January 16th - Content to Amplify
Everyday Minnesotans protecting their community, ICE flashbanged and hospitalized a 6 month old, and American defiance events next week
Another heavy week, friends… ICE escalated its violent terror campaign dramatically in Minnesota this week. Leaked DHS docs say that ICE is having a hard time recruiting agents to go to MN which means two things: 1) the actions on the ground in MN are having an incredible impact in demoralizing ICE agents, 2) the ICE agents who are going to MN are the worst of the worst who are going there because they want to cause harm. It’s painfully obvious that their entire aim is to intimidate, create enough fear to force compliance, and incite enough chaos to justify further crackdown via the Insurrection Act.
As a reminder, fascism relies on fear and the population being so afraid that they obey in advance. Historian Heather Cox Richardson reminded us this week that Trump does not have the numbers or personnel power to subjugate a populace that does not comply. So the next time you feel like “we’re so cooked,” remember that they rely on fear and we only give fascism power through compliance. If we fight, they fail. Minnesota is showing us that fight right now. Let them inspire us to keep fighting.
TOP THREE THINGS TO AMPLIFY
1. Everyday Minnesotans are showing up to protect their neighbors from the terror of ICE
The media is centering clashes between protestors and ICE agents and Trump wants as much chaos as possible to justify further crackdown. While we, of course, need to continue to showcase the brutal reality on the ground (see point 2 below), it’s imperative that we also amplify the absolutely remarkable level of solidarity and community organizing. Organizers in Minnesota want us to emphasize that it is everyday Minnesotans that are showing up to protect their neighbors. Many of them have never protested before and don’t necessarily identify as activists. These are ordinary people living under occupation and watching their community be terrorized by armed masked goons. And they’re showing up every single day despite the fear because they know that community and solidarity is their best defense.
People eating at a Mexican restaurant drive out ICE agents
Restaurants deny entry to ICE
Clergy occupy Target HQ in Minneapolis demanding they stop letting ICE in their stores
Woman confronts ICE telling them to follow their conscience
Father pleads to ICE: “They got kids in every one of these houses and they are watching y’all”
[IG]
An adult toy store, Smitten Kitten, has turned into a mutual aid hub, providing resources to the community amidst the occupation
Community comes together to dance to brass band at Renee Good memorial, showing us all that community solidarity is the light amidst all the dark
Minneapolis businesses have bowls of free whistles
Minnesota students continue to walkout to protest ICE for consecutive days
Minneapolis man who has never protested before furious after ICE shoots man in leg
Wrecktangle Pizza raises $83,000 to feed the community during the ICE occupation
Wrecktangle Pizza joint blocks ICE from entering and raiding
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2. ICE continues to violently assault Americans and terrorize the Minneapolis community
All eyes should continue to be on Minnesota as ICE continues to escalate its violent assaults on the community. This week, we’ve seen ICE blind a 21 year old permanently, assault a disabled woman trying to get to a doctor’s appointment, beat a Native American, kidnap a 17 year old citizen from work, kneel on a man’s neck, and deploy tear gas at school drop off. Then on Wednesday night (clips below), they followed a Venezuelan man home from work and shot him in the leg as he tried to run into his home. As neighbors came out and started filling the streets, ICE shot flash bang grenades and tear gas at them. Another man who was trying to get his six children out of the chaos said that his car got hit with 3 flash bang grenades and his 6 month old stopped breathing due to the tear gas. His children are in the hospital and his baby is still having trouble breathing. Absolutely horrifying.
ICE shoots man in leg as he runs into his own home: [TW:] [IG] [TikTok]
ICE unleashes flash bang grenades at neighbors: [IG] [TikTok] [X] [Bsky]
ICE shoots 3 flash bang grenades and tear gas at a car with children who had to be hospitalized, including a 6-month old who was unable to breathe from the tear gas: [IG] [TikTok] [Tiktok] [X] [Bsky]
Man suspected to have been choked to death by ICE in custody: [IG] [TikTok] [X] [X] [Bsky] [Headline]
21 year old permanently blinded after ICE shot him in the face: [IG] [Tiktok]
US Citizen shares her experience in ICE detention: [IG]
ICE agents threaten civilians with what happened with Renee Good: [IG] [TikTok] [X] [Bsky]
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3. Americans across the country have turned on ICE and are taking defiant action
The murder of Renee Good has sent shockwaves through the country. Americans across the country are waking up and turning on ICE, with new polling showing ICE approval deeply underwater and plurality support to get rid of ICE entirely. With all of the attention and energy right now, there are several upcoming opportunities to channel the momentum into defiant action against the Trump regime. Amplify and help spread the word!
Tuesday, January 20th: National Free America walkout 2:00pm to say no to fascism
Friday, January 23rd: Minnesota faith, union, and community leaders are planning an economic blackout: “No work, no school, no shopping”
Disrupt Hilton: Sunrise Movement is calling on people to make and cancel refundable reservations at Hilton hotels to pressure them into not doing business with ICE
No Funding for ICE: Senators are debating another bill that would funnel even more of our tax dollars into ICE’s brutal hate campaign. We demand that Dems stand strong and block funding for ICE.
MORE CONTENT + CLIPS
Stories of Defiance
(showcase the movement to fight back from everyday people to institutions to build social proof)
New polling shows majority of Americans are against ICE
‘Sinners’ and ‘Black Panther’ director Ryan Coogler highlights Renee Nicole Good while accepting a screenplay award at the National Board of Review gala
PA Bucks County Sheriff’s Office ends partnership with ICE
Madison, WI high schools walk out to protest ICE and take over state building
Kathy Griffin leads “Fuck ICE!” chant at her shows
Community members provide instructions on what to do if ICE shows up at your door and community
Protestors threw piss into ICE agents’ car
Church encourages people to blow whistles as the “song of salvation”
United Nations calls for investigation into Renee Good killing
Minneapolis man who was tear-gassed by ICE calls on elected officials to do more to get ICE out
[IG]
Largest strike of union hospital workers at NYC private hospitals began 1/12
Military / ICE Escalations
(show the reality of fascism and widespread impact on communities)
ICE is going door to door in Minneapolis looking for Hmong people
Founder of Proud Boys listed as ICE agent in leaked database
FBI raids Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson’s home while she has been collecting stories of federal workers’ discontent
ICE vehicles left behind after Minneapolis shooting on 1/14 contained identifying details, info packets, hotel reservations, and more
On the ground in Minneapolis, people are reporting abandoned cars and ICE indiscriminately abducting people
AI error in processing applications sent new ICE recruits into field without proper training
Governance + Personal Impacts
(show impacts on governance and everyday people, and make links to broader fascist moves)
ICE is about billionaires versus everyday people.
Trump admin thinks a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla, and one other thing make a sufficient meal for budget-conscious Americans
$30 billion for 10,000 more ICE agents would cover ACA subsidies for a year
Sec. Marco Rubio freezes foreign visas processing indefinitely from over 75 countries, including countries who have qualified for the World Cup
Corporate Capitulation + Accountability
(highlight corporate entities that are benefiting from or complying with authoritarianism and the actions to hold them accountable)
Starbucks Union is calling on Starbucks to stop allowing ICE into stores
CBS News viewership is down under Bari Weiss’s leadership