Black-Owned Businesses Join Statewide Shutdown Protesting ICE

January 30, 2026

Black-owned businesses throughout Minnesota joined a statewide general strike on Friday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, closing their doors as an act of economic resistance and community solidarity. Business owners like Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara of Griot Arts in Rochester and organizations such as Rise & Remember chose to halt their normal operations, viewing the shutdown as a way to exercise collective economic power against state-sanctioned violence. Participants used the day to attend rallies, contact congressional representatives, and stand physically alongside immigrant communities affected by ICE activities.

Who is affected

Immigrant communities and U.S. citizens affected by ICE operations in Minnesota
Black-owned and Black-led businesses across Minnesota participating in the strike
Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara and her business Griot Arts in Rochester
Rise & Remember organization and its Executive Director Jeanelle Austin
Visitors to George Floyd Square who had scheduled pilgrimages
Renee Good (killed by an ICE agent)
Customers unable to shop at participating businesses
Students and workers who did not attend school or work

What action is being taken

Hundreds of businesses across Minnesota are participating in a statewide general strike
Black-owned businesses are closing their doors in solidarity
Griot Arts bookstore, art gallery and community space remained closed Friday
Rise & Remember paused its guided visits and pilgrimages to George Floyd Square
Participants are attending rallies and protests despite frigid temperatures
Nfonoyim-Hara is connecting people to resources and contacting members of Congress
A peaceful march was scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday in downtown Minneapolis
Griot Arts planned to open its space for a poetry gathering in the evening

Why it matters

This strike represents a significant exercise of economic power as a form of protest against what participants view as state-sanctioned violence through ICE operations. Black business owners see their participation as continuing a historical lineage of solidarity and resistance to injustice, connecting current immigration enforcement issues to broader civil rights and humanitarian concerns. The shutdown demonstrates collective action across racial and ethnic communities, showing that various marginalized groups are willing to sacrifice economic activity to stand together against perceived injustices. For organizations like Rise & Remember, born from the George Floyd justice movement, this action reinforces that their commitment extends beyond a single issue to encompass broader struggles for human rights and dignity.

What's next

Organizations including ICE Out of MN are calling for ICE to leave the state
Demands for legal accountability for the ICE agent who killed Renee Good
Calls for an investigation into alleged constitutional violations by ICE
Push for an end to federal funding increases for the agency
Advocacy for companies to sever economic partnerships with ICE

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint