In the early morning on Tuesday, June 16th, ICE agents arrested 15 activists and community members, a number of whom are affiliated with the Workers Solidarity Circle. They arrested teachers. They arrested healthcare workers. They arrested carpenters. They arrested electricians. They arrested community members who took a stand against ICE terror. They arrested organizers of the mass strike against ICE on January 23rd. 

These 15 activists have been charged with “conspiracy to impede federal officers,” and the Department of Justice describes them as “members of Antifa groups.” The charges include making anti-ICE statements online, planning and attending anti-ICE protests, and engaging in rapid response and mutual aid to defend our immigrant neighbors. These charges are political theater, targeting activists involved in the defense of our immigrant neighbors from the federal occupation of the Twin Cities. 

These same allegations could be made against tens of thousands of Minnesotans. Most everyone living in the Twin Cities acted with “intent to impede ICE” this winter — and succeeded. These charges are the Trump administration’s attempt to punish Minnesota for our fierce and victorious resistance to ICE. While our comrades are arrested, the murderers of Renee Good, Victor Manuel Diaz, and Alex Pretti still walk free.

This indictment must be seen in the context of a broader crackdown on anti-fascist organizing. It follows on the heels of similar raids targeting anti-fascist, Black voting rights, and pro-Palestine activists in Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Oregon, and Ohio. This repression is designed to split off “good protesters” from “bad protesters,” to divide our movement, and to dismantle the working class’s ability to defend itself.

It’s no coincidence that many of the arrestees are union organizers. The unbreakable solidarity of the Minnesotan working class, forged through generations of struggle, is our most powerful weapon against ruling-class terror — our rapid response networks, our mutual aid networks, and the real threat of a General Strike are what forced ICE to retreat.

We oppose all state repression, whether it comes in the form of ICE’s racial profiling and kidnapping of immigrants, or their violence towards anyone who dares stand with those immigrants. The Twin Cities have risen up to demand justice in the face of police murder before. We rose up to defend our immigrant neighbors this winter. And we can rise up again. We know that real justice will not be found in the courts, but in the streets. 

We all must stand arm-in-arm with the MN 15 in opposing state repression and defending the right to protest. We demand the following:

1. Drop all charges against activists for bravely resisting Operation Metro Surge.

2. Charge and convict the ICE agents who murdered Renee Good, Victor Manuel Diaz, and Alex Pretti.

3. Return all our stolen neighbors who are still held in ICE’s concentration camps.