Quick Read

Thousands of Minneapolis residents rallied for the third consecutive day against ICE operations and the killing of Renee Nicole Good, framing the federal presence as an 'occupation' and demanding ICE's immediate withdrawal.
Thousands protested for days in Minneapolis against ICE, calling the federal presence an 'occupation' after the killing of Renee Nicole Good.
Protesters targeted hotels hosting ICE agents and criticized national Democratic leaders for insufficient support.
The community emphasizes sustained, peaceful resistance and local investigations as crucial counters to federal escalation and perceived misinformation.

Summary

This live report from Minneapolis documents the third day of protests following the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. Thousands of residents, including indigenous community leaders and local activists, marched through the streets, demanding accountability for the ICE agent, Jonathan Ross, and the complete removal of ICE from their city. Protesters emphasized that the increased federal presence, part of 'Operation Metro Surge' and subsequent deployments, has fostered widespread fear and a sense of occupation, rather than safety. The community expressed frustration with perceived inaction from national Democratic leadership and highlighted the importance of local, independent investigations and sustained grassroots activism. The event culminated in a solemn gathering at the site of Good's murder, underscoring the community's collective grief and resolve.
This episode provides a raw, on-the-ground perspective of a community directly confronting federal immigration enforcement. It illustrates how local events can ignite widespread civil unrest and solidify collective action against perceived government overreach. The narrative highlights the strategic tactics of both protesters (e.g., targeting corporate stakeholders, sustained presence) and the federal government (e.g., increased agent deployment, control over evidence), offering insights into the dynamics of such conflicts. It also underscores the role and challenges of independent journalism in covering these highly charged situations, contrasting it with mainstream media approaches.

Takeaways

  • Thousands of Minneapolis residents protested for three consecutive days against ICE operations, following the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent.
  • Protesters explicitly demanded the indictment of ICE agent Jonathan Ross and the complete withdrawal of ICE from Minneapolis, viewing the federal presence as an 'occupation.'
  • Community members organized noise demonstrations outside hotels to pressure them into ceasing to host ICE agents, aiming to disrupt federal operations.
  • Local and state officials, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, initiated an independent investigation into Good's death, despite federal government resistance to sharing evidence.
  • The Trump administration responded to the protests by deploying an additional 1,000 ICE agents, bringing the total to a force five times larger than the Minneapolis Police Department.
  • Protesters and interviewees expressed deep disappointment with national Democratic leadership, calling for more 'active resistance' and non-cooperation with ICE.
  • Independent journalists on the ground highlighted the challenges of covering such events, including technical difficulties due to crowd size and the need to counter 'false equivalency' in mainstream media reporting.
  • Many participants, including a veteran and parents, expressed a sense of fear and a belief that the federal actions are designed to intimidate, but affirmed their commitment to continued, peaceful protest.
  • The protests are seen as a snowballing movement, gaining steam and demonstrating community solidarity against what is perceived as a 'terror campaign' and 'fascism.'

Insights

1Escalation of Federal Presence and Community Response

The Trump administration's 'Operation Metro Surge' initially deployed 2,000 Department of Homeland Security agents to Minneapolis. Following the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent, the administration doubled down, sending an additional 1,000 agents, creating a force five times the size of the Minneapolis Police Department. This escalation was met with a proportional increase in community protest, with demonstrations growing in size and intensity over multiple days, rather than diminishing.

The host states, 'It had started a surge of some 2,000 more additional Department of Homeland Security agents. on top of that and now it is doubling down again sending a thousand more agents.' () and 'This is by far the largest demonstration that I have covered here in the Twin Cities in our time being here on the ground.' ()

2Targeting Corporate Stakeholders to Disrupt ICE Operations

Protesters employed a strategy of 'noise demonstrations' outside hotels in downtown Minneapolis. The goal was to pressure these corporate entities to stop hosting ICE and other federal immigration agents, thereby making it 'more difficult, if not impossible,' for the Trump administration to continue its immigration enforcement and 'terror campaign' in the city by depriving agents of resting places.

The host describes, 'There was a noise demonstration outside of a Hilton location in downtown Minneapolis as part of an ongoing series of protests where this city is attempting to put pressure on some of its corporate stakeholders, in this case hotels, calling on them to no longer host ICE and other federal immigration agents.' ()

3Criticism of Democratic Leadership and Call for Active Resistance

Interviewed protesters expressed significant disappointment with the Democratic Party's response to the federal actions. While some local leaders like Mayor Jacob Frey were acknowledged for speaking out, there was a strong sentiment that broader Democratic leadership was not providing sufficient 'active resistance' or non-cooperation with ICE, instead 'holding back' and prioritizing votes over strong stances.

