Scores of businesses across Minnesota shut their doors Friday as part of a statewide pause in economic activity to protest the Trump administration’s deployment of thousands of immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis.
‘No Work, No Shopping’ Message
Fliers reading “ICE OUT” and “No Work. No School. No Shopping.” appeared on storefronts as bars, restaurants, shops and museums closed for the day. Religious leaders and labor unions described the action as a general strike, with many workers planning to join a large afternoon march in Minneapolis despite subfreezing temperatures.
Community Spaces Turn to Resource Hubs
Some closed businesses remained open to support the community. Pow Wow Grounds, a Native-owned coffee shop in Minneapolis, served as a donation and care hub coordinated by the Indigenous Protector Movement as immigration operations intensified.
Escalating Tensions
The protests follow days of confrontations between demonstrators and federal agents, including the use of tear gas and flash-bang grenades. The Trump administration says agents have faced harassment, while critics liken the crackdown to an invasion.
Political and Corporate Silence
Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis to defend ICE operations, saying the administration is trying to reduce tensions. Meanwhile, many major Minnesota-based corporations have declined to comment, drawing criticism from state lawmakers and community members.
For more on anti-ICE protests in Minnesota and Trump’s immigration crackdown, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.