NEW YORK (AP) — Activists planned protests at more than two dozen Target stores around the United States on Wednesday to pressure the discount retailer into taking a public stand against the five-week-old immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
ICE Out Minnesota, a coalition of community groups, religious leaders, and labor unions, called for weeklong demonstrations to make their voices heard, following recent incidents that faced Target in its headquarters city. The protests gained momentum after federal officers killed two residents during anti-ICE demonstrations last month.
They claim to be part of the community, but they are not standing up to ICE, said Elan Axelbank from the Minnesota chapter of Socialist Alternative, who organized protests at a Minneapolis Target.
Demonstrations were planned in cities such as St. Paul, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, among others, as activists voiced their concerns about the safety of immigrants and criticized Target's silence on federal operations affecting local communities.
Target has yet to comment publicly on the protests. The protests intensified following video footage of ICE agents detaining two Target employees in Richfield amidst previous escalations of violence related to immigration enforcement.
Activists are demanding that Target deny federal agents entry to its stores unless they possess judicial warrants, highlighting ongoing debates around immigration enforcement practices. The call for action aligns with broader national initiatives led by various church groups, including the Mennonite congregations.
Despite not being directly correlated with ICE Out, these groups organized singing events within Target stores, promoting love and solidarity for at-risk immigrant community members. The growing protests and criticisms come at a time when Target is already grappling with its own business challenges, calling into question how external pressures may impact its operational focus moving forward.
ICE Out Minnesota, a coalition of community groups, religious leaders, and labor unions, called for weeklong demonstrations to make their voices heard, following recent incidents that faced Target in its headquarters city. The protests gained momentum after federal officers killed two residents during anti-ICE demonstrations last month.
They claim to be part of the community, but they are not standing up to ICE, said Elan Axelbank from the Minnesota chapter of Socialist Alternative, who organized protests at a Minneapolis Target.
Demonstrations were planned in cities such as St. Paul, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, among others, as activists voiced their concerns about the safety of immigrants and criticized Target's silence on federal operations affecting local communities.
Target has yet to comment publicly on the protests. The protests intensified following video footage of ICE agents detaining two Target employees in Richfield amidst previous escalations of violence related to immigration enforcement.
Activists are demanding that Target deny federal agents entry to its stores unless they possess judicial warrants, highlighting ongoing debates around immigration enforcement practices. The call for action aligns with broader national initiatives led by various church groups, including the Mennonite congregations.
Despite not being directly correlated with ICE Out, these groups organized singing events within Target stores, promoting love and solidarity for at-risk immigrant community members. The growing protests and criticisms come at a time when Target is already grappling with its own business challenges, calling into question how external pressures may impact its operational focus moving forward.
