Economic blackout planned in Minnesota to protest ICE surge

Unions, faith groups and local leaders in Minnesota have called for an economic blackout on Friday to protest a surge of federal immigration agents and to mourn Renee Good.

Organizers including labor unions, faith groups and local leaders have called for an economic blackout in Minnesota on Friday to protest the arrival of federal immigration agents and to mourn Renee Good. They are urging residents not to work, shop or go to school and have announced a march and rally in downtown Minneapolis at 2pm local time. The administration has dispatched about 3,000 federal agents to the region, and officials report more than 2,400 arrests in recent weeks. An ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good earlier this month, and accounts of the incident differ between federal spokespeople, local officials and eyewitnesses. Current situation: - Organizers named include Communications Workers of America Local 7250, Unite Here Local 17, the Saint Paul Federation of Educators and Minneapolis Federation of Educators Local 59, and the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. - The economic blackout is scheduled for Friday, January 23, and will include a downtown march and a 2pm rally in Minneapolis. - The federal government has deployed roughly 3,000 immigration agents to the Minnesota region and officials say over 2,400 people have been arrested recently. - An ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good earlier this month; local leaders and eyewitnesses have disputed aspects of the federal account of the shooting. - A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson issued a statement critical of the planned blackout and reiterated the department's version of events. Summary: Organizers say the blackout is intended to protest the federal enforcement operation and to mourn Renee Good; the event is planned for Friday and will include a march and rally. Undetermined at this time.