New data reflect Minnesota’s organizing spirit, anger

By Mike Moen – Producer /Minnesota News Connection

As Congress debates the tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, data is emerging on how Minnesotans are expressing their frustrations, including a recent day of action that garnered national attention.

A new poll from May Day Strong – a coalition of labour unions – reveals that nearly a quarter of those surveyed said they or a loved one took part in a statewide strike on January 23rd.

On that day, residents were urged to refrain from work, school and shopping.

An estimated 50,000 people also marched through downtown Minneapolis in sub-zero temperatures.

There have also been tributes to Renee Good and Alex Pretti after they were fatally shot by federal agents.

Bruce Blase of Blaine took part in a bike ride for Pretti, and noticed a lot of people cheering from the sidelines.

“And along the route, there were lots of residents along the route that were urging us on. They were behind our movement,” says Blase.

Participants say the demonstrations in Minnesota and around the country illustrate that many Americans feel the Trump administration is going too far with its deportation strategy.

After voting to end a partial government shutdown, Congress faces a short negotiating window to secure reforms to the Department of Homeland Security.

A stopgap measure extends funding for DHS until February 13th.

Democrats want to end practices such as “roving patrols” while Republicans renew calls to target sanctuary cities.

Residents speaking up about ICE’s presence in Minnesota have consistently noted that people documenting arrests are not violent protesters, but instead neighbours caring for neighbours.

They say the marches and rallies are an extension of the resistance.

Blase walks around in a safety vest with the words “peaceful observer” stretched across the back.

He says he feels that ancestors who served in the military and defended the United States and its allies would have done the same.

“My dad and all of his fellow combat veterans of World War II are spinning in their graves right now if they knew what was going on in this nation,” says Blase.

The May Day Strong survey was conducted over a three-day period immediately after the January 23rd day of action, with responses from nearly 2,000 likely voters in Minnesota.

Nearly half of the respondents felt the event was an effective way for people to exercise their rights and show opposition.