Public outrage in the United States has reached fever pitch following the killing of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. The deaths have intensified scrutiny of Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, which began in December. However, amid the focus on state violence, a story of mutual aid and neighbourhood organising is unfolding.
Labour journalist Sarah Jaffe, author of 'From the Ashes: Grief and Revolution in a World on Fire', has been reporting from Minneapolis for over a decade. She describes a powerful repudiation of Margaret Thatcher's assertion that 'there is no such thing as society'. 'People are saying my neighbours are important – as important as my family – and I will take risks to protect them, even though I don't know them and they're complete strangers,' Jaffe said.
Community defence networks mobilised almost immediately after ICE enforcement activity ramped up in the Twin Cities in December. Small business owners have been central to the response. A restaurant called Modern Times announced it would give away food and survive on donations, declaring 'Until the occupation is over, we are Post Modern Times'. A sex shop, Smitten Kitten, has transformed into a mutual aid hub, while a romance bookstore has been stocking books about labour and social movement history.
The hospitality industry has been at the forefront, with many undocumented restaurant workers. Kitchens have put up signs stating 'this is a private area for employees only, you can only come here with a warrant'. Outside, the most visible organising has been around schools, where parents patrol to protect children and families.
Jaffe is not surprised that resistance has mobilised most effectively in Minneapolis. 'Minneapolis has led the country in rebellion before, and it will probably do so yet again,' she said. The community's response includes alarms when ICE vans are spotted, neighbours shopping for families sheltering at home, and a network of solidarity that challenges the notion that society does not exist.
