Cold Winds, Warm Hearts
A Community Stands Up to ICE in Chanhassen
A note from Judith:
You all continue to keep me believing in humanity.
On Saturday, several of us you often see at the protests showed up at a construction site in Chanhassen, where ICE had two workers trapped on a roof in sub-zero temperatures. I’m sure most of you have seen the news coverage, but I want to share what it felt like to be there. I was terrified.
There were so many ICE agents, and they had their canisters of pepper spray ready. The protectors—because at that moment we were not protesting; we were trying to protect these two men—were incredible. Some people brought coffee to share. Others brought blankets and hand warmers. We talked, yelled, argued, and pleaded with the agents.
I know I wasn’t the only one who was scared. Scared for the men on the roof, who had been stuck there for hours in the freezing cold. Scared because the agents stood ready with pepper spay. And scared because witnessing this in the USA made it painfully clear what an authoritarian regime—and a police state—looks like.
I eventually left to go to our scheduled protest. Some people had told me they were going anyway, and I felt that if you go, I should too. At first, there were only four or five of us. Then cars began pulling into the parking lot. Some of you walked up with canes—but you came.
Thirty-four of us stood there for an hour.
Was it cold? As any Minnesotan will tell you, it wasn’t so bad in the sun, and we all wore layers. Many people honked in support. Some stared at us like we were insane for standing outside in the cold. A few flipped us off. And one man stopped his truck in the middle of the road, rolled down his window, gave a Nazi salute, and screamed “Sieg Heil.”
I still don’t know what to say about that.
This Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., there will be a meeting at The Bellows Bistro. Andie will be there to talk about the rapid response team that has formed in Carver County to respond when ICE is in the area. She is also organizing mutual aid for people who are now too afraid to leave their homes and cannot access food or other necessities.
If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact me or come to the meeting this Tuesday, December 16.
Drinking Liberally
Every first and third Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It’s no cost and come and go as you like.
Please do buy something to eat or drink, though, to support our venue, which is The Bellows restaurant and it’s located at 232 Pioneer Trail in Chaska.
Chaska Protests
Every Saturday from 1-2 pm at the corner of Hazeltine Boulevard and Highway 41 (Chestnut) [Map]
Waconia
Every Saturday from 11:30-12:30 pm at Highway 5 and County Road 10 in front of the Starbucks and Jersey Mike’s. [Map]
@Judith - what is the best way to contact you directly? Thank you!
Powerful account of showing up when fear tells you not to. The detail about people bringing coffee and blankets while ICE stood ready with pepper spray really captures the contrast between community care and state intimidaton. I've seen simlar situations where the scariest part is realizing how quickly things can escalate. That Nazi salute moment is honestly chilling and shows exactly what organizing against.