2,000 expected to participate in anti-ICE organizing effort

A five-day series of protests, training and events organized by those opposed to aggressive ICE operations kicks off Wednesday in the Twin Cities and is expected to draw participants from across the country eager to learn strategies for resisting what organizers describe as a federal occupation.

“Bring the Heat, Melt the ICE Week of Action” is aimed at opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and calling for the elimination of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, organizers said.

Organizers expect more than 2,000 people to participate, including attendees from other states coming to learn about how Minnesotans reacted to the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” over the past 2½ months.

“What we don’t want to see is ICE leaving Minneapolis and taking their operations elsewhere to terrorize someone else’s community,” said Emily, one of the organizers, who declined to be fully identified. “What we want to see is a national movement that can rise up and defend their neighbors wherever it’s needed next. We don’t just need ICE out of Minnesota, we need an end to ICE everywhere.”

The event will feature “teach-ins and panel discussions on tactics for resisting ICE operations, mutual aid strategies for supporting migrants who are being targeted, and growing the national movement to abolish ICE and DHS,” a press release said.

In addition, several protests and community events are planned throughout the week,

The activities will culminate with a Sunday morning march from Fort Snelling to the Whipple Federal Building, the site of ICE’s local headquarters.