Hundreds of businesses in Minneapolis, Minnesota, across the midwestern United States are closing their doors, as anti-ICE protesters call on the federal agency to leave the city as part of a large-scale economic protest dubbed the Day of Truth and Freedom.
Friday’s walkout included small businesses, unions, faith groups and teachers across the city, which has become the focus of aggressive actions by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The call, organized by a coalition of community groups, also calls for a moratorium on consumer spending.
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“It is time to suspend the normal order of business to demand an immediate halt to ICE actions in MN,” the group organizing the protest wrote on its website.
Solidarity marches are taking place in New York City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Seattle, among others.
During the Minneapolis protest, the group is also planning to start at 2pm local time (20:00 GMT) and end at the Target Center – an arena in downtown Minneapolis.
Eyes on target
The big-box retailer, in particular, is in the crosshairs of organizers because of its close ties to Minneapolis, where the company is headquartered, and because it is the state’s fourth-largest employer.
The group is calling for Target stores to be protected under the Fourth Amendment, which means federal agents have no legal right to enter a residence or place of business without a warrant signed by a judge.
In a document shared with organizers, the group pointed to two incidents of concern. One on January 8, when Customs and Border Patrol aggressively forced two US citizens to the ground and then detained them as they worked at a store in Richfield, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, and another three days later in nearby St. Paul, where Customs and Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino entered a store with other agents.
“Where Target leads, others follow. Our state is overrun by federal agents, and they are literally attacking Minnesotans inside Target stores. We need Target to stand with Minnesotans against these attacks,” the document said.
Lakshya has been silent on the protests and calls for action from its activists. The company sent a memo to employees, according to Bloomberg News, warning of potential disruptions.
The pressure from anti-ICE protesters is the latest in a wave of pushback against the retail giant over the past year. The boycott was called after the company withdrew its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The company later gave credit The reason for the slowdown in sales in early 2025.
Wall Street was largely unaffected by heightened tensions as the company’s shares rose 1.3 percent in midday trading.
Target did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
Political response
“The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations have taken countless dangerous criminal illegals off the streets – including rapists, murderers, thieves, drunk drivers and more. Making American communities safer will create an environment in which all businesses can thrive long-term and their customers can feel safe. Joe Biden and DeCorset should stop illegal crime leaders from entering our country. And now the Trump administration is cleaning up the Democrats’ mess,” from the White House. spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
Pressed for a response to this rationale and asked if ICE is committed to holding agents responsible for violating the law, the White House declined to provide additional comment.
related charges is agency conduct The protests were accompanied by claims that ICE’s actions violated First and Fourth Amendment protections and threats to protesters.
Among them are The fatal shooting of Renee GoodeA case that has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates and not a Justice Department decision Ask the agent Behind the shooting, which has sparked further outrage. One of Economic Blackout’s calls is to hold Jonathan Ross, the agent who shot and killed Renee Goode, legally responsible.
“I understand why people are choosing to participate in the January 23 blackout and I support those decisions. At the same time, our small businesses, especially immigrant-owned businesses, are under a lot of pressure right now and could really use our support. However you choose to show up, I hope we remember our neighbors and local businesses,” Minneapolis Mayor Al Jacob said in a statement.
Representatives for Governor Tim Walz did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.