Historic General Strike Halts Minnesota Economy Amid Federal Immigration Standoff

2026-01-24 politics

Minneapolis, Friday, 23 January 2026.
Defying sub-zero temperatures, Minnesotans launched the nation’s first major general strike since 1946 today, closing hundreds of businesses to demand the immediate withdrawal of federal immigration agents.

A Historic Mobilization

This coordinated economic shutdown serves as a forceful rebuttal to federal escalation, occurring just days after the Pentagon placed 1,500 Alaska-based soldiers on standby for potential deployment to the region [9]. Organized under the banner “ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom,” the strike has seen widespread participation from labor unions, faith leaders, and community activists who have urged residents to suspend all commerce and work [2][4]. This action marks the first citywide general strike in the United States in nearly 80 years, signaling a historic pivot in labor’s approach to federal policy disputes [6].

Economic Freeze in Sub-Zero Conditions

Despite a forecast reaching a high of only -23 degrees Celsius (-10 degrees Fahrenheit), participation has been robust across the Twin Cities [3][7]. Cultural anchors, including the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Science Museum of Minnesota, closed their doors in solidarity [3]. In the commercial sector, scores of businesses and co-ops ceased operations, with organizers explicitly targeting major corporations like Target to demand they protect employees from federal immigration enforcement [1][7]. Union leaders noted that members overwhelmingly supported the action, with some locals reporting that 95 percent of members planned to honor the strike call [7].

Civil Disobedience at Critical Infrastructure

The protests extended beyond economic non-participation to direct confrontation at critical infrastructure. At Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, approximately 100 clergy members were arrested after kneeling in the road near Terminal 1, effectively disrupting traffic to highlight their opposition to the federal “surge” [1]. Simultaneously, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office was forced to issue dispersal orders at the Whipple Federal Building following what authorities termed an “unlawful protest” [4]. These decentralized actions were scheduled to converge in the afternoon, with demonstrators marching from The Commons to a rally inside the Target Center [3][4].

Political Brinkmanship and Local Defiance

The strike unfolds against a backdrop of intense political friction between the Trump administration and local Democratic leadership. Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis on Thursday, January 22, ostensibly to “lower the temperature” of the standoff [1]. However, during his visit, Vance attributed the rising tensions to a “failure of cooperation” by local and state authorities [4]. This rhetoric drew a sharp rebuke from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who defended the city’s refusal to assist federal agents as a constitutional and charter-bound obligation to his constituents [4].

Demands for Accountability

The catalyst for this escalation remains the January 7 killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, a death the Hennepin County Medical Examiner has ruled a homicide [4]. Protesters have outlined specific demands: the immediate departure of ICE from Minnesota, legal accountability for the agent involved, and a cessation of federal funding for the agency’s operations [3]. With federal troops on standby and local labor power fully mobilized, the economic and political standoff in Minnesota has entered a volatile new phase [8][9].

Sources

Immigration policy Labor strike