In observer trainings, visitors learn from Minnesotans on how to engage with ICE
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As the world has watched Minnesota during the federal immigration enforcement surge, many people from outside the state looked at how Minnesotans were protesting and observing ICE actions.
This week, observers are holding trainings for visitors to learn how other cities can engage with ICE. Organizers call the event “Bring the heat, melt the ICE.”
A Patrol and Rapid Response 101 training took place at a Minneapolis church. A sign below the PowerPoint presentation read “Abolish ICE” in huge letters. One of the stick signs placed on stage reads “Amnesty for ALL Immigrants.”
“It’s just really heartening to see everybody coming together,” said Abby, one of the session’s leaders. “It’s really bolstering our spirits here in the cities to see out-of-town people. And I just can’t thank everyone enough for being here,” she said.
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Abby and others at the training only gave their first names to MPR News in fear of their safety.
The goal of the session was to discuss tactics Minnesotans used while patrolling. They described methods they used to keep people safe and prevent ICE detainments.
“As we see ourselves under federal attack and occupation, we can also see how local and state government are completely failing to provide any sort of public safety or meeting people's basic needs. We’re being abandoned,” Abby told the small crowd. “But in this moment of the power that we have ... we see that the gaps that are left by that are filled in by the people coming together and doing it for ourselves.”
Attendee Pema is one of about 400 out-of-state visitors and is a climate justice organizer from Rochester, New York.
“I’ve just been so inspired by how Minneapolis has shown up with such care and creativity to protect each other, and so that’s why I’m here to learn those lessons, because ‘ICE out’ is not enough,” Pema said. “We need to abolish ICE and close the camps, because we don’t want ICE to leave here and terrorize my community.”
Some trainings are hands-on, like a ride-along that Pema joined. Some are in a classroom setting. There's also other events, like poetry readings.
One organizer identified herself as Beep Beep. They say dozens of networks, independent groups and NGOs began planning for the volunteer-led training earlier this month.
“So it really runs the gamut from practical, tactical advice, how to do patrols, how to set up a rapid response network, to how do we do community care when people do get taken, right? To 'Okay, let's go out to a protest and practice what we've learned,” they said.
“Bring the Heat, Melt the ICE” will hold a march and rally at the Whipple Federal Building on Sunday.
