Anti-ICE protesters gather in Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis
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Here’s the latest Saturday around the killing of 37-year-old Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis Wednesday by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
4:30 p.m. | Powderhorn Park protest
Thousands of people gathered in frigid temperatures on Saturday afternoon to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
The protest at Powderhorn Park drew giant puppets holding “abolish ICE” banners and people holding signs including “ICE out of Minnesota” and “We stand for Good.”
Before the protest started, volunteers spread grit over the slippery sidewalks surrounding the park while others handed out hot tea or water. The thousands of people were led to nearby Lake Street, where they took over the streets, and headed in the direction of Portland Avenue, where Good was shot and killed Wednesday by a federal agent while observing ICE actions.
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Rebecca Thielman of north Minneapolis said she wanted to be in her community in the aftermath of Renee Macklin Good’s killing.
“I think Minnesota has been targeted by President Trump and his administration, specifically being punished for Gov. Walz’s involvement in the last election,” Thielman said. “Because we’re blue in a sea of red, I think he’s trying to highlight us specifically.”
Derin Badewa of Woodbury said he was drawn to the protest partly because of the pressure he’s seen on his Somali and Mexican friends since ICE started the immigration crackdown.
“It’s Nazi-like. It’s fascist what ICE is doing, ripping people out of their homes, ripping babies out of their homes. And I think the best thing you can do is just organize something peacefully and try to make a change.”
Many in the crowd said they were inspired by the actions their fellow Minnesotans have taken to oppose ICE.
“Minnesota has the great bones to be the lead for other states. Our community has been so resilient, our people are so resilient,” said Lizzie Dawodu of Minneapolis. “At the end of the day, this is just who we are as a state and a people. This is Minnesota.”
Minneapolis resident Judy Shields said she thinks it’s ridiculous that the feds are trying to control how Minnesotans run their state. She was heartened by the thousands of people she was marching alongside.
“I love it,” Shields said. “Obviously this is us coming out in droves, this is Minneapolis, man, this is Minnesota. We stand up for each other. We do this when it’s not a bad thing to do. We do this all the time.”
— Jon Collins, MPR News
4:05 p.m. | Heart of the Beast at Powderhorn Park protest in Minneapolis
Artists were everywhere Saturday at the Powderhorn Park protest and march for Renee Macklin Good. They held everything from handmade signs to massive puppets.
Jessie Merriam was one of four people operating a huge yellow bird puppet with a 20-foot wingspan.
“It's a way to be creative and joyful, even when in moments of extreme fear and pain. You can make something with your hands,” Merriam said. “You can talk about difficult things together without kind of stewing in it. Holding this feels like a lot more bright and hopeful compared to like holding an angry sign.”
There were also puppets of a life-size black bear and flying owls.
Many of the puppets were made by In the Heart of the Beast, a puppet theater with deep roots in the neighborhood.
— Alex V. Cipolle, MPR News
12:10 p.m. | Minnesota lawmakers blocked from ICE facility visit
Three of Minnesota’s Democratic members of Congress were turned away from an ICE detention center in the Twin Cities Saturday.
The visit from the lawmakers comes as Homeland Security has increased its presence in the Twin Cities and following the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good by an ICE officer on Wednesday.
Democratic U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison were initially allowed into the Whipple Building. Omar says it wasn’t long before officials said they were no longer allowed access to the building.
“What happened today is a blatant attempt to obstruct members of Congress from doing their oversight duties,” Omar said.
The lawmakers say they were told their denial is because the facility was funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and not a Congressional appropriations bill.
Craig disputes that.
“We have every right and responsibility if we’re doing our jobs to be here today to see what the conditions are in that detention center,” she said.
— Clay Masters, MPR News
11:30 a.m. | MPD arrests 29 people during Friday protest
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on protesters to peacefully demonstrate their opposition to ICE and the federal immigration operation in Minnesota. He says 29 people were arrested Friday after protesting at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis where ICE agents are rumored to be staying.
Demonstrators have held almost nightly peaceful noise protests at hotels across the Twin Cities that are providing accommodations to federal agents.
“We are doing right we are being strategic,” Frey said. “For those who aren’t being strategic, for those that are taking the bait and causing property damage or otherwise, there are consequences. We're holding the line here all the way.”
Police Chief Brian O'Hara said one officer was injured by a thrown chunk of ice.
“Obviously there's a number of additional marches and protests that we'll be monitoring today,” O’Hara said. “We are fully prepared if things cross the line and become unlawful to make additional arrests if necessary.”
— Jon Collins, MPR News
10 a.m. | Child care providers, parents demand ICE leave Minnesota
Dozens gathered for a press conference at Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis to speak against ICE targeting child care centers, particularly after this week.
“ICE’s presence here is unnecessary and dangerous, and I’m calling on them to leave. A mother has already been killed. End this assault before another parent loses their child, too,” said parent Hillary Watkins.
The escalation of violence added to the recent challenges Minnesota child care centers are facing, according to advocates. After a right-wing content creator accused Somali-owned businesses of fraud in late December, many child care centers started receiving threatening phone calls from across the country. President Trump announced a freeze on child care funds to Minnesota — which was temporarily blocked by a federal judge yesterday — and providers report ICE has detained multiple employees statewide.
”Hundreds of child care centers have frightened parents and teachers,” said Lauryn Spencer, who works for a larger child care provider. “We have had to strengthen all of our protocols. We’ve had to write entirely new protocols for if ICE enters our building, and we've had to try to answer questions from our staff, which is nearly impossible.”
State Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, DFL-Eden Prairie, also spoke.
”The president ran a campaign on ‘America First’ and said this was about getting criminals off the streets,” Kotyza-Witthuhn said. “Now, American citizens are being killed in broad daylight and students are being tackled after school. None of this is about public safety anymore.”
— Feven Gerezgiher, MPR News
Correction (Jan. 10, 2026): An earlier version of this story misidentified Rep. Kelly Morrison. The story has been updated.
