Minneapolis Unions Launch General Strike After Federal Agents Kill Two Residents
Thousands of residents paralyzed the Twin Cities economy on Friday during a massive general strike, the protest served as a direct rebuke to federal immigration enforcement. Organizers estimate up to 100,000 people marched to demand justice for two locals killed by agents, this event marks a historic clash between state and federal power.
Federal Immigration Raids Trigger Civil Unrest
The Department of Homeland Security initiated "Operation Metro Surge" in December 2025, they deployed over 3,000 agents to Minnesota in a historic enforcement blitz. Reports surfaced that agents used children to lure undocumented parents into custody, these tactics drew sharp condemnation from human rights groups. The situation turned volatile on January 7 when an agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, she was an unarmed legal observer and mother of three. Organizers have compared this moment to the 1934 Teamsters Strike, they believe the current federal presence aims to dismantle local labor power under the guise of immigration control.
City Shuts Down as Violence Continues
Unions and business owners coordinated a total economic halt on January 23, the Service Employees International Union led walkouts alongside teachers. Schools across the region cancelled classes while over 700 businesses refused to open, this collective action aimed to make the federal occupation economically unsustainable. The protest remained peaceful until the following day, tensions spiked when officers killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti. The 37-year-old nurse was protesting near the site of the first shooting when he was shot, this second death has eliminated any remaining trust between the community and federal forces.
State Officials Challenge Federal Authority
The death of Pretti occurred just a mile from the first shooting, this incident prompted immediate backlash from Governor Tim Walz. Local police have found themselves at odds with federal agents, the breakdown in cooperation has left residents in a precarious safety void. Vice President J.D. Vance defended the agents, he labeled the protesters as dangerous dissidents.
Lawsuits and National Boycotts Loom
Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a federal lawsuit citing the 10th Amendment, he argues the federal operation violates the rights of the state to govern itself. The legal battle could set a major precedent for state sovereignty, meanwhile labor leaders in New York and Los Angeles are preparing sympathy strikes. Small businesses face difficult choices as the economic freeze continues, yet many owners express willingness to accept losses to support the broader cause.
Federal officials have threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military troops if the unrest persists. Community leaders urge residents to remain mobilized, they warn that the strike will continue until all federal forces withdraw from the state.
