Thanks to Zak’s Auto Service and Block Portrait Studios for their support.
Mothers sat within a circle of nearly 100 people inside the West St. Paul Target this morning as the main speaker led them in a call-and-response anthem to the beat of a drum. They sang various pro-community messages, including, “We are many, we are one,” and, “Bring the families home.” The sit-in lasted about 20 minutes.
Why: The “peaceful sit-in,” as one participant called it, was organized by the local activist group Unidos. It was in response to Target’s inaction toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) incidents in the Twin Cities and even within Target stores themselves.
- Mothers: The focus for this demonstration was to highlight mothers who have been separated from their children by ICE.
- Pressure: Multiple participants said that Unidos aimed to increase pressure toward Target declaring itself a “Fourth Amendment business” in order to not allow ICE to operate on its property.
- Broader context: Minnesota clergy were supposed to have a meeting today with the Target CEO surrounding this issue, according to Bring Me The News, but were rescheduled.
Community Members Speak Up
“The silence of Target has been deafening,” said Jessica, mother of two, who asked her full name not be used. She joined the sit-in through a last-minute invitation from her friends. “I’ve been upset that ICE has staged some of their organizing in the Target parking lots and the workers who have been nabbed or taken by ICE from Target.”
The event was “focused, peaceful, and direct,” according to KaeJae Johnson, a local activist and grandmother of four, who attended the sit-in after canceling a march planned on Robert Street due to the weather.
“This is terrorism,” she said. “Terrorizing black and brown communities. We’re always the target, and being at Target, always the target.”
Kids’ Fears
Both Jessica and Johnson have had their children or grandchildren come to them about their fears surrounding ICE. Jessica had the conversation with her 8-year-old child after she experienced nightmares about them. Johnson spoke with her granddaughter after her friend’s father was deported.
“That is a hard conversation to have with a sixth-grader in explaining to them the hatred that [exists] toward not only her friend, but us as well,” Johnson recalled. “But having that conversation with the Black community, we already have to have it.”
Racial Profiling Fears
Johnson’s great grandmother immigrated to America from East Africa—she and her family are natural-born citizens. Still, she has witnessed the effects of racial profiling firsthand.
“To celebrate my African culture, I used to keep my hair wrapped. I removed my wrap, my hairstyle, and I now currently ride around with my passport and my card to prove that I’m a U.S. citizen,” she said. “It’s a big fear of mine. One, because I am very vocal, being targeted, and two, because I’m a dark-skinned American, that they will look at me and target me. I’ve been an advocate for over 30 years. I don’t think I’ve ever been afraid until now.”
White People Step Up
Johnson alleges that the sit-in was predominantly white, largely due to fears from affected minority groups.
“As a white person, my role is to support voices, especially BIPOC voices, in our community, and not center myself as much as I possibly can,” said Lauren Hazenson, who helped organize the event. “But I think it’s important for white people [that] they be on the front lines. Because we do have privilege, and certain institutions do behave towards us differently. And so in those situations, it is less of a risk.”
“Our support is escalating, but how we’re living is going backward,” Johnson said. “Don’t [just] show up at the protest. Show up in everyday life to support people.”
Why West St. Paul?
Hazenson collaborated with Unidos as part of her role in Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and was the one who suggested the West St. Paul Target as the location for today’s sit-in.
“I’ve seen in West St. Paul, many people have stepped up in terms of delivering groceries, or speaking out, or going to legal observer trainings,” she explained. “It’s made me incredibly proud to be a West St. Paul resident.”
West St. Paul police were aware of the protest but did not receive calls and were not on the scene.
Target and Unidos did not respond to our request for comment.
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(Photos by Connye LaCombe)
The lady’s comment about us whites belonging on the front lines in all this – shaZAM! Yes! Also because it’s our turn! Civil rights movement showed us the way & that sacrifice can well be a part of it. I’m already old anyway, so if this takes me out, why not out with a bang!?