Several hundred community members gathered at Nymore Park in Bemidji on January 25, 2024, to voice their opposition to the activities of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota. Despite frigid temperatures of around -7 degrees Celsius, with a windchill reaching -15 degrees, participants expressed solidarity with those affected by the federal agency’s enforcement actions in the Twin Cities.
The demonstration was organized by a small group of local residents concerned about the increasing presence of ICE in their communities. As part of their protest, attendees formed groups to spell out messages such as “ICE out of MN,” “Bemidji says ‘No’ to ICE,” and “Love people, not ICE” for a drone to capture from above. The event was enabled by a connection made by one organizer with a photography drone pilot, allowing the group to visually convey their message.
“It’s devastating to see this kind of thing happening in our communities throughout this state,” said the drone operator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We can’t have that in our state, in our country, and we want ICE out.”
While standing in formation, participants chanted slogans and honored the memories of two individuals, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who lost their lives during encounters with federal agents in Minneapolis. As demonstrators shifted to spell new phrases, the event’s organizer, who also chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, praised the turnout. “This is a huge number of people for a small town,” he said. “It shows a lot of heart and a lot of courage.”
Protesters held signs with messages such as “Be the salt, love melts ICE,” “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and “ICE out now.” One attendee, who wished to remain unnamed for safety reasons, emphasized her motivation for participating. “I came out to be a body amongst many, to show that this uptick in fascism that’s happening in our state is not acceptable,” she stated.
The Minneapolis native illustrated her internal conflict about her dual identity in the state. “You have this place that you call home now and you fear for what could be coming next,” she shared, expressing concern for the safety of her friends and family still living in the Twin Cities. “There’s so much mental devastation that’s happening to people. This is creating trauma for a whole new generation of not just Minnesotans, but Americans as a whole.”
The organizers were encouraged by the turnout for the hour-long demonstration, which primarily spread through word of mouth. “Our civil rights and our human rights are being violated on the regular, and all of us deserve those, no matter our status, color, age, or race,” stated another organizer. “To see this many people come out on such a cold day shows how important it is for everyone here to speak out.”
The event reflects a growing movement within Minnesota to address concerns over federal immigration enforcement and advocate for the rights of all residents, regardless of their immigration status.
