# Mass strike/protest in Minnesota for one day, January 23rd **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 20, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861 "2026-01-20T19:31:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/1 "2026-01-20T19:31:46Z")
I’m not sure if this is the right forum. If the mods want to move it to Mundane Pointless Stuff I Share or even the Pit, that’s fine… I put it here because it is about a protest which I feel is a political one. Apparently the main name of it is going to be “ICE Out”. It’s going to be on January 23rd, it seems. I’ve been hearing about it for a week now, and when I Google it I get a lot of references to it and some websites about it. Apparently they are encouraging people to walk away from their jobs for one day and protest in the streets instead. [Here are the businesses that will be closed on that day](https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/growing-number-of-minnesota-businesses-announce-plans-to-close-for-jan-23-strike) I did hear some talk about people trying to make this a more Nationwide strike but I’m not sure that’s going to happen. It will be fun to follow and support this one from afar, though. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/2 "2026-01-20T21:37:48Z")
This is the first I’ve heard of it (not surprising, I’m pretty out of touch). Have they said what the goal is? I mean, surely no-one expects a protest to actually influence the president to curtail ICE activities; in fact, I would expect a protest to trigger at least one incident to which the president can point and use as justification for bringing in the army to “keep the peace.” Perhaps they could try a different style from the usual protests: long, somber, silent marches through the streets, with signs but no chanting. That’s how I (fuzzily) remember a lot of the civil rights marches from the 60s. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/3 "2026-01-20T21:54:15Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Apparently they are encouraging people to walk away from their jobs for one day and protest in the streets instead. They will have more than one type of killer ice to worry about. > **[MN weather: Extreme Cold Watch starts Thursday night](https://www.fox9.com/weather/mn-weather-extreme-cold-watch-starts-thursday-night)** > > Enjoy Wednesday’s high in the low 20s, because dangerously cold weather is on its way to Minnesota later this week. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/4 "2026-01-21T02:26:28Z")
This has been in planning for a while. And many corporate employers are sort of allowing it, or at least not reacting very negatively. Last week, a friend who is a manager for a chain restaurant was already aware that most of his employees would be gone this Friday, and was looking for other workers or to do most things himself for that day. Regional managers were trying to ‘share’ those employees who would be at work, reassigning them to try to have as many locations as possible open with a skeleton staff. But nobody was making threats of firing, reprimands, or even write-ups to employees – just calmly asking people if they would be there on Friday. Certainly a much more tolerant response from local corporations than typical. Maybe because it’s a one-day event, rather than an actual, lengthy strike. Also maybe because the Twin Cities area is still coasting on the low unemployment of the Biden years, so it’s hard to find good employees, and they can find another job easily, if you don’t treat them right. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/5 "2026-01-21T09:05:45Z")
Did the Day of Truth and Freedom start with Minnesota faith/based organizations and then spread to the unions and businesses? A CBS story was framing it that way. I have cousins who are taking part in the strike that I wouldn’t expect to do so. They’re two small business owners in Minneapolis who are open every day of the year and also both voted for Trump. I was surprised that they would close Friday but they’re both angry at ICE and taking part for the day. It’s a little easier for them than my two other cousins who work in medical practice in Minneapolis. They have to balance the wellbeing of patients more than the protest and strike. It appears my job is more like the latter. I work with city trash collectors who depend on their jobs for rent and have developmental disabilities. I care about Truth and Freedom but have to balance it with the considerations above that are somewhat important. I’ve been standing outside on all my days off with signs protesting ICE since 01/25 but would be hard-pressed unfortunately to strike on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![Yogeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yogeekgirl/32/4129_2.png) [@Yogeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/6 "2026-01-21T15:45:15Z")
I’m a Mpls resident and work in the downtown area . It’s my understanding that unions are okay with whether one decides to work or walk out on Friday. I have a half day that day, will likely keep up on the plan, I am going to work. It’s supposed to be the worst winter weather that day though. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/7 "2026-01-21T16:00:24Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > They will have more than one type of killer ice to worry about. Darn. While this might increase the participation, it also blunts the impact – skeptics/pro-ICE folks can claim those who avoided work (and workplaces that closed) did so _only_ because of the cold. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-strike-protest-in-minnesota-for-one-day-january-23rd/1026861/8 "2026-01-21T20:20:39Z")
For those interested, this article on building strikes may be useful. [What’s it going to take to get to mass strikes? | Waging Nonviolence](https://wagingnonviolence.org/2026/01/mass-strike-preparation-ice/) Ditto this one on “social strikes” > **[Social strikes are emerging as a defense against ICE and authoritarianism](https://wagingnonviolence.org/2026/01/social-strikes-emerging-defense-against-ice-authoritarianism/)** > > Labor historian Jeremy Brecher on the strategy, potential and challenges of mass social strikes following ICE's murder of Renee Good. There is much more on the Waging Nonviolence website. > **[Waging Nonviolence](https://wagingnonviolence.org)** > > People-Powered News & Analysis I found this a thoughtful and inspiring piece [Veteran organizer Marshall Ganz sees a path to power under Trump | Waging Nonviolence](https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/12/marshall-ganz-sees-path-to-power-under-trump/)