The Black Lives Matter yard signs have faded. The marches that once stretched for blocks after George Floyd’s murder are no longer a nightly sight. But in Minnesota, something is stirring again.
This time it is not one viral video alone driving people into the streets. It is a series of immigration raids, fatal encounters with federal agents and a growing sense that the crackdown has reached beyond undocumented immigrants. The protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul do not look like the summer of 2020. They are colder, more local, less theatrical. But to some residents, they feel more rooted, CNN reported.
Immigration through a racial lens
US President Donald Trump has framed his immigration crackdown as a campaign against dangerous criminals. His administration has said it is targeting the “worst of the worst.” But the events in Minnesota have complicated that message.
Critics argue that the raids have swept up legal residents and US citizens and have disproportionately affected Somali and other immigrant communities. Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship and restrict travel from certain countries has added to the perception that race and ethnicity are central to the policy.
Recent polls suggest that public support for Trump’s handling of immigration may be softening. What was once one of his strongest issues is now under sharper scrutiny.
For many protesters, this is no longer just about border policy. It is about who belongs here and who gets the benefit of the doubt.
When the victims look familiar
The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have changed the emotional tone of the protests. Both were white and US citizens. Supporters say their killings have landed differently with some Americans who did not mobilize in the same way after Floyd’s death.
History shows that race can shape sympathy. During the civil rights era, the murders of white activists in Selma drew national attention in ways that earlier killings of Black activists did not. It was unfair, but it was real.
Some see a similar pattern emerging now. When people see victims who look like their neighbours or relatives, the issue can feel less abstract.
Beyond viral outrage
The summer of 2020 was powered by images. A single photograph or video clip could bring thousands into the streets. But that momentum faded. A proposed federal police reform bill stalled. Backlash followed. Many wondered whether the movement had changed much beyond the moment.
In Minnesota, organizers appear to be trying something steadier. Community groups are coordinating legal observers. Churches are offering space and support. Neighbours are sharing information in group chats when enforcement operations happen nearby. Volunteers are bringing groceries to families afraid to leave home.
It is less dramatic than massive marches. It is also harder to ignore once you are part of it.
A movement that spreads quietly
What started in Minneapolis has begun to ripple outward. Faith leaders in other cities are seeking training on how to respond to immigration arrests. Community groups in places not typically associated with progressive activism are forming networks to support immigrants.
No one knows whether this will grow into a national reckoning. Immigration remains divisive. Many Americans still want strict enforcement. The country is more polarized than it was in 2020.
But something feels different. The focus is less on symbolic gestures and more on day-to-day solidarity. Less on hashtags and more on showing up.
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