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By Jasmine Laws
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A considerable list of stores and restaurants have announced they are closing for the scheduled protests happening in Minnesota on January 23.
They range from book stores to bowling alleys and grocery stores, each announcing their support for the protest, showing the widespread momentum generated by community members and union representatives that called for the blackout last week, hoping to reflect the deep public discontent with detention operations in the state.
What Is the January 23 Anti-ICE Protest?
Last week, faith leaders, union representatives and community members called for an economic blackout on January 23, urging Minnesotans not to go to work or school, in response to the federal government's Operation Metro Surge, a major deportation effort by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) across Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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Since the operation was launched in December, hundreds of arrests have already been made, and the protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have spread across the state.
However, in the time since ICE agents shot two people this month—killing Renee Nicole Good, an American citizen, and wounding Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan migrant who was shot during an attempted detention—protests have been intensifying.
The organizers held the conference on January 13 outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, and called the action a "Day of Truth and Freedom."
The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation and regional bodies across the state, including the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, the West Area Labor Council, the North East Area Labor Council and the East Central Labor Council have all endorsed the announced blackout.
The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation also said in an announcement that the unions support demands for ICE to leave Minnesota immediately, for the agent who shot Good to be held "legally accountable," as well as a number of other actions.
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List of Stores and Restaurants Participating
According to a list gathered by the news outlet, Bring Me The News, the Minnesota stores and restaurants that are set to close for the January 23 action are:
- 112 Eatery in Minneapolis
- Arbeiter Brewing in Minneapolis: Closed from 12-5 p.m.
- Avant Garden Bookstore in Anoka
- b resale in Minneapolis
- Baba's Hummus House and Mana'eesh Bakery in Minneapolis
- Bar La Grassa in Minneapolis
- A Bar of Their Own in Minneapolis
- Bench Pressed in Minneapolis
- Birchbark Books in Minneapolis
- Black Duck Spirits & Hearth in Minneapolis
- Black Hart of Saint Paul in St. Paul
- Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis
- Bull's Horn in Minneapolis
- Caliber Works Watch Repair in Minneapolis
- Cardamom in Minneapolis
- Catzen Coffee in St. Paul: It will be closed for business, but the location will be open "as a place to be" with free drip coffee.
- Caydence Records & Coffee in St. Paul
- Clay Squared to Infinity in Minneapolis
- Collective Dimensions in Crystal
- Colita in Minneapolis
- Comma, a bookshop in Minneapolis
- Dandelion Fiber Company in Minneapolis
- Day By Day Cafe in St. Paul
- Dexter's, restaurant in Minneapolis
- Disco Death Records in Minneapolis (also giving out free sandwiches and coffee outside the cafe from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time)
- DreamHaven Books and Comics in Minneapolis
- Dusty's Bar in Minneapolis
- Eastside Food Co-op in Minneapolis
- El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul
- Emerald Lounge in St. Paul
- Estelle restaurant in St. Paul
- Evelyn's Emporium in St. Paul
- Falling Knife Brewing Co. in Minneapolis
- Freewheel Bike: All eight locations in the Twin Cities.
- FRGMNT Coffee with four cafes in Minneapolis and Eden Prairie
- Garden Party Books in Rochester
- George & the Dragon Pub in Minneapolis
- Green Duck Dispensary in Eagan
- Hai Hai in Minneapolis
- Hebivorous Butcher in Minneapolis
- Hola Arepa in Minneapolis
- Ignite Models in Minneapolis
- J. Selby's in St. Paul
- Knit & Bolt fabric shop in Minneapolis (closed till 5:30 p.m.)
- Legacy Cannabis in Minneapolis
- Legacy Glassworks MN in Minneapolis
- Lost Fox in St. Paul
- Lowry Hill Liquors in Minneapolis
- Marc Heu Patisserie Paris in St. Paul and Minneapolis
- The Malt Shop in Minneapolis
- Martina in Minneapolis
- Marty's Deli in Minneapolis
- Meteor in Minneapolis
- Metta Coffee in Anoka
- Merlins Rest Pub in Minneapolis (closed for regular service)
- Minari in Minneapolis
- Mississippi Market Co-op in St. Paul (all three locations)
- Mother Co. Plants in Minneapolis
- Moona Moono in Minneapolis
- North & State in St. Louis Park
- Northern Coffeeworks in Minneapolis
- Pizza Lucé (all nine locations)
- Porzana in Minneapolis
- Pup Culture in Minneapolis
- Queermunity in Minneapolis
- Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul
- Rinata in Minneapolis
- Rise & Remember in Minneapolis
- River Market Community Co-op in Stillwater
- Rosalia in Minneapolis (both locations)
- St. Pierre in Minneapolis
- Thérèse in Edina
- Twin Town Guitars in Minneapolis
- Wedge Community Co-ops in Minneapolis (both locations)
- Wet Paint in St. Paul
- White Bear Lake Records in White Bear Lake
- Wildflyer Coffee in Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis
- Wrecktangle Pizza in Minneapolis
- The Yarnery in St. Paul
What People Are Saying
Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, president of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation said in a statement: "Working people, our schools and our communities are under attack. Union members are being detained commuting to and from work, tearing apart families. Parents are being forced to stay home, students held out of school, fearing for their lives, all while the employer class remains silent. Our labor federations are encouraging everyone to participate on January 23. It's time for every single Minnesotan who loves this state and the notion of truth and freedom to raise their voices and deepen their solidarity for our neighbors and co-workers living under this federal occupation."
President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on January 15: "If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT."
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, wrote on X on January 15: "I know you’re angry. I’m angry. What Donald Trump wants is violence in the streets. But Minnesota will remain an island of decency, of justice, of community, and of peace. Don’t give him what he wants."
What Happens Next
The protest is taking place on January 23. There have also been reports that around 1,500 active-duty U.S. soldiers have been placed on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota, in the wake of the ongoing protests in the state.
Update 1/21/26, 3:50 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include Pizza Lucé on the list.
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