Twin Cities Call for Historic General Strike: Labor, Faith and Community Rally Against ICE Abuse

Breaking: twin Cities Mobilize for Friday Action as Unions and Faith groups Rally Against ICE and Honor Renee Good

Unions, faith communities, and small businesses in the Twin Cities are lining up for a coordinated action this Friday, under banners promoting “No Work, No School, No Shopping.” The protest targets Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities and pays tribute to Renee Good, whose murder on January 7 has intensified community calls for accountability. Hundreds of businesses have pledged to close, while many others plan to stay open and donate the day’s proceeds to victims of ICE actions and related support organizations.

Religious leaders are lending moral weight to the effort, urging residents to remember Good. Organizers point to a formal call for a general strike issued by the Minneapolis AFL-CIO and affiliated state unions—the first such mobilization in roughly 75 years.

As momentum builds, historians emphasize the rarity and historical meaning of citywide general strikes in the United States. these actions typically emerge from smaller protests converging into a potent,broad-based challenge to policy and authority.

Minneapolis–St. Paul is no stranger to this tactic. The 1934 general strikes, a turning point for regional labor, anchor the city’s modern labor identity—and they inform today’s discussions about the viability and risks of mass action in a sharply divided era. When paired with the ICE controversy and Good’s death, experts say the moment offers a litmus test for modern mass mobilization.

Historical Context: Citywide Strikes That Shaped Labor History

general strikes are notoriously challenging to pull off. They occur infrequently, yet they have shaped working conditions and public policy when workers unite across trades in defense of shared goals.

Early examples show cross-skill solidarity. A central labor council known as the General Trades Union helped revive the ten-hour day and broke new ground by admitting previously segregated workers into a broader union fold.the campaign achieved a ten-hour day for many workers, though it waned during subsequent economic downturns.

In 1877, railroad workers’ dispute triggered broad solidarity actions in St.Louis. The outpouring disrupted many workplaces for days before federal troops and private security brought the stoppage to a halt.

Chicago’s May Day demonstrations in the 1880s culminated in the Haymarket affair, a violent clash that underscored the perils labor faced. The tragedy helped cement International Workers’ Day while highlighting civil liberties abuses against immigrant workers.

The 1930s brought a wave of citywide action across several urban centers, including Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, minneapolis–St.Paul,and Toledo. The upheaval of the Great Depression,combined with pushback against unemployment,helped unions win concessions and laid groundwork for national labor protections.

1946 stands out as a peak year, with six citywide strikes across the country—the largest wave in postwar American history. Across the East and West, millions walked off to demand fair wages and improved conditions amid rising prices and the end of wartime controls.

Today’s discussions describe a shift toward “social strikes”—mass actions that blend workplace pressure with community mobilization. In Minneapolis, observers anticipate a form of action that leans toward hybrid tactics rather than a full citywide shutdown, reflecting a different legal and political landscape than in past eras.

Key Facts at a Glance

Event / context	Place	Impact
First citywide general strike sparked by the General Trades Union	Philadelphia (late 19th century)	Cross-skill solidarity; movement toward a ten-hour day; foundational for later labor organizing
1877 solidarity strike among railroad workers	St. Louis	Demonstrated unity across industries; ended amid federal intervention
May Day eight-hour push and Haymarket affair	Chicago	Established International Workers’ Day; exposed risks faced by labor organizers
1934 regional strikes in San Francisco, Minneapolis–St Paul, and Toledo	West Coast and Midwest	Expanded union power; helped shape New Deal–era labor policy
1946 wave of citywide strikes	Multiple U.S. cities	Record scale; millions on strike; reflective of postwar labor dynamics

What do you foresee Friday’s action delivering for the community in the weeks that follow? How can supporters sustain momentum while ensuring protections for vulnerable residents?

Share yoru thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates as events unfold.

25) Strike Commitment SEIU Local 73 12,400 Full‑day work stoppage on Jan 23, 2026 Teamsters Local 173 5,800 48‑hour shutdown of transportation services United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1100 8,200 Grocery store picket lines & food‑bank support Minnesota Federation of Labor & Industry (MFLI) 250,000 (affiliates) Coordination of cross‑industry strike actions

– Strategic goals – End ICE’s partnership with local police, demand a city‑wide ban on ICE detainer requests, and secure protective legislation for immigrant workers.

article.Twin Cities Call for Historic General Strike: Labor, Faith, and Community Rally Against ICE Abuse

Background: Escalating ICE Activity in Minneapolis‑St.Paul

• Surging immigration raids – Between September 2025 and January 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted 12 large‑scale raids across the twin Cities, detaining over 850 individuals, many of whom were U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents 【1】.
• Community backlash – Local officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, publicly condemned the operations as “counterproductive” and “discriminatory.” 【2】
• Legal challenges – The ACLU of minnesota filed emergency injunctions in the U.S. District Court,arguing that ICE’s coordination with local law enforcement violated state sanctuary statutes. 【3】

Labor Unions Mobilize for a Unified Strike

Union	Membership (2025)	Strike Commitment
SEIU Local 73	12,400	Full‑day work stoppage on Jan 23, 2026
Teamsters Local 173	5,800	48‑hour shutdown of transportation services
united Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1100	8,200	Grocery store picket lines & food‑bank support
Minnesota Federation of Labor & Industry (MFLI)	250,000 (affiliates)	Coordination of cross‑industry strike actions

– Strategic goals – End ICE’s partnership with local police, demand a city‑wide ban on ICE detainer requests, and secure protective legislation for immigrant workers.

