Low-tech, high impact lessons from citizen advocacy in Minneapolis

The Trump administration's mass deportation of undocumented immigrants turned into something else entirely in Minneapolis, Minn. earlier this year. Federal ICE agents —armed with guns, masks, and legal immunity—wreaked havoc on American citizens and immigrants alike. ICE agents murdered two, law-abiding and unthreatening U.S. citizens. The people of Minneapolis fought back at the brutal tactics.

What happened in Minnesota is a vibrant example of civic bond renewal, largely missing across the U.S. since the 20th century. But before I get to what we can learn from Minnesotans, I want to zoom in on an essay by the New York Times’ Tom Friedman, who traveled to his home state. I have, somewhat exhaustively, included chunks of his essay to illustrate the history made.

…I spent time in my native state, Minnesota, after something else that I’d never seen in nearly 50 years: a spontaneous uprising of civic activism propelled by a single idea — I am my neighbor’s keeper, whoever he or she is and however he or she got here.

It was one of the most courageous battles ever fought by American men and women not in uniform. It was led by moms ready to donate their breast milk to strangers and dads ready to drive someone else’s kids to school because the parents, terrified of ICE agents, were too afraid to go out outdoors… good Samaritans of all colors and creeds acted without fanfare…Black and brown residents, many less likely to be as confrontational in their interactions with ICE, told their white neighbors: This is what we’ve been dealing with forever!

He went on:

After the Minnesota-based Target Corporation refused to speak out against ICE operations, no doubt for fear of retaliation by the Trump administration, Minnesotans went into local Target stores by the dozens and each bought a single container of salt — “to melt ICE” — and then immediately returned it, over and over again, to clog up checkout lines and drive away customers.

A Few Lessons Learned

Public pressure, done right, works. I’ve put together an initial list for what worked in Minneapolis.

1. Don’t take the bait.

During the numerous protests in the street and online, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey repeated his advice over and over: Don’t let federal provocation dictate your response. “Don’t take the bait” he would say.

Be strategic, not reactive. Outfox them, don’t outshout them or become outlaws yourself. When violence, brute force, or constitutional violations enter the picture, it’s a political problem for the aggressor. The more the Trump regime is caught up in physical violence, the more it’s losing. 

2. Call out misinformation early.

The White House instantly led with false narratives after Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s deaths—well before investigations even started, much less were complete. Reporters and a portion of the public fell for it initially. Next time, there’s no excuse for being gullible or “both-sides-ing” an ICE-related death.

3. Put the power of “neighborism” front and center.

Adam Serwer of The Atlantic coined the term “neighborism.” Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School, noted that “in a democracy, the fundamental civic unit is the neighbor.” Civic bonds strengthened, giving people power. Residents spent hours outdoors on one of the coldest days in 25 years to protest ICE’s lawlessness. They delivered food to strangers after long workdays so families didn’t risk trips to stores where ICE agents waited. These efforts brought a new sense of collective power. Robert Putnam’s formula for civic revival applies: Increase social capital by going moral, going local, and going young.

4. Mobilize beyond the usual suspects.

Large rallies—including a general “economic blackout” protest in bitter cold—drew ordinary residents: clergy, nurses, parents, neighbors. These weren’t far-left organizers. They were community members outraged by deaths and federal overreach, defending neighbors and constitutional rights rather than advancing partisan platforms.

60%+ of the country said ICE’s methods went overboard (Pew, Ipsos, Fox News surveys). Almost half of “non-MAGA Republicans” in the Fox poll said ICE has been too aggressive. Even 15% of MAGA supporters agreed. Frame resistance as defending constitutional norms and community safety, not partisan politics.

5. Know the law and stick to it.

Community organizations and civil-rights attorneys ran crash courses on constitutional rights and basic civics. Nonviolent movements that can articulate their actions in constitutional terms are harder to brand as disorderly or extremist.

Violence and constitutional violations damage the movement. When anti-ICE protesters interrupted a church service in St. Paul, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) clarified: a worship service is not a public forum. The First Amendment protects you from government suppression—it doesn’t compel private institutions to host your protest. Be smart. Learn the law, stick to it firmly and courageously. Keep ICE in the villain box where they belong.

6. Film everything.

Bystander video has been vital to winning the message war. When federal agents operate in masks without identification, citizen documentation becomes the primary accountability mechanism. Video evidence contradicts official narratives, exposes tactical overreach, and provides legal protection for protesters. The ubiquity of smartphones transformed every Minneapolis resident into a potential witness. This distributed surveillance system—citizens filming agents who refuse to be identified—shifted power dynamics and made it harder for federal forces to control the story.

7. Investigative journalism—the professional kind—remains vital

The Minnesota Star Tribune identified the masked agent who shot Good as Jonathan Ross—the Trump Administration wouldn’t release his name. ProPublica also identified agents via records when the federal government stonewalled. The Star Tribune reported on the unprecedented challenge of prosecuting federal agents and the possibility of “John Doe” warrants when names aren’t provided. In a closed regime and a social media ecosystem full of total misinformation and bunk, investigative journalism is one of the few levers the public has.

Photo credit: Photo by Fibonacci Blue, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)