February 2026
Protecting what we love, in Minneapolis and beyond
Protecting what we love, in Minneapolis and beyond
Photo of protest in Minneapolis on January 26, 2026. A crowd of people are wearing winter gear and carrying signs, some of which say "Abolish ICE," "Justice for Renee," "We Love Our Immigrant Neighbours," and "ICE Out of MN." Image by Chad Davis Photography. Used with permission.
Here are three things we hold to be true:
- Every child has the right to love, safety, dignity, and care.
- No one is illegal.
- The fight for a liveable planet is the fight to end fascism.
We have been watching with horror as state-sanctioned violence escalates across the United States under the banner of immigration enforcement. We have been shocked by the news and videos from Minnesota, where ICE agents have been acting as an occupying paramilitary force, terrorizing entire communities, abducting children, raiding and tear gassing schools, and killing people who dare to stand up for their neighbours. Rest in power, Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, and the dozens of others who have been killed by this fascistic system.
Of course, state-sanctioned violence is not unique to Minneapolis or the U.S. Our hearts are still, and always will be, with children and families in Palestine, Iran, the Congo, Sudan, and other places around the world. We recognize that a lack of media attention to their situations does not mean a lack of danger.
Amidst the suffering, though, we are reminded of Mariame Kaba’s saying that “hope is a discipline.” And the people of Minnesota are showing us what disciplined hope looks like in action. Communities have organized themselves into multi-racial mutual aid coalitions that provide protection, food, housing, and financial support for vulnerable families. Organizers waged a general strike in the city on January 23 – a stunning display of solidarity that inspired calls for a nationwide shutdown on January 30.
“Our power is organized people,” says Doran Schwartz, chair of Faith in Minnesota Action PAC. And people power is achieving real results – both in affecting political change, and also in providing a template for mobilizing fierce, organized love in the face of crisis.
To implement this template, we must continually recognize that all of our struggles are interconnected. The oil and gas sector is funding the global rise of the far-right. The same politicians who are whipping up violence against migrants are keeping us chained to fossil fuels. While the rest of us struggle to afford groceries on a heating planet, fascist billionaires are becoming trillionaires.
In other words, climate justice is migrant justice is racial justice and more. And so we will continue standing up for people, planet, and peace. Because, as we said before:
- Every child has the right to love, safety, dignity, and care.
- No one is illegal.
- The fight for a liveable planet is the fight to end fascism.
