Organizers of the strike expect more than 700 businesses to participate. They are also urging Minnesotans to avoid shopping and, if possible, to stay home from work.
MINNEAPOLIS — Hundreds of Minnesota businesses announced plans to close on Friday in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the state.
The closures are part of a strike organized by local faith leaders and unions calling for an “economic blackout.” Insight Brewing in Minneapolis is among a growing list of businesses that will cease operations Friday as part of the general strike against the surge of ICE agents in Minnesota. Instead of selling beer, the taproom will serve as a donation hub, offering free coffee while collecting items to distribute to people in need.
“We’ve been collecting baby products, food, clothing, pretty much anything that the community needs,” said marketing manager Joey Steinbach. “We’re delivering them directly to families through people that we’ve met in the community.”
“We just set it up last week and it’s been absolutely overwhelming,” co-owner Eric Schmidt said. “I think by shutting down and making it open to just donations, it will provide a little bit more focus for people to do that, and luckily we have the space and plenty of volunteers to handle it all.”
Donations will be accepted inside the taproom on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “This is what our employees wanted to do,” Schmidt said. “We knew we could make a much bigger difference doing what we’re doing as opposed to being open.”
But some business owners said they cannot afford to shut their doors for the day. On St. Paul’s West Side, Michael’s Pizza will remain open. The family-owned business has been operating for nearly 70 years. “It was a tough decision,” co-owner Amy Coury said. “We have some community members and some customers that are elderly, disabled. They’re unable to leave their homes, and being mainly a delivery business, we felt it was important to continue that, as they supported us for all these years.”
In Inver Grove Heights, Cuppa More Pages owner Cassie Stiles said she will keep the coffee shop open after extensive discussions with staff and family. “It was a very difficult decision,” Stiles said. “I spent a long time talking about it with my staff, praying about it and talking about it with my family.”
Stiles opened her coffee shop in April of 2025 because she wanted a space to serve the community, even during the toughest of times, she said. Instead of closing, Stiles plans to donate a portion of her sales to a neighboring Mexican restaurant that she said has been forced to close for weeks.
“I recognize that there’s a privilege that I have,” Stiles said. “I don’t have to worry because of the color of my skin, and I would rather use that as an opportunity to serve not only the community but my neighbors.”
Business owners along Lake Street in Minneapolis have been especially impacted by ICE activity. Among them is Lito’s Burritos, which has been open for just two months. Owner Miguel Hernandez said he will participate in the strike.
“I think it will be a testament to show that our economy, our neighborhoods will not move until our leaders, our political leaders understand that everyone wants change and everyone wants to see them do more,” Hernandez said.
Organizers of the strike expect more than 700 businesses to participate. They are also urging Minnesotans to avoid shopping and, if possible, to stay home from work or school. A march and rally are planned for 2 p.m. in downtown Minneapolis beginning in Commons Park.
