As a 60-year resident of Minnesota, I want to thank supporters from around the US — and indeed, throughout the world. We feel and welcome your encouragement and assistance. There’s plenty you can still do — regardless of your economic status. Here are six observations based on my experience as a public school educator, newspaper columnist, parent, grandparent and most important — believer that democracy works ONLY when citizens are active.
1. As one civic organization noted, this is a state that “chooses resilience over complacency and action over despair.” Minnesota has a deep, pervasive culture of caring for others that may come in part from our severe weather. Over the 60 years I’ve lived here, I’ve seen and participated in countless cooperative efforts to help motorists with cars stuck in deep snow. I’ve seen people rush to help others in danger of floods. This culture crosses political and racial lines. Many Minnesotans constantly help others. A coalition of community and union groups that help lead the resistance noted:
“These masked agents leaving our state can be spun any way people want, but history will show what this was: regular people, clergy and teachers, janitors and soccer moms, people across all of our complicated differences, simply refusing to let our neighbors be attacked and abducted without a fight. The level of solidarity shown by Minnesotans should be an example for everyone and we couldn’t be more proud of our state.”
Here’s a picture I took at the site where Alex Pretti was killed. Daily, quietly, reverently, people of many races and ages gather to honor him.
2. Young people from rural and suburban communities, as well as Minneapolis and St Paul walked out of school to protest ICE activities in their towns. For unknown reasons, the national media mostly ignored these student protests. But they occurred in suburbs like Bloomington and Wayzata, and rural communities such as Cambridge, Elk River, Faribault, and Owatonna. Here’s a link to a column I wrote, published in a number of papers, that describes some of these protests. Above and below are some of the signs students carried.
3. While many national media accounts focused on Minneapolis, the facts are that ICE was harassing and detaining people throughout the state urban, suburban and rural communities. Here’s a link to a column published in a suburban paper in which suburban police chiefs criticized ICE for random stops of innocent people — including a suburban police officer! The Brooklyn Park (suburban) police chief explained “In the weeks since the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good Jan. 7 in Minneapolis, (Mark) Bruley said local law enforcement agencies have received ‘endless complaints about civil rights violations” committed by federal agents against U.S. citizens.’”
Here’s part of a speech give by the Mayor James Hovland of Edina — arguably the wealthiest SUBURB of Minneapolis — to the US Conference of Mayors, on January 29, 2026
”The work of federal enforcement has entered our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our schools, our churches and our medical facilities. The effects are not abstract; they are human, immediate and consequential and, as presently carried out, are reshaping our cities in ways none of us who were elected to lead our communities can ignore.
We are told the actions are precise—they are not. We are told theireffects are contained. They are not. Fear has not confined itself to a single household or status. Citizens withdraw alongside non-citizens. Law abiding residents learn that invisibility feels safer than participation.
In these trouble-filled days, the nation should know that Minnesota has not resisted legal immigration enforcement; it has resisted excess. It does not reject law; it rejects lawlessness clothed in authority. It does not deny the nation’s right to govern its borders; but it insists that such governance be worthy of and deferential to a free people.
...These distinctions matter. The future of immigration policy in America will not be shaped by those who merely cheer or condemn; but by those who demonstrate—through practice and wisdom—that security and humanity can coexist; that enforcement can be both firm and lawful; and, that the dignity of persons need not be a casualty in the implementation of policy.”
4. It’s impossible to over-estimate the important of cell phones recording what ACTUALLY happened. Videos showed that the tragic death (arguably) murder of Alex Pretti convinced people all over the world that federal officials were lying. The fact that the conservative Wall Street Journal published on its January 25 front page the headline and story below was just one example of many, many examples of this.
5. Despite ICE statements, considerable damage needs attention. Hundreds of Minnesotans still facing deportation and court actions. Many hold green cards and/or were making use of current federal law allowing them to apply for asylum. Thousands (literally of students have been traumatized, and stayed home from school for weeks, fearing they would be grabbed if they went outside. An enormous amount of work will need to be done to help youngsters develop a sense of safety and security. Many businesses closed and lost millions of dollars because customers and staff were afraid to come Our efforts must continue.
6. Minnesotans WELCOME assistance from people throughout the country and world. You can
* Contact your members of Congress, urging federal assistance to businesses and schools that have suffered greatly from the ICE occupation. You also can urge that members of Congress demand that ICE follow appropriate policies of law enforcement. That includes for example, wearing body cameras and name plates and, no masks covering their faces.
* contribute financially to any of a vast array of groups. Here’s a link to a fund created by the Minneapolis Foundation. Here’s a link to the Immigrant Law Center, which is providing legal assistance to people targeted by ICE. Unidos Minnesota is helping families throughout the state with food and other urgently needed items. These are only a few examples.
* Visit Minnesota this spring, summer or fall. Even those who don’t like severe winters will find beauty here, and very friendly people.
Finally, the efforts of artists, and the value of humor, cannot be over-estimated. I’m indebted to James Tate, a fellow poster on “X” (formerly Twitter) for the headline, “Minnesotans know how to walk on ice.” When several of us delivered hot coffee and food to demonstrators during bitterly cold, sub zero weather, one of them shouted at ICE — “See — people bring us coffee and food! Who does that for you?” Along with Bruce Springsteen’s song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” at least four other songs have been written and published. One of my favorites is “Don’t Invade A Winter People in the Winter. “ At the same time, along with creative buttons like the one pictured here, Beautiful and compelling posters have been created by talented artists. (fyi — the Loon is Minnesota’s state bird)
Mayor James Hovland of Edina concluded his speech to the US Conference of Mayors with this hope:
“In time, when this chapter in Minnesota history is read, not in headlines, but in history, I hope it may be said that when the nation faltered between fear and fairness regarding who deserves to live in our country, that Minnesota chose the harder path: not merely to oppose what was wrong but to help build what is right.”
Joe Nathan has taught in Minnesota public K-12 schools and the University of Minnesota. Since 1988, he has been a regular columnist for a number of Minnesota newspapers. He currently writes a twice/month column for a group of suburban and rural Minnesota newspapers. Nathan has lived in Minnesota since 1966. He founded and for many years directed the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org
I want to acknowledge copyrights of hometownsource.com and the Wall Street Journal for pictures used in this column.
