LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Labor unions, community organizations, faith leaders and small businesses in the U.S. state of Minnesota are mobilizing for a statewide day of "no work (except for emergency services), no school, and no shopping" on Jan. 23.
Protesters gather in front of the Minnesota State Capitol in response to the death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (Photo: AP)
The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, which has decided to take part in the action, said in a statement released Friday that the Minnesota labor movement is united against the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to "the violent ICE occupation" of cities across the state.
"Our labor federations are encouraging everyone to participate on January 23rd. It's time for every single Minnesotan who loves this state and the notion of truth and freedom to raise their voices and deepen their solidarity for our neighbors and coworkers living under this federal occupation," said Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, president of the federation, which is an umbrella organization of Minneapolis-area local unions.
Regional labor unions across the state have listed several demands, including that ICE leave Minnesota immediately and that the agent who killed Renee Good on Jan. 7 be held legally accountable.
They also demanded that no additional federal funding be allocated to ICE in the upcoming congressional budget, and that ICE be investigated for alleged human and constitutional rights violations against Americans.
In addition to labor unions, numerous community groups are also gearing up for the action. They gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday and announced a day of "no work, no school, no shopping" on Jan. 23 to oppose what they described as a "ferocious assault" on the state by federal immigration authorities.
JaNaé Bates Imari, a representative of Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, told the crowd: "We are asking every single person, every family member, every teacher, every bus driver, every childcare worker, to come together, to be in community, to stand with one another."
"We have witnessed violence, over and over again. Families being ripped apart, loved ones being torn from their hospital beds, from their workplaces, homes. Violence is no longer a threat but a reality that surrounds us," she added.
On Jan. 7, an ICE agent fatally shot Good, a 37-year-old mother, triggering nationwide protests. The Trump administration said Good was allegedly attempting to run over law enforcement officers with her vehicle, while local officials said video footage suggests she did not pose a threat and that the agent involved acted recklessly.
The state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the recent surge of federal immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of Good.