According to organizers, thousands of people across Minnesota took part in coordinated protests and a statewide economic strike on Friday, January 23, 2026. The action was aimed at opposing recent federal immigration enforcement actions in the state. As first reported by the BBC, demonstrations were centered in Minneapolis, where large crowds gathered despite sub-zero temperatures.
Participants said the action was a response to increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of an expanded federal surge in the region. The protest, titled “ICE Out of Minnesota: A Day of Truth and Freedom,” included marches through downtown, rallies at public venues, and a call for workers and students to stay home. In a significant display of solidarity, hundreds of local businesses—including restaurants, bookstores, and cafes—either closed or reduced operations for the day.
Religious leaders and community groups were heavily involved in the mobilization. Authorities confirmed that approximately 100 members of the clergy were arrested during a peaceful demonstration at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, where protesters gathered to pray and attempt to disrupt scheduled deportation flights.
The protests follow weeks of heightened tension sparked by a fatal enforcement-related shooting earlier in the month. State and local officials have acknowledged the demonstrations while urging calm, even as the federal government continues to defend the enforcement surge as a priority for national security.
