Ice Out Day of Action for Truth and Freedom, Response to the Killing of Alex Pretti, and Other Anti-ICE Updates
Minnesota
Unidos MN, ISAIAH, Faith in Minnesota, and others host and participate in a 50,000+ people protest and march in subzero temperatures, an indoor rally to demand ICE out of Minnesota, and a general strike calling for no work, school, or shopping as a protest against ICE and business as usual.
News coverage here (ISAIAH mentioned), here (ISAIAH mentioned), and here (Unidos MN mentioned).
Faith in Minnesota - Faith leaders stage a sit-in at US Bank HQ in downtown Minneapolis, demanding the corporation call for ICE out of MN. The sit-in resulted in the CEO of US Bank agreeing to meet with clergy members. Separately, approximately 100 faith leaders were arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport for protesting airlines’ collusion with ICE.
ISAIAH hosts a “Day of Prayer and Fasting for Truth and Freedom” Prayer Service at Shiloh Temple.
ISIAH, Faith in Minnesota, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and others host a vigil for Alex Pretti, with organizers lighting candles and singing “This Little Light of Mine.”
TakeAction MN statement about the killing of Alex Pretti, demanding ICE out now.
Unidos MN’s Monarca Rapid Response “upstander” training was featured in the Minnesota Reformer.
Minnesota8 (MN8) is hosting a Know-Your-Rights and Safety Planning webinar for Southeast Asian and Asian American communities.
Screenshot: Make the Road New York celebrates Gov. Hochul's introduction of legislation banning 287(g) agreements.
Around the Country
New York: Make the Road New York successfully advocated for the introduction of statewide legislation banning 287(g) agreements between local and federal immigration law enforcement.
Maine: Community Organizing Alliance hosted a 1,000+ person, anti-ICE rally in Lewiston, ME, in response to the Trump administration’s ICE surge there. Photos here, video here, news coverage here.
Georgia: Asian Americans Advancing Justice - ATL urged Georgians to contact U.S. Senators Warnock and Ossoff to demand they vote “no” on more funding for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, helping move the Georgia Senators to say they would not support more funding for DHS.
Michigan: Detroit Jews for Justice joined faith leaders in Minneapolis to rally, protest, and speak at a press conference for ICE Out Day of Action on January 23.
Pennsylvania: Make the Road Pennsylvania held separate protests at Philadelphia City Hall and at Senator John Fetterman’s office, resulting in the Philadelphia City Council introducing “ICE Out” legislation to limit cooperation with ICE and Senator Fetterman voting “no” for additional DHS funding.
New Jersey: Make the Road New Jersey sharply criticized outgoing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for vetoing immigrant protection bills on his last day in office. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s new governor, Mikie Sherrill, who Make the Road New Jersey helped to elect, has announced a new government database and online portal for resident to report encounters with ICE.
Additional Updates
Photo: Black Voters Matter Fund TX registering voters on MLK Day.
Prepping for Primaries
Texas: Black Voters Matter TX participated in the East Fort Worth MLK Day Parade, registering voters and talking with community members about Texas’ upcoming March 3 primary elections. MOVE Texas is educating Texans about upcoming primary election deadlines and which offices are on the ballot, making sure voters are ready to vote by March 3.
North Carolina: Common Cause NC is providing resources to community members about primary election dates and deadlines and directing them to their voter guide at ncvoterguide.org.
Photo: Citizen Action WI Green Bay organizers advocate for a $20 minimum wage.
Advocacy and Organizing
Wisconsin: Citizen Action WI Green Bay members organizing in support of a $20 minimum wage bill and urging people to send letters to their state legislators. 350 Wisconsin is calling on residents to provide input about the financial and environmental costs of data centers at a WI Public Service Commission virtual hearing.
Pennsylvania: PA Stands Up is pressuring Governor Josh Shapiro and state legislators to pass a fair state budget that funds programs working people need by taxing billionaires. Action Together Northeastern PA (NEPA) rallies every Monday outside of Senator Dave McCormick’s office, demanding affordable healthcare costs and that he call a vote on ACA Tax Credits.
Arizona: Progress AZ and the Arizona Proactive Reproductive Justice Alliance joined Democratic lawmakers as they introduced three bills that would repeal abortion bans that remain on the books despite Arizonans passing a 2024 constitutional amendment making abortion legal and accessible.
Michigan: Ann Arbor for Public Power is launching their ballot initiative campaign to establish a publicly owned electric utility to replace DTE Energy. They will begin collecting signatures on January 31.
Photo: Organizers with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition distribute food after a winter storm.
Caring for Community
Tennessee: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) has been conducting community wellness checks, distributing food, and publicizing resources for community members to stay safe and warm during the recent winter storm that knocked out power and cut folks off from basic necessities. TIRRC has connected with more than 5,000 people, helped 150 people find safe, warm housing, and delivered more than 2,000 meals.
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