The struggle against ICE that is happening on the ground in Minnesota is nothing short of historic. The spontaneous organization, reflexive care, and decentralized resistance has protected a city and caught the attention of the world.
Inspired by the ICE Out actions and general strike on last Friday, January 23rd, student groups in Minnesota are calling for a National Shutdown tomorrow, December 30th.The call has gained momentum and many, including Lit Hub, are joining in.
“The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country—to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN,” organizers write on nationalshutdown.org, “On Friday, January 30, join a nationwide day of no school, no work and no shopping.”
The strike was called by a coalition of Somali and Black student groups at the University of Minnesota, but enthusiasm and support has quickly spread. Tomorrow’s shutdown has been endorsed by the Palestinian Youth Movement, Union De Vecinos, Minnesota Immigrant Movement, IFCO Pastors for Peace, Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), 50501, ANSWER Coalition, LA Tenants Union, North Texas Area Labor Federation, NC Poor People’s Campaign, student associations, graduate labor unions, advocacy groups, mutual aid organizations, and many, many more.
Minneapolis feels like a turning point, not only because the city has been the target of so much of ICE’s most vicious terror, but also because of the persistent bravery, and resolute solidarity we’re seeing between neighbors. The community response is not only defending people, but also providing a powerful counter-narrative that is proving MAGA’s assumptions about America wrong. The obscene abuses of our government against innocent people are “rightfully sickening everyone.”
The Trump administration seems to sense their failure. Their faltering attempt at a total crackdown—which can’t muzzle the anger and bravery of ordinary people—and its general odor of malicious incompetence, is even seeping into the White House’s hermetic media echo chamber. They’re replacing one fascist with another and hoping it will read as a shift in policy, or tone, or something. They seem so convinced by their own sycophants that they have a wide mandate, and so desperate to be liked, that they appear to think people will default to supporting them if they head fake in the direction of morality or apology. But no one outside of the most credulous corners of the media are buying it. And by all accounts from people on the ground, very little about their conduct has changed in Minnesota, unfortunately. As encouraging as it feels to see the flailing and disingenuous pivots, the self-protective backstabbings, and the dull flickers of political will from a soporific opposition party, it’s not a victory by any stretch, not yet.
But there is a wobble, which feels like the moment to keep pressing.
Tomorrow, Friday, I’m going to join my colleagues and put down my work, not spend any money, and engage locally. Is it a small action? Maybe. But every little act matters, and it’s important to me to be a part of. If we can think with imagination and act with optimism, we will win.
