Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Chicago on Friday to participate in a nationwide general strike protesting recent federal immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis. The demonstration was part of the “ICE Out!” movement, which called for Americans to refrain from economic activity as a form of protest against the federal government.
The strike followed incidents earlier in January where two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Veterans Administration nurse Alex Pretti, were killed by federal agents during operations in Minneapolis. Organizers first held a large-scale general strike in Minnesota on January 23, drawing about 100,000 participants after Good’s death on January 7. The subsequent killing of Pretti intensified public outcry and led to the planning of the nationwide action.
“Money is the only language that’s understood in America,” said Aidan Flynn, who took time off work at a Wrigleyville bar to join the protest. “It shows at least some sense of solidarity that people are willing to be out here in the f––g cold a– dog-s-–t weather.”
Flynn criticized what he described as aggressive tactics by law enforcement: “They’re just, like, gunning down people in the streets and then making fun of them and threatening other people by saying ‘Oh, we’ll do this to you, too.’ It’s insane.”
Reports have surfaced regarding comments made by Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino before a Los Angeles protest last June. According to bodycam footage obtained by the New York Times, Bovino told agents: “Arrest as many people as you want to… Everybody f–king gets it if they touch you.”
During Friday’s march through downtown Chicago—from Daley Plaza north through the Loop and past Trump Tower—protesters carried signs demanding justice for those killed by federal agents and criticizing Donald Trump’s administration.
Chicago-based influencer and rapper Zekur Stewart (stage name “Forever Band”) joined demonstrators at Daley Plaza. Stewart stated: “Money talks. Once we stop spending our money and show that we are tired of this, they’re gonna have to listen… I just want to show people that don’t think that they have folks who stand up for them that I will use my platform to stand up for you guys. I’ll help in any way I can. And even if it’s just a post, hopefully that goes a long way.” He also addressed concerns about potential backlash: “A lot of people are scared of the brand deals or fans they might lose… I’m like, f–k that, man. You should be scared of your rights being taken away.”
The Rev. David Black from Chicago’s First Presbyterian Church also attended Friday’s event; he previously gained attention after being pepper-sprayed during an immigration protest last September outside Broadview’s processing facility.
“It’s horrifying to think of all the people who have died in detention, whose names and stories are not being uplifted in the way that Renee and Alex’s stories have been,” Black said.
“It’s horrible what happened to [Good and Pretti], and I also want to see more attention paid to the Black and Brown people who are being tortured. This is not how we treat our neighbors and people who live in our communities, people who work hard to build up our communities and contribute to our society.”
Musician Juan Raya performed at Daley Plaza before addressing protesters with his own story: “I crossed the [Rio Grande] river twice when I was 16 years old… I didn’t give a f–k! I came here for one reason: to go to work and go to school. Now I’m an American citizen. Thank God. I thank this country. I’ve got a lot of beautiful things: three kids, five grandkids, and all of them are from Chicago.” Raya added: “People ask me where I’m from, and I say Chicago! [Agents] grabbed me once, twice, twenty times! And I’m here motherf–ker!”
Demonstrators braved cold temperatures throughout their march before returning again at Daley Plaza around 7 p.m., ending an evening marked by calls for accountability over recent federal actions.
