John N, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis workers immediately sprung into action after ICE’s public execution of Alex Pretti.
I joined a few organizing group chats, including one called “DA Strike Committee” that stated: “Signal group to coordinate strike action following the execution in Whittier. We need to shut down the flow of profits to Trump and his Billionaire Buddies until ICE leaves Minneapolis (and everywhere else). Invite your coworkers and friends!”
A vigil was initially called at the scene of the killing. However, in the hours that followed the shooting the Whittier neighborhood became a warzone. People set up makeshift barricades to defend against the riot police and ICE. The state deployed so much tear gas that a college four blocks away had to evacuate some dorms because of gas leaking in through the windows and vents. Tim Walz deployed the national guard and the original vigil was hastily canceled.
In the absence of an “official” vigil, ordinary people took it upon themselves to organize vigils at parks in different parts of the city. I joined my neighborhood’s planning group chat for the vigil at Van Cleve Park, which already had 70 participants.
After familiarizing myself with the conversation thus far, I asked the group, “Do we think we should use this as an opportunity to discuss as a community what the way forward is?” I made the argument that, “We need mourning but we need to also avenge the dead by kicking ICE out for good.” People enthusiastically agreed, and asked if I could lead the discussion.
In parallel, other people were working on leaflets and posters to spread the word. I gave some suggestions for the content—some of which were accepted—as well as to enlist more help from the group for an outreach team. Six volunteers heeded the call, posting hundreds of leaflets across our neighborhood, door knocking, and calling on everyone to spread the word. Others shared the leaflet through Signal, Instagram, and Yik Yak.
I called an in-person meeting of vigil organizers prior to the vigil, to hold a short political discussion and finalize planning. 13 people, including 2 RCA comrades, attended. We asked the workers at a local restaurant for permission to host the meeting in their space. Not only did they gladly accept, but they thanked us and also offered their restaurant as a warming room for vigil attendees.
The vigil started with steady streams of people coming from streets all around the park. Everything needed for the event found its way there without any sort of bureaucratic planning. I brought a megaphone. Several people brought extra whistles to hand out. A park table was used to stage the candles and hot chocolate, others brought a fire pit, and lyric sheets.
An estimated 300 people formed a sizable crowd around me and a few of the organizers. One of them started with a eulogy and lighting of candles. The next step was discussion. I introduced myself as a member of the RCA, and spoke connecting the recent killing to Bloody Friday in the Minneapolis 1934 Teamsters’ Strike. I explained how the city responded to the killing of strikers with a general strike.
At different points of my speech, the crowd cheered on. However, an older gentleman cut me off to say, “this is just old stuff that doesn’t matter for today.” A couple older people joined in on these grievances, but then received a large response from at least a dozen other people who responded that “history repeats itself,” and that “we have to learn from history.”
I wrapped up my remarks and opened up the mic for anyone else to share their perspective. Many people who came up to speak had never held a megaphone before and had to be taught how it worked. Many people were actively shaking off their fears and looking to enter into the mass movement for the first time. One worker explained he had grown up trusting the cops, the state, and politicians—but that every single one of these institutions has proven they are against the people. He ended by saying that we can only trust ourselves.
At one point, I asked if we can trust the national guard or the police to save us. The crowd responded decisively with a “NO!” I also called upon union members in the crowd to go back to their unions and continue to pressure leadership for a general strike. It is ultimately our choice whether or not production continues, and if the leadership refuses, we can organize through other means, such as workplace action committees. Every few speeches, someone would lead a song. An Italian asked to lead “Bella Ciao,” starting with a brief explanation of its political history.
At the end, the vigil broke out into smaller discussions with people finding their neighbors. I gave one last appeal that if anyone was interested in discussing the overarching strategies and tactics of this movement and how to abolish ICE once and for all they can meet me by my car. Throughout the event, we handed out 50 RCA leaflets, and six people signed up to get organized in the party. One even joined our debrief at my apartment, and joined the RCA at $128/month dues.