Madeline states, 'I think for politicians, it can be hard for them to take really strong stances on issues like this... They want the votes. They want to get voted in again. And we need people who are brave enough and strong enough to take a stand.' () Reese adds, 'Absolutely not. I feel disappointed. uh hearing Jacob pray, you know, say strong words against ICE and then continue to have the MPD cooperate with them... That is not the kind of active resistance that we need from those leaders in this time.' ()

4The Role and Challenges of Independent, On-the-Ground Journalism

The reporting team emphasized their commitment to 'long-form, on-the-ground, shoe-leather reporting,' contrasting it with what they described as 'parachute journalism' and 'false equivalency' in mainstream media. They highlighted the financial and physical toll of continuous coverage in harsh conditions (e.g., tear gas, cold, equipment failure) and stressed their editorial independence due to audience funding, not corporate advertising.

The host states, 'We've been on the ground here in the Twin Cities for weeks and weeks. We were here before Renee Good was shot and killed. will be here for weeks and weeks after because we value staying with a story, telling it adequately, telling it fully...' () and 'It helps keep us truly editorially independent, not beholden to any corporate advertisers.' ()

Lessons

  • Support independent journalism that provides on-the-ground, long-form coverage of social movements and government actions, as it offers perspectives often minimized by mainstream media.
  • Engage in local activism and community organizing to counter perceived federal overreach, focusing on strategies like pressuring corporate entities that enable government operations.
  • Advocate for independent local and state investigations into incidents involving federal agents, especially when federal agencies are perceived to be investigating themselves.
  • Challenge political leaders, particularly those in opposition parties, to take stronger, more 'active resistance' stances against policies deemed harmful to communities.
  • Educate yourself and others on the history of immigration and the current realities of federal enforcement, fostering empathy and countering misinformation.

Notable Moments

Protesters held a noise demonstration outside a Hilton hotel in downtown Minneapolis, part of a strategy to pressure corporate stakeholders to stop hosting ICE and federal immigration agents.

This demonstrates a specific, actionable tactic used by activists to disrupt federal operations by targeting their logistical support, aiming to make it 'impossible' for agents to function effectively.

A speaker from the Indigenous Protector Movement, Rachel Dion Thunder, shared her personal experience of being pulled over and threatened with arrest by ICE agents while observing their activities, only to be protected by community 'warriors' who 'mobbed' the agents.

This moment illustrates the direct, confrontational nature of ICE operations, the risks faced by community observers, and the immediate, collective self-defense mechanisms employed by indigenous communities against perceived aggression.

The march paused at the intersection of 34th and Portland, the site where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, to pay respects at a makeshift memorial.

This highlights the emotional core of the protest, grounding the collective rage and demands for justice in a specific, tragic event and demonstrating the community's shared grief and determination.

An ambulance needed to pass through the marching crowd, and protesters efficiently moved to clear the street, demonstrating organized and responsible conduct despite the large numbers.

This counters potential criticisms or propaganda that protests disrupt essential services, showing the community's capacity for self-organization and prioritizing public safety even amidst their demonstration.

Quotes

"

"Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed not too far from where we are standing now. And it's part of this city's ongoing grief, its ongoing rage, and its ongoing calls for justice and the desire to be made whole in the wake of such a terrible tragedy."

JT Saskowski (Host)
"

"This is a full-blown occupation. These are murderers. These are goons. These are fascists. And they have invaded our city. They have invaded this land. They have desecrated this land. They have spilt blood on this sacred Dakota unseated territory of this land."

Rachel Dion Thunder (Indigenous Protector Movement)
"

"You don't call for 2,000 Asians to come to the state when you're meeting your quota. You don't ask for backup when they're winning the fight. They are losing this community or thing to an end because we have something that they will never understand and they will never outlast and that is our movement."

Yudu (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee)
"

"It's terrifying just to know that anyone could be assassinated on the street at this point in the juncture. I'm locking my doors more than I ever have at this point."

Josh (Protester)
"

"Stop pretending your racism is patriotism. America was built on the backs of immigrants and the fact that we're being treated like this and everything going on and it's just so violent and I there's no way to justify everything that's going on and to say that this is all because of patriotism is ridiculous."

Vianey (Protester)
"

"I'm a patriot to a people, not to a land, to a constitution, to an idea that we are all one, that this is stolen land, that no one is illegal, that we are all better together, we all bring something good together, and the racism, xenophobia, and lies that seek to drive us apart and take the lives of our neighbors are from the pit of hell."

Jesse (Veterans for Peace)

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