National Shutdown organizers call for “ICE out of everywhere,” solidarity with Minnesota protests

For the second Friday in a row, some local businesses have opted to close their doors. The Jan. 30 closures are part of a national protest effort in opposition to the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota through Operation Metro Surge, and across the country.

On Jan. 23 a general strike organized by Ice Out of Minnesota drew support from businesses across the state. That demonstration, referred to by the organizers as the Day of Truth and Freedom, began as a call from faith leaders in the Twin Cities for Minnesotans to stay home from work and school, and to avoid any economic activity. It gained the endorsement of activist and labor groups across the metro. It was organized after the first of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents. Renee Good was killed on Jan. 7 in south Minneapolis.

Thousands of Minnesotas attended a march in Minneapolis on Jan. 23, and held protests outside the Whipple building, where federal agents have been holding some of the individuals they have arrested in recent weeks, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, where flights have left transporting those detained by ICE. Roughly 100 clergy members were arrested during the MSP protest.

Parallel protests and marches were held across the state.

The following day, Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis. His death has drawn additional attention to ICE action in the state and criticism of federal action from national leaders, including some Republicans.

After Pretti’s death, a second economic “blackout” day was announced, with another call for people to stay home from work and school, and not to shop. This day of protest is calling for national participation.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the initial organizing of the “National Shutdown” came from Somali and Black-led University of Minnesota student groups. The event’s website includes a list of organizations that have endorsed the action from across the country. Advertising for the shutdown created by the group 50501 calls for “ICE out of everywhere.”

Within Minnesota, reports on which businesses are participating have been mixed. The Star Tribune reports that in the Twin Cities, where hundreds of small businesses closed on Jan. 23, some of those same businesses are opting to remain open this Friday. Businesses have cited the financial hardship of closing on consecutive Fridays, and others released statements about wanting to provide space for the community to gather.

Similarly, some businesses in Cook County have announced a plan to participate in the National Shutdown. Joy & Co., Scruffy Dog, The Big Lake, Lake Superior Bottle Shop, and Up State all announced via social media that their stores would be closed.

Java Moose, which closed on Jan. 23, will remain open today. Owner Sarah Jorgenson-Hallberg posted a video to the coffee shop’s Instagram account in which she said that instead of closing, Java Moose would be serving free drip coffee on Jan. 30. She said she hoped that those who come in for coffee would take the opportunity to sit down and talk to their neighbors.

“That is how we think that the problems can be further solved- by having a conversation,” Jorgenson-Hallberg said. She added that recently she has seen customers having “meaningful dialogue” from different perspectives in the shop.

On the Instagram account for Poplar Haus, the owners also announced that the business would be open during their regular hour invited the community to come to the restaurant and get to know them.

While the Fisherman’s Daughter will be open on Jan. 30, they announced on their Instagram that a portion of their proceeds would be donated, though the post did not specify where the donation would be going.

Some communities are planning demonstrations for Jan. 31. Locally, Arrowhead Indivisible hosts a weekly protest on Saturdays. On Jan. 31 they will gather at noon outside the Java Moose. In a notice about the upcoming protest, Arrowhead Indivisible organizers reminded those who might attend that the event is intended to be peaceful, and they encouraged attendees not to engage with potential counterprotestors.

Kirsten Wisniewski January 30, 2026