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About 20 people peacefully protested inside Target in West St. Paul this morning as part of a larger effort that included 19 Target stores across the Twin Cities.
Why: Event organizers urged Target to take a stand in the face of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, specifically citing the two employees detained at the Richfield Target store.
Who: “We shop here all the time, Target customer for 40 years,” said the local organizer, who gave her name as Donna. “We’re all loyal neighbors to Target and we would like Target to be the same for us and for all of our neighbors too.”
What happened:
- Protest: The protesters addressed the store manager and presented a signed petition and signs they wanted displayed on the door declaring Fourth Amendment rights. The group sang one protest song and had fliers to distribute.
- Target response: The Target manager gladly took the materials and promised to pass them along to corporate. He informed them they could not distribute literature and if they were going to demonstrate they’d have to do it on the sidewalk and off Target property. He emphasized he was enforcing company policy and just doing his job.
- Police response: Four West St. Paul police officers were on the scene and one addressed the protestors, asking them to leave the property or they would be arrested. About half the group left then. The remaining group stood around chatting for another 15 or 20 minutes before also leaving. As she left, Donna thanked and shook hands with the Target manager and the West St. Paul police officers. The entire protest lasted about 40 minutes.
“I’m an educator, Target has been a great partner of education, but right now our kids are terrified,” Donna said. “We need Target to be a safe place and be a good neighbor with us as they’ve always been.”
Earlier this month a larger group gathered for a sit-in at the West St. Paul Target.
Video From the Scene
Protestors talking to the store manager (link):
Protestors singing (link):
Police talking to the protestors (link):
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Thanks for being kind and for leaving a private company when asked nicely. Your short presence had impact as does this site.
Remember not to SHOP there..I loved target ..but no longer will shop there..same with my 3 friends..and we are doing what ever is true and honest to get more people not to shop there