U.S. Strikes Protest Trump’s Aggressive Immigration Policies/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Massive protests erupted nationwide Friday over Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. Schools, businesses, and students participated in coordinated walkouts and strikes. Tensions intensified after high-profile deaths and aggressive ICE operations.
Trump Immigration Crackdown Quick Looks
- Protesters launched a nationwide “no work, no school” strike.
- Triggered by fatal shootings linked to immigration enforcement.
- Schools in Arizona, Colorado, and more canceled classes.
- Students led walkouts in Michigan, Georgia, and Nebraska.
- Some businesses closed or donated Friday’s proceeds to aid groups.
- Chemical agents used on protesters in Los Angeles.
- A student was struck by a vehicle at a Nebraska protest.
- ICE surge ended in Maine; residents celebrated its halt.
Deep Look: Protests Disrupt U.S. Over Trump Immigration Policies
Protesters across the United States staged sweeping demonstrations on Friday in defiance of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. The coordinated action, dubbed a nationwide “no work, no school, no shopping” strike, brought disruptions to schools, businesses, and transit in dozens of cities.
The catalyst for the unrest was the recent death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse fatally shot after filming U.S. Border Patrol agents conducting an immigration sweep in Minneapolis. His killing follows the controversial death of Renee Good, shot by an ICE officer during a vehicle stop on January 7, adding fuel to growing public outrage over the administration’s hardline enforcement tactics.
Activist platforms online amplified calls to action, urging Americans to “SHUT IT DOWN” in opposition to what they called ICE’s “reign of terror.”
Minneapolis Stays at the Center of Resistance
In Minneapolis, ground zero for recent unrest, hundreds gathered in subzero temperatures at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building. Demonstrators, led by clergy and community organizers, marched toward the secure facility, chanting slogans demanding federal agents leave the state. The protest eventually dispersed when law enforcement warned of arrests.
Michelle Pasko, a retiree from Minnetonka, said she was compelled to act after witnessing agents detaining immigrants near her home. “They’ve forgotten that everyone in this country has rights,” she said. “We’re here to remind them.”
Student-Led Walkouts Sweep the Nation
From Detroit to Georgia, students took the lead. At Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan, dozens walked out and marched to a nearby shopping district, enduring subzero temperatures in solidarity with immigrants. Logan Albritton, a senior, emphasized the need to challenge unjust enforcement policies. “This isn’t how we treat our neighbors,” he said.
In Suwanee, Georgia, 16-year-old Abigail Daugherty organized a student protest at Collins Hill High School, inspired by youth-led activism in other districts. “I finally feel like I’m doing something,” she said.
Businesses Join the Protest Movement
In addition to schools, businesses across the country responded. Some shut their doors in solidarity; others, like New York’s Otway Restaurant and Bakery, stayed open but pledged half their proceeds to immigrant advocacy organizations. Despite setbacks from a recent winter storm, Otway’s owners said the moment demanded action.
Maine Marks End of Immigration Surge
In a rare moment of relief, residents of Portland, Maine, gathered to celebrate news that ICE’s recent enforcement surge was ending, a move announced by Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Demonstrators rallied outside a local church, holding “No ICE for ME” signs.
Grace Valenzuela, an administrator with Portland Public Schools, condemned ICE’s destabilizing presence. “It causes daily trauma,” she said. Mayor Mark Dion praised the peaceful protest, calling dissent “a cornerstone of democracy.”
Los Angeles Protest Escalates
Los Angeles witnessed one of the most volatile protests. Thousands marched from City Hall to the federal detention center. As dusk fell, federal agents used chemical sprays to control the growing crowd.
Rep. Maxine Waters joined demonstrators, directly confronting officers in riot gear. “They’re trying to silence us with tear gas,” she said. “But people are standing strong.”
Nebraska Student Struck by SUV
In a harrowing moment on Thursday, a student protester in Nebraska was struck by a red SUV displaying a Trump 2024 flag during a demonstration outside Fremont High School. The vehicle, captured on video accelerating into the crowd, knocked the student to the ground before fleeing the scene. The student was hospitalized, though no further details were released.
This series of coordinated actions demonstrates widespread unrest over Trump’s immigration policies and a surging grassroots movement determined to challenge ICE’s presence in American communities.
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