Solidarity with Twin Cities Immigrant Communities

Last week, a vibrant cultural corridor of local immigrant-run businesses in the heart of Minneapolis was attacked. We witnessed militarized officers from many agencies, including ICE, attempting to terrorize our neighbors. But we also saw neighbors come together to resist intimidation, we saw local businesses come to the aid of the protestors, and we heard many community members raise their voices in solidarity and calls for accountability.

We envision a Twin Cities region where Black, Indigenous, and people of color– whether we were born in the U.S. or immigrated here– are able to thrive. Where our healing, belonging, and prosperity are prioritized. However, even the greatest investments will not succeed if immigrants are criminalized, denied due process, and separated from their families through detention, deportation, and travel bans. We call on our elected officials to stand up for our shared values in Minnesota, where immigrant rights are defended and we take pride in being a sanctuary for all: that means investigating and ceasing any collaboration with ICE and federal agencies targeting immigrants.

Now is the time to stand in solidarity with those impacted by last week’s attacks: Support local immigrant-led businesses, particularly along the Lake Street cultural corridor. Follow organizations advocating for immigrants rights, including Unidos MN, MIRAC, COPAL, Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza, and others. At The Alliance, we continue to hold conversations about what solidarity, resistance, and resilience looks like in practice. We’ve heard from you that it means combatting fear, building trust, sharing your stories, and coming together as a community to re-ground in the practices that give us power.