A group of Target Protesters make their first court appearance Friday over anti-ICE sit-ins in Minnesota.
Four people were arraigned following their February 11 arrests during what they called a peaceful demonstration at the Dinkytown (University of Minnesota) Target store.
The group, which includes retail workers and local organizers, is facing misdemeanor trespass charges after staging a sit-in to demand the Minneapolis-based corporation publicly denounce federal immigration operations and protect its staff from ICE activity.
"So I'll ask the question plainly," Unidos organizer Jerry Halsten said. "Which is the crime? Assaulting workers inside a store? Or standing up for your community and demanding justice?"
Future court dates will determine whether these four will face fines or jail time. But local organizers are calling for the case to be dropped. Attorney Jessica West is representing them in court.
"Protests can be inconvenient, but throughout our history, people have used disruption to bring attention to public issues where other avenues have failed," West explained.
Organizers with Unidos Minnesota say they will continue to seek formal commitments from Target to prohibit its stores from being used as staging grounds for ICE, and for support from the community for those facing charges related to these demonstrations.
