Minnesota Protesters are Standing Up for Justice

by Justin Recla, USW Staff Representative, Minneapolis, District 11

As a resident of the Minneapolis area, I feel a responsibility to share with my USW family my firsthand account of what has been happening on the streets here.  

I’ve been to the protests over ICE, and I’ve participated in them. If you haven’t seen it in person, it might be challenging to fully grasp the situation here. Many news outlets are either providing a superficial view or presenting a distorted narrative of the actual events unfolding on the ground. 

My fellow citizens, neighbors, brothers, and sisters are not paid agitators; they are peacefully protesting and defending individuals who are being victimized. The principles they are fighting for are no different from the principles we hold as a union – principles that emphasize representation, ensuring equal treatment, defending due process, and more. That’s what’s happening on the streets here.  

Most citizens in Minnesota support common-sense immigration laws, but these laws must be accompanied by due process. Forcing someone off the street, assaulting them, depriving them of their civil rights, and deporting them without due process violates the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.  

This same principle applies to employers terminating or disciplining employees. A unionized employee is entitled to due process, which allows them to present their case to an arbitrator. In the United States, everyone has the right to present their case in court before being deprived of life, liberty, or property.   

ICE isn’t targeting violent criminals; they’re targeting brown people, regardless of their citizenship status – whether they’re born here, arrived legally or illegally. Their actions are intended to intimidate, instill fear, and violate our rights.  

But we didn’t remain quiet. We acted in the spirit of Minnesotans, protecting our neighbors. We’ve peacefully protested – to stand up for those who can’t. This is no different from what we do every day in our union.  

What we’re doing here in Minnesota isn’t political in the sense of Democrat or Republican; it’s about what’s right and what’s wrong.  

So, as you watch the news or read comments on social media, don’t fall for the rhetoric. We are not paid agitators – we are your friends, brothers, sisters, siblings, and coworkers who’ve decided not to stand by and let this happen on our watch.