Nationwide Strike And Protests Challenge ICE After Fatal Shootings

On Friday, January 30, 2026, cities across the United States are bracing for a sweeping wave of protests and an ambitious national general strike, as activists, local businesses, and even celebrities rally to demand an end to aggressive federal immigration enforcement. This coordinated action, dubbed the "National Shutdown," is a direct response to the recent deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, both fatally shot by federal agents, and a broader outcry over the ramped-up activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

According to LAist, Los Angeles will be among the many cities joining the nationwide "ICE Out" protests, with demonstrations planned at multiple locations throughout the city on both Friday and Saturday. Protesters are calling for the immediate withdrawal of federal immigration agents, citing a summer of intensified raids and the tragic deaths that have galvanized communities from coast to coast. Organizers hope the energy seen last week—when thousands marched in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and other cities—will only be amplified this time around.

The centerpiece of Friday’s actions is a national general strike that asks Americans to withhold their labor, pause school attendance, and refrain from shopping for the entire day. As reported by Business Insider, the goal is clear: create an economic blackout that underscores the protest’s urgency while giving people the chance to join local demonstrations. "Withholding our labor and capital is our most effective leverage. National general strike—spread the word!" wrote comedian Hannah Einbinder in a widely shared Instagram post, echoing the call to action that has spread rapidly through social media channels.

Celebrity endorsements have lent the strike a powerful boost. Ariana Grande, Mark Ruffalo, Jenna Ortega, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Pedro Pascal have all publicly supported the movement, sharing graphics and heartfelt messages. Pascal, for instance, posted an image of the two Minnesotans killed by federal agents with the caption, "Truth is a line of demarcation between a democratic government and authoritarian regime. Mr Pretti and Rene Good are dead. The American people deserve to know what happened." Actor Edward Norton, speaking to the Los Angeles Times at the Sundance Film Festival, weighed in: "I think what they're doing in Minnesota with the strike needs to expand. I think we should be talking about a national general economic strike until this is over."

The roots of this national action can be traced to Minnesota, where, on January 23, more than 50,000 people braved subzero temperatures to march against ICE operations. As reported by Indivisible Twin Cities and the Minnesota Star Tribune, over 700 businesses shuttered in solidarity, while the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation—representing more than 80,000 workers—issued a forceful endorsement. Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, the federation’s president, stated, "Working people, our schools and our communities are under attack. Union members are being detained commuting to and from work, tearing apart families. Parents are being forced to stay home, students held out of school, fearing for their lives, all while the employer class remains silent. Our labor federations are encouraging everyone to participate ... It’s time for every single Minnesotan who loves this state and the notion of truth and freedom to raise their voices and deepen their solidarity for our neighbors and coworkers living under this federal occupation."

Friday’s strike is being organized by National Shutdown, a decentralized grassroots coalition endorsed by hundreds of organizations, including CodePink, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the LA Tenants Union, the Palestinian Youth Movement, and student groups at the University of Minnesota. The strike is a continuation of the momentum built in Minnesota, where local businesses like Catzen Coffee closed their doors, inviting customers to find community and solidarity instead. Vanessa Beardsley, owner of Catzen, told Business Insider, "I thought the strike was extremely successful. There were so many who participated that it served as a true roadmap for a larger general strike. For me personally, there was overwhelming comfort and gratitude that I live in Minnesota and that we are all standing together in this time of history."

In California, the movement is also gaining traction. Multiple Redlands-area businesses, including Slow Bloom Coffee, Hoji Tea Room, Happy Medium Deli, and Herman York Wine Company, have announced closures for January 30, offering paid time off to employees so they can attend protests. Slow Bloom Coffee, a worker-owned cooperative, wrote on Instagram, "As a worker-owned cooperative, we believe labor has power. On Friday, we’ll be closed for the general strike. Our workers will be paid and we’ll be using the day to organize and attend the protest together. No business as usual, but collective action instead." Hoji Tea Room added, "For us, closing up shop for a day hurts, but this is our mere offering to show support."

Demonstrations are scheduled throughout the Los Angeles area, with Friday’s events including gatherings at City Hall, the First Unitarian Church in Koreatown, Harvey Milk Promenade in Long Beach, The Culver Steps in Culver City, and The Valley Mall in El Monte. On Saturday, another major protest will take place at Los Angeles City Hall. In the Inland Empire, the AFL-CIO’s Inland Empire Labor Council has pledged to attend the Riverside protest, further highlighting the involvement of organized labor, even as the strike lacks formal backing from major national unions and instead relies on voluntary participation.

Despite the groundswell of support, the actual impact of the strike remains uncertain. As noted by Community Forward Redlands, participation is expected to vary significantly from one community to another, with some localities seeing broad business closures and others only a handful. The White House, for its part, has defended its immigration operations. In a statement, spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the administration’s efforts "have resulted in countless dangerous criminal illegals being removed from the streets," arguing that these actions "create a safer environment where all businesses can thrive in the long term and their customers can feel safe."

Organizers of the National Shutdown are undeterred. As the National Shutdown website proclaims, "The entire country is shocked and outraged at the brutal killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Good, Silverio Villegas González, and Keith Porter Jr. by federal agents. While Trump and other right wing politicians are slandering them as 'terrorists,' the video evidence makes it clear beyond all doubt: they were gunned down in broad daylight simply for exercising their First Amendment right to protest mass deportation." The website calls for unity: "Every day, ICE, Border Patrol and other enforcers of Trump’s racist agenda are going into our communities to kidnap our neighbors and sow fear. It is time for us to all stand up together in a nationwide shutdown and say enough is enough!"

With hundreds of organizations on board and a growing list of businesses and individuals pledging support, Friday’s strike and protests may mark a pivotal moment in the national debate over immigration enforcement. Whether the economic blackout will force a change in policy or simply serve as a powerful symbol of resistance remains to be seen, but for thousands across the country, January 30 will be a day of collective action, remembrance, and, above all, hope for a different future.