Nationwide 'National Shutdown' protests target ICE as businesses close

Crowds across the US staged protests against ICE on Friday in a general strike billed as a "National Shutdown," with some local businesses closing for the day amid the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Organizers called for a 24-hour general strike asking students to skip school, business owners to close, and consumers to refrain from spending.

Some small and medium-sized businesses posted on social media that they'd be closed for the day, while others said they would remain open but support workers who wanted to participate. Examples cited included Touchstone Climbing, which said its California gyms were closed and that hourly employees scheduled to work would be paid, and Medium, which told employees they were free to take Friday off.

Photos showed demonstrators holding "ICE Out" signs and gathering in Los Angeles, Washington, DC, New York City, Boston, Minneapolis, and other cities. The protests followed growing tensions in communities where the administration has deployed federal agents and came after two recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis.

Renee Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot after confrontations with federal agents within a span of a few weeks, and Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse, was killed by a Border Patrol agent. Hundreds of local businesses in Minnesota participated in an economic blackout last week, and the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation endorsed the general strike.

national shutdown, protests against ice, general strike, immigration enforcement efforts, renee good, alex pretti, touchstone climbing closures, medium employees off, ice out signs, department of justice investigation, minnesota economic blackout, minneapolis regional labor federation, border patrol agent