Jan. 23 Strike Against ICE! What To Expect & Where To Take Action

IN MINNESOTA

A 10 AM protest is being organized at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport against the use of the airport for ICE deportations. Airports are key economic chokepoints and the threat of shutting them down historically places significant pressure on the capitalist state.

At 2 PM, a march will begin at the Commons in downtown Minneapolis. Weather will be under extreme cold watch—dress warmly so we can make a massive demonstration of our collective power!

Over a dozen Minnesota unions have endorsed the call for “No Work, No School, No Shopping” against ICE on Friday 1/23. These include SEIU Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, CWA Local 7250, St. Paul Federation of Educators Local 28, Minneapolis Federation of Educators Local 59, IATSE Local 13, GLU-UE Local 1105, Committee of Interns and Residents (SEIU), ATU Local 1005, Macalester Undergraduate Workers Union – UAW Local 5105, OPEIU Local 12, Minnesota Nurses Association, and Trader Joe’s United. Several major labor federations have also formally endorsed the action. In total, these unions and groups represent an estimated 170,000 unionized workers, though that does not mean all will participate in the work stoppage.

There are actions planned in large retail stores, corporate grocery stores, corporate coffee shops, and small businesses throughout the city. Workers in massive retail corporations, grocery stores, non-profits and tiny coffee shops are all talking about how to participate in the strike. Over 81 popular bars and restaurants will be closed on Friday, along with 7 co-op grocery stores. The closures of many, if not most, of these establishments are decisions driven by business owners. This will still contribute to the economic convulsion throughout the Twin Cities, but service workers at these businesses won’t have had the experience of organizing a strike. Still they can draw important lessons about what is possible, and could inspire campaigns to organize the unorganized.

Campus groups and labor unions at the University of Minnesota, including Graduate Labor Union Electrical Workers Local 1105, AFSCME 3800, and Teamsters Local 32, are calling for a shutdown of the university on 1/23.

Hundreds of high school students have walked out over the last week across the Twin Cities and also Rochester, MN, and more walkouts are expected on 1/23. Socialist Alternative and Sunrise Movement are holding a national student organizing call on Wednesday 1/21 at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT to organize walkouts nationwide on Friday.