Minnesota Arts Community Responds to ICE Raids with Strike, Solidarity, and Artistic Protest
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Minnesota’s vibrant arts scene is taking a stand against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting immigrant communities in the Twin Cities. As residents grieve the murder of Renee Nicole Good and grapple with the impact of increased enforcement, theaters and artists across the state are demonstrating solidarity through a general strike, resource sharing, and powerful artistic expression.
A Day of Action and Reflection
Today, January 23, Minnesota is observing an “ICE Out of Minnesota for Truth and Freedom” general strike, a collective day of action and reflection. Participants are refraining from typical activities – shopping, work, and school – to advocate for the rights of immigrants and protest ICE’s actions. The strike is officially endorsed by Minnesota’s AFL-CIO labor union, signaling broad support across sectors.
Numerous arts organizations are participating in the strike, including Theater Mu, the Playwrights Center, the Guthrie Theatre (which canceled a performance of Matthew López’s Somewhere), Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Theatre Latté Da, and Mixed Blood Theatre. This widespread involvement underscores the deep personal connection these institutions feel to the issue.
Artistic Responses to Loss and Fear
The current climate of fear and uncertainty has spurred artistic responses. Both Mexodus co-writer Brian Quijada and the duo of A.J. Holmes and Caitlin Cook have penned protest songs dedicated to Renee Nicole Good, whose recent murder has fueled the movement. Quijada’s lyrics resonate with defiant grief: “She died for a reason we all know is fact/She died for fighting back.” Holmes and Cook echoed this sentiment with a lament: “Wrong place, wrong time, wrong country.”
These artistic expressions highlight the emotional toll of ICE’s actions and the broader struggle for justice. The arts are serving as a vital outlet for processing trauma and amplifying the voices of those affected.
Theaters Mobilize Resources and Support
Beyond artistic expression, Minnesota’s theaters are actively providing resources and support to immigrant communities. Asian American theatre company Theater Mu released a statement in solidarity with immigrants, refugees, and protesters, accompanied by a comprehensive list of resources for immigrant and protester rights, legal aid, and community support organizations like MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee, MN8, and CAIR-MN. Park Square Theatre and Mixed Blood Theatre followed suit, sharing resources from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and mutual aid networks, respectively.
“We know firsthand that deportation breaks families apart and does not provide a path forward for those whose lives are irrevocably changed,” leaders at Theater Mu stated. “We will not let fear silence us from speaking out against actions rooted in xenophobia, racism, and hate. And we will not let fear stop us from finding strength and joy in community and creativity, for it is through these that we can fortify our reserves and build a better world.”
Theater Mu is uniquely positioned to respond, as its New Eyes Festival of works by AAPI playwrights is currently underway (January 23-25). Following tonight’s performance, the company will host a gathering for attendees to process their feelings, share resources, and find community.
Programming Pauses and Demonstrations of Solidarity
The Playwrights’ Center in St. Paul has fully paused its programming and services in solidarity with the Twin Cities community and various social justice and labor organizations. According to a company statement, the Center “continues to stand with all those who repudiate the violent tactics of ICE agents and the widespread harm they are inflicting.”
Meanwhile, Jungle Theater, while facing separate financial challenges leading to a pause in its 2025-26 season, has also voiced its support. The theater’s location on Lyndale Avenue is near Wrecktangle Pizza and Smitten Kitten, where community members recently confronted and successfully dispersed ICE agents, and launched fundraising efforts to support those impacted.
“Our hearts are heavy but full of love for our immigrant community near and far,” Jungle Theater leaders shared. “We stand in solidarity with all those that feel the weight of fear, oppression and threats that the ICE occupation has brought to our state and our nation. The artists and audiences that gather here at the Jungle must feel welcome and safe in our cozy LynLake theatre…and we need to ensure that for all, not just for some.”
The coordinated response from Minnesota’s arts community demonstrates a powerful commitment to social justice and a refusal to remain silent in the face of injustice. It underscores the vital role the arts play in times of crisis, offering both solace and a platform for meaningful change.
