Additional Coverage:
- ‘I attended the Minneapolis immigration protest, and “Minnesota Nice” has reached its breaking point with ICE’ (themirror.com)
Minnesota Nice? More Like Minnesota Fierce as Locals Rally Against ICE
Minneapolis, MN – If you thought “Minnesota Nice” meant a perpetual state of polite serenity, think again. A recent gathering in downtown Minneapolis proved that while the kindness might still be there, it’s now fueled by a powerful, simmering anger. Thousands converged at The Commons on Friday afternoon, not for a leisurely coffee or a playdate in the grass, but to vocally oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We’re nice, that’s true,” one woman explained, her hands busy distributing warmers to chilled protestors. “But everyone here is really angry.”
And that anger was palpable. Signs soared above the crowd, one particularly striking message proclaiming, “Minnesota Nice is gonna break the ICE.”
It seems even the most mild-mannered Minnesotans have reached their breaking point, pushed to the brink by the six-week-long “Operation Metro Surge” that has thrown the city into turmoil. Residents have been picked up on their way to work, children are reportedly afraid to attend soccer practice, and volunteers are stretched thin.
Jenny, who lives near where Renee Good was shot and preferred to keep her full name private, shared her frustration. “I feel like we’re considered ‘Minnesota Nice’ up here. And I feel like we’re being abused and taken advantage of.”
Despite the intensity of the protests, Minnesota’s response has remained overwhelmingly peaceful, a fact community outreach volunteer Jeanne Massey emphasized. She urged her fellow Minnesotans to maintain their composure, even in the face of provocation.
“We must be resilient to not be provoked,” Massey stated. “Guns are real on the other side of us.
We must do nothing to give them reason to shoot at us. They will shoot at us without reason.”
The demonstration was a cacophony of dissent. Protestors carried signs with stark messages, drawing unsettling comparisons to fascist regimes, and their chants of “F*** ICE” and “Say her name: Renee Good” echoed until their voices were hoarse.
Yet, amidst the fiery passion, moments of classic Minnesota kindness shone through. An older gentleman, when asked if he had any hand warmers, generously offered two to a reporter.
One young woman recounted giving her spare gloves to someone who had none, shrugging off praise with a simple, “I didn’t want her to freeze.” Flasks of hot drinks were shared freely, and crowds gracefully parted to allow elderly or disabled individuals to navigate the march.
It became clear that the passionate outcry was deeply rooted in a profound love for their community. Their unwavering mission, in the midst of this intense struggle, is to ensure every member of their community feels safe and protected.
The famed “Minnesota Nice” hasn’t vanished; it’s simply evolved. In these challenging times, it’s proving to be a powerful form of resistance, demonstrating that through all the anger and frustration, the true character of this state-a deep-seated culture of kindness-still prevails.