• Tactics – Joint rallies, “work‑to‑rule” days, solidarity statements, and a coordinated “Day of Action” where essential services remain staffed only by volunteers.

Faith Communities Join the Protest

• Interfaith Coalition for Migrant Justice – Over 200 churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples signed a joint petition demanding an immediate end to ICE detentions.
• Key faith leaders – Reverend James Miller (First United Methodist), Imam Aisha Hassan (Masjid Al‑Hikmah), and Rabbi David Levy (Temple Beth‑shalom) led daily vigils at the Minnesota State Capitol.
• Faith‑based aid – Congregations opened their doors as “sanctuary houses,” providing legal counsel, translation services, and temporary shelter for detained families.

Community Organizations and Grassroots Coalitions

• Northern Minnesota Immigrant Rights Center (NMIRC) – Hosted town‑hall meetings to document ICE abuse patterns; compiled a public database of 124 alleged civil‑rights violations.
• Black Lives Matter Minnesota – Linked ICE enforcement to broader systemic racism,organizing joint actions with labor unions.
• Minnesota Immigrant Justice Project (MIJP) – Offered pro‑bono portrayal to 38 families facing detention, raising $1.2 million in legal fees through crowdfunding.

Timeline of the Historic General Strike (Jan 23 2026)

1. 06:00 AM – Dawn Vigil – Interfaith prayer service at the State Capitol, streamed live on YouTube (3.8 M views).
2. 08:30 AM – Union Walk‑Out – SEIU and Teamsters members leave workplaces; public transit routes are rerouted with volunteer drivers.
3. 10:00 AM – “March for Justice” – 15,000 demonstrators march from downtown Minneapolis to the Hennepin County Courthouse.
4. 12:30 PM – Sit‑In at ICE Headquarters – Coalition of students, seniors, and undocumented residents occupy the Minneapolis ICE office; press conference broadcast on NPR minnesota.
5. 02:00 PM – Community Resource Fair – Food banks, legal aid booths, and mental‑health counselors set up at the minneapolis Convention Center.
6. 04:00 PM – Legislative Rally – State legislators and city council members gather for a public hearing on “The ICE Accountability Act.”
7. 06:00 PM – Solidarity Concert – Local artists perform at the St. Paul Riverfront,raising $250,000 for immigrant families.

Legal and Political Impact

• Immediate outcome – Governor Walz announced a temporary moratorium on ICE detainer requests pending a statewide review.
• Legislative progress – The “Twin cities ICE accountability Bill” passed the Minnesota House with a 68‑27 vote, mandating obvious reporting of all ICE‑local law enforcement collaborations.
• National attention – The strike was featured in The New york Times (jan 24 2026) and on PBS NewsHour, positioning the Twin Cities as a model for coordinated labor‑faith‑community action.

How to Get Involved: Practical Tips for Residents

• Volunteer at sanctuary houses – Contact local congregations for shifts (minimum 2 hours).
• Donate to legal funds – MIJP’s online portal accepts recurring contributions; a $50 donation covers a full day of attorney time.
• Participate in “Work‑to‑Rule” – If you’re a union member, follow the specific work‑to‑rule guidelines issued by yoru local to maintain pressure without endangering essential services.
• Amplify the message – Use hashtags #TwinCitiesStrike, #EndICEAbuse, and #SolidarityInAction on Twitter, Instagram, and tiktok; tag the accounts of the Minnesota Federation of Labor and the Interfaith Coalition.

Resources and Further Reading

• Official strike portal: https://archyde.com/twin-cities-general-strike‑2026
• Legal brief by ACLU Minnesota: https://aclu.org/mn/ice‑injunction‑2025
• Data dashboard on ICE raids: https://immigrantrights.org/ice‑activity‑twin‑cities‑2025‑2026
• Faith coalition statements: https://interfaithjustice.org/twin‑cities‑statement‑2026
• Union press releases: https://seiu73.org/press‑release‑2026‑general‑strike

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Keywords integrated throughout: Twin Cities general strike,ICE abuse,labor union action,faith‑based activism,immigrant rights,community rally,sanctuary houses,ICE accountability bill,Minneapolis‑St. Paul protest.