After protesters called for a pause on economic activity and work to strike against the federal immigration crackdown, many business owners won’t open their doors on Friday.

Jan. 23, 2026, 5:04 a.m. ET

https://archive.ph/iyszv

No work, no shopping, no dining out. Hundreds of businesses across Minnesota are expected to close and many people are vowing to pause everyday activities on Friday as part of a general strike against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

As tensions mount and a sense of fear of detention by immigration agents permeates the state, vendors, labor unions and residents are set to participate in an economic blackout and gather at prayers and protests on what organizers called a “Day of Truth and Freedom.”

“It’s tense and emotional, and folks are hurting,” said Bishop Dwayne Royster, the executive director of Faith in Action, which is helping with the organizing effort. Minnesotans, he said, are demonstrating “deep resilience and willingness to stand together in ways I haven’t seen folks do in a very long time.”

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15 comments in c/news@lemmy.world view that post
[+] -34 points 9 months ago (14 children)

And how exactly should this strike harm ICE?

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  • [–] 24 points 9 months ago

    its not about directly harming ice. its about community building between the various labor unions, neighborhood groups and small businesses. giving people in the area a way to participate who are not in a position to do so in other ways.

    nobody is avoiding the small deli with an ice out sign that has to be open today. people get that weeks into this they likely cant afford to miss even a bad days worth of business. its a reminder to hotels, large grocery chains and national resturants that when ice leaves we'll still be here and we'll remember who was silent or even profited from the siege.

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  • [–] 23 points 9 months ago (2 children)

    ICE often uses businesses and shopping centers as raid points.

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  • [–] 29 points 9 months ago (5 children)

    Pressures local and state politicians to push back. Make it more expensive to comply.

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  • [+] -33 points 9 months ago (4 children)

    Doesn't sound like an effective plan. Better than nothing though.

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  • [–] 12 points 9 months ago

    Why aren’t Americans doing anything to fight back?

    Oh not like that tho. I have no plans or ideas on how to actually do it effectively but this way is definitely not it.

    Shut all the way the fuck up.

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  • [–] 6 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    You see a coordinated effort by tons of people and businesses and this is your response?!

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago

    Speaking of coordinated efforts, this poster and a number of others are all over the comment sections of posts trying to denigrate this protest in Minnesota.

    Guess some new talking points were given out.

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  • 1 comment in c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world view that post

    Anything is better than nothing, but this will accomplish nothing.

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