Witness, Support, Act

How Our Community Is Responding and How You Can Help

A note from Judith:

Last Saturday felt like the calm before the storm. Temperatures were above freezing, and for one hour, 140 people—and one adorable dog named Ernie—came together in a powerful show of community.

Increased ICE Activity

It has been a tough week. ICE activity has increased across the metro, and communities are responding. Groups have been set up—and more are still forming—to help monitor activity and assist in efforts to stop ICE actions.

Last Tuesday, there was a protest outside a hotel where ICE was staying. The plan was simple: gather from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and make noise. Both Andie, who runs the Waconia protest, and I attended.

About 40 people were there, making music and noise. There was a man in a large inflatable frog costume playing an accordion, a man with a drum set, and people playing flutes and trumpets, blowing whistles, and ringing bells.

A drone, flown by police or ICE, hovered above us the entire time. I left a little after 8:00 p.m. Andie stayed. Shortly afterward, she texted to say that riot police had suddenly arrived. More than 30 officers marched in with batons out.

Let me be clear: this was a peaceful protest. It was scheduled to end in less than 30 minutes. No one had spoken to the protestors or asked them to leave. There was no need for this response. It was a show of force by the Eagan Police Department.

This is not an isolated incident.

Communities Disrupted, Families Torn Apart

Friends, neighbors, and co-workers are being stopped in stores and parking lots and taken, often based solely on the color of their skin and even when they have citizenship papers with them. If they are lucky, they may be released later, but not before enduring the trauma of what was done to them in the name of our country.

Children are coming home to empty houses because their parents were taken. This is not hyperbole. It is happening across the country and here as well, in Shakopee, Chaska, Chanhassen, and Waconia.

Many people are now too afraid to leave their homes. They are not going to work, not sending their kids to school, and struggling to do even basic things like getting groceries.

You Can Help

There are ways to help. On January 6th at 6:30 p.m., someone from Latino Voices will come to talk with us about how you and I can help, from grocery deliveries to packing food. We will meet at Bellows Bistro with our SW Protectors group, and everyone is welcome.

Another opportunity is the Monarca training on Friday, January 16th, at Crown of Glory Church (1141 Cardinal Street in Chaska). This will be a bystander training. You must sign up in advance so we can ensure there is enough space. Please share this with friends or neighbors who may be interested.

The year 2025 has been difficult for many of us as we watch the dismantling of our democracy happening in front of our eyes. I try to talk to each of you at the protests, and one thing I hear again and again is that showing up each week is what keeps people going.

You read and hear all the things that are happening and start to wonder if you are alone in your despair and anger, or if you are going crazy.

Then you get in your car and drive to the protest. You see others walking up the hill with big and small signs. You hear honks from passing cars and laughter as fellow protestors encourage one another.

You have a cup of hot cocoa with whipped cream that Kim hands you. You talk to Dave, who makes sure everyone is okay. You see people like Charlie and Ray watching over us, and you know this is your community.

We are in this together. I look forward to seeing you in 2026, and we are not giving up.

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]

SW Protectors

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.