About a hundred people bundled up against the cold and squinted into the rising sun while standing outside Target headquarters in downtown Minneapolis on Monday.
They were there for new CEO Michael Feddelke on first day in the office, although it was exactly a welcome wagon.
They had demands.
Demands that Feddelke, as leader of one of Minnesota’s largest corporations, take a firmer stance against increased ICE activities in the state.
Many were angry that, in some instances, ICE has staged their raids in Target parking lots, and have allowed agents to enter stores without warrants.
But most of all, they want Feddelke to speak up.
“We demand that Target publicly call to shut down Trump’s ICE,” said Veronica Mendez Moore of the ICE out now Minnesota coalition. “That they lobby congress for no additional funding for ICE in the upcoming federal budget, and that ICE should be investigated for human and constitutional violations of Americans and our neighbors.”
Feddelke has signed an open letter with 60 other CEOs of Minnesota-based companies calling for de-escalation of tensions around Operation Metro Surge.
“It is frustrating that Target hasn’t stepped up beyond a weak letter, but a new CEO gives them a chance to do the right thing," said Moore. "We call on Michael Feddelke to do what is right."
The group also called for Target to train staff members on how to deal with ICE agents, and to post signs denying access unless officers have signed judicial warrants.
The letter protesters were referring to was sent out over a week ago. More than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies including Target, Best Buy and UnitedHealth signed an open letter posted on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website calling for state, local and federal officials to work together, as businesses grapple with how to address tensions in the state and across the country following two fatal shootings by federal agents amid a massive immigration enforcement operation that has spurred protests.
Demonstrators are continuing calls from this past weekend, demanding that the company publicly oppose ICE activity on its property and ban ICE agents from entering stores.