one day before federal agents killed Alex Pretti, adding to the fury over the earlier killing of Renee Good.
“They wanted to intimidate us and to spread fear in our hearts, but that isn’t going to work,” said Dahir Munye, president of the University of Minnesota’s Somali Student Association, at a press conference announcing the shutdown. “The only way to truly fight back is to extend and expand the shutdown movement.”
Ariana Grande and Pedro Pascal have promoted the strike on Instagram. Pascal captioned his post with drawings of Pretti and Good: “Pretti Good reason for a national strike.” Beyond street protests, 50501 is pushing “No Housing for ICE” campaigns targeting hotels and a “#DontServeICE” boycott of businesses that serve agents, reports The Guardian.
Congress faces a Friday deadline to pass a spending package that includes DHS funding. Senate Democrats are demanding ICE reforms before they’ll sign off.
"Senate Democrats are demanding ICE reforms before they’ll sign off." Reforms are not enough. There is no compromising with murderers.