A wave of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to sweep across the United States, with organizers advocating for a nationwide shutdown. The call to action includes a powerful mantra: "no work, no school, no shopping," aimed at challenging the Trump administration’s extensive immigration policies that have sparked widespread concern.
This upcoming demonstration, often referred to as a "blackout" or general strike, represents an expanding non-violent movement aimed at countering ICE's aggressive enforcement strategies. These tactics have come under intense scrutiny, particularly following a troubling series of fatal incidents involving federal agents.
Recent tragedies include the deaths of individuals such as Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Keith Porter in Los Angeles, and Silverio Villegas González in Illinois. Leaders of Friday’s national protest, which will be spearheaded by students from the University of Minnesota, are demanding that ICE withdraw from their city after nearly a month of operations. They believe that economic pressure through work stoppages and consumer boycotts can serve as catalysts for accountability and reform.
Kidus Yeshidagna, president of the Ethiopian Students Union at the University of Minnesota and one of the key figures behind the strike organization, stated, “We are calling for this strike because we believe what has been happening in Minnesota should resonate nationally. We need more awareness and action from people and lawmakers throughout the country.”
Yeshidagna is a member of a coalition formed by various student groups that successfully organized the Minnesota shutdown last Friday. During that event, thousands braved frigid temperatures to take to the streets, and numerous businesses chose to close in solidarity, all demanding justice for Good, who was tragically shot by an ICE agent while trying to assist a neighbor. Just last weekend, agents also fatally shot Pretti, another local resident monitoring their activities.
The student organizations involved—representing Black, Somali, Liberian, Ethiopian, and Eritrean communities, along with the graduate labor union—initially convened on January 21 to strategize for both local and nationwide strikes. Yeshidagna remarked, "We came out in huge numbers despite the cold. We are doing it again!"
Numerous businesses, from restaurants to bookstores, across various cities have announced they will close their doors in support of the protest. Demonstrators are expected to gather at city halls, courthouses, statehouses, and legislative buildings in locations such as Philadelphia, New York, Boise, and Columbus. High school and college students in states like Florida and California plan to walk out of their classes in solidarity as well.
In Milwaukee and Buffalo, Wyoming, gatherings are planned in parks and on street corners, while some demonstrators will assemble outside Target stores in Washington D.C. This comes after ICE detained two Target employees in Richfield, Minnesota, prompting activists to escalate their calls for a boycott against the retail giant.
Support for the strike has gained momentum throughout the week, with Good's and Pretti's family members reaching out to student organizations to express their backing. According to Yeshidagna, hundreds of groups, including student organizations from other states and various unions, have rallied behind the cause, with major organizing entities like 50501 lending their support.
Gloriann Sahay, a national coordinator with 50501, articulated the group's goals, stating, "We want to disrupt the foundations that support the Trump administration. By participating, we are demonstrating our strength in numbers and our refusal to succumb to the terror being inflicted upon us."
Notable celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Macklemore, and Pedro Pascal, have also joined the call for the strike. Yeshidagna shared his excitement, saying, "When I got out of class, I saw that Ariana posted our flyer. That was incredible. It’s fantastic that she is shining a light on this issue."
Having grown up in St. Paul, Yeshidagna reflected on his experience during the protests following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. He has remained active in leading protests since then, especially as he and his peers have witnessed friends and family being targeted since ICE began operations in Minnesota.
"We've observed clear racial profiling in Minnesota," he noted. "This issue extends beyond just immigrants; it is fundamentally a human rights concern affecting U.S. citizens as well."
The protests this Friday coincide with the threat of a partial government shutdown, as Senate Democrats—and some Republicans—have indicated they will oppose any spending bill that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the agency overseeing ICE. Democratic leaders are advocating for various reforms, such as prohibiting agents from wearing masks and requiring ICE to obtain warrants before making arrests.
