Last week, Target, Cargill and General Mills joined 60 other Minneapolis-based companies in an open letter calling for “deescalation” of the violence in their home state tied to U.S. immigration crackdowns. Critics and commentators largely labeled the letter a weak, pathetic response to the lethal and unlawful actions of the Donald Trump administration. Instead of leveraging their influence to demand action, Minnesota-based multinationals simply walked away. Their silence presents a shameful contrast with the actions of small businesses and the nation’s cultural influencers who are using their powerful public platforms to speak out in opposition to ICE violence.

While Big Business Writes Sternly-Worded Letters, Community Takes to the Street

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have become a focal point in the U.S. government’s violent escalations since 2,000 federal agents were deployed to the region to carry out the “largest immigration operation ever,” dubbed by the feds as Operation Metro Surge. The open letter was organized by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and posted just one day after federal Homeland Security agents killed a second U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, Alex Pretti, following weeks of DHS violence against immigrants and citizens alike.

“For the past several weeks, representatives of Minnesota’s business community have been working every day behind the scenes with federal, state and local officials to advance real solutions,” the letter reads, all but admitting that the effort has failed. “In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state and federal leaders,” it concluded, without any indication that meaningful action is forthcoming.

In sharp contrast to this tepid response, a growing number of small businesses in the Twin Cities and across the United States are standing firmly in solidarity with their neighbors and communities. Take Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul, for example. The small family-owned business joined a lawsuit against Trump’s tariffs in April and is now facing retaliation from DHS after painting “ICE Out” on a front window, referring to the DHS bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The store also hands out free alert whistles to community members who monitor federal activities in the city and alert their neighbors when agents are approaching. A second local business, Hennepin Healthcare, is also facing a “shock audit” from DHS, showing the retaliation facing those who oppose ICE violence.

Read the full article about backlash to ICE violence against immigrants by Tina Casey at TriplePundit.