Lessons from MN Report Back

“In Minnesota, we work together as much as we possible can.” – Kandace, ICE Out of MN

ICE is terrorizing our communities, dragging elders out into the street in freezing weather, conducting door to door raids, and committing murder in broad daylight. But organizers in Minnesota are organizing mutual aid distributions, ICE defense networks and creative interventions to disrupt the power of ICE and the corporations who are supporting this regime. 18MR was joined by organizers on the ground in MN — ICE Out of MN, MIRAC, and MN8, as they shared lessons and ways to fight together so we can outnumber the hatemongers and overcome the politics of division.

1. START NOW: “Long before Operation Metro Surge started, we had rapid response trainings & Know Your Rights workshops so people knew how to protect themselves against future threats.” – Alvin, MIRAC MN

Don’t wait for ICE to invade your city. Start today by organizing: 

• Community potlucks
• Rapid response trainings
• Know Your Rights workshops
• Neighborhood group chats
• Mutual aid funds

2. BE PREPARED: “Minneapolis was not caught off guard. There was a lot of preparation that was made especially as we watched folks in Chicago and LA feel the assaults.” – Kandace, ICE out of MN

As an individual and a collective, you should: 

• Assess your risk level
• Create an emergency/safety plan
• Memorize numbers from the National Lawyers Guild
• Practice legal observation and documentation skills 
• Study the connections between ICE, police violence, and U.S. imperialism 
• Build narrative power to defend immigrant communities 
• Plan for potential escalations like the World Cup and Midterm elections

3. CONNECTION IS KEY: “Make as many connections as you can with immigrant communities in your area, because at the moment when people are in trouble, it would be extremely risky for them to ask strangers for help.” -Alvin, MIRAC MN

The most successful organizing in Minnesota has been hyperlocal:

• Foster connections with immigrant communities
• Talk to your neighbors to see what support they need and what they can offer
• Build trusting relationships with the people you’re organizing with
• Unite on shared principles with your collective

4. The 5 MAIN TARGETS: “ICE would not be able to kidnap our community members without the corporate pillars of support: the businesses, the electeds, the political machine. People should start identifying where ICE is operating in your community.” -Sharmin, 18MR

Join campaigns to put pressure on these corporations to end their complicity with ICE: 

• Target allows ICE to kidnap their workers
• Hilton houses ICE agents
• Enterprise rents cars to ICE
• Amazon enables ICE surveillance
• Palantir streamlines ICE deportations

“This moment is continuously leveling up our people. Everyone is trying to figure out what roles they have and what skills they want to build up. That power, ambition, and curiosity is only going to continue growing. And the more organized we are, the more we’re able to win.” -Chenda, MN8

Take Action: Corporate Campaigning
ICE Out of MN: Target
ICE Out of MN: Hilton
ICE Out of MN: Delta
ICE Out of MN: Home Depot
ICE Out of MN: Enterprise
Tell Enterprise: No Cars for ICE Cruelty

Mutual Aid & Supporting Impacted Folks
MN8 Resource Page: Safety Planning Guide, What to do if your loved one is detained, and Know-Your-Rights information (in multiple languages)
Support Southeast Asian Families: GoFundMes directly for impacted Southeast Asian families in Minnesota
Deportation Defense & Relief Fundraiser
MN8 Know-Your-Rights and Safety Planning Webinar: April 1st at 6PM C

Organizing Prep
St. Paul Principles
Legalization for All
“We Belong to Each Other Now”: Lessons from Minneapolis article by Kelly Hayes

Security Culture
Assessing Risk toolkit by Vision Change Win
ICE Watch Digital Security Guide by Activist Checklist
A Troublemaker’s Guide: Principles for Racial Justice Activists in the Face of State Repression by Catalyst Project

Orgs Mentioned
NDLON
Grassroots Asians Rising

About 18MR
Website | Join as a Member
About the Freedom to Stay, Move, Resist Campaign 
Support the Freedom to SMR Campaign 
Download a Freedom to SMR Poster