Over 700 businesses committed to closing Friday for a statewide economic shutdown in protest of federal immigration operations in Minnesota.
Along University and 1st Avenues Northeast in Minneapolis, all but a handful of businesses and banks were closed. Nearly every single business seemed to be closed on Saint Anthony Main. Few businesses were open on Central Avenue N.E., which is home to many ethnic restaurants and stores, and whole strip mall parking lots were empty.
Protests against the federal immigration presence popped up throughout the day. About 20 drummers set up on the Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis in protest. Along Central Avenue N.E., protesters were staged at multiple intersections with signs.
Protesters continued demonstrating at the Whipple Federal building at Fort Snelling, which houses immigration court and a local office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Thousands of demonstrators are expected to gather at 2 p.m. at Commons Park in downtown Minneapolis before marching to the Target Center.
President Donald Trump has sent a reported 3,000 immigration agents to Minnesota since early December for “Operation Metro Surge,” which the administration says is the largest immigration operation in U.S. history.
While the federal government has said it’s targeting criminals, Minnesotans have reported several cases of agents arresting U.S. citizens and children, profiling people based on race and using force against non-violent civilian observers. Three local police leaders also convened a news conference to say some agents have racially profiled off-duty officers and are making illegal traffic stops.
A federal agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Macklin Good on Jan. 7 while she was observing operations in south Minneapolis, and another shot and wounded Julio Cesar Sosa Celis on Jan. 14.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
