ConnexionThousands sing to ICE agents in powerful protest: “It’s okay to change your mind”
Hundreds of thousands of people have been moved by a video of Minneapolis anti-ICE protestors singing to ICE agents that they can still change their minds.
The clip, posted by Now This Impact, shows thousands of protestors standing outside hotels where ICE and Border Patrol agents are staying and singing, “It’s okay to change your mind/Show us your courage, leave this behind/It’s okay to change your mind/Then you can join us, join us here anytime.” The song was written by Minneapolis community song circle leader Annie Schlaefer.
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The video has garnered over 270,000 likes and 4,000 comments, with many emphasizing the beauty and power of the moment.
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Minneapolis residents continue to inspire the nation with their virulent yet peaceful opposition to the ICE occupation of their city. The intensity of the fury over the agents’ violent tactics – which resulted in the deaths of at least two peaceful protestors – has backed the administration into a corner, spurring even many Republicans to speak out against the aggressive operation.
Out MSNow host Rachel Maddow praised the Minneapolis movement as “a political shift” driven by “the people” after Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino was demoted to his old job as Border Patrol sector chief in El Centro, California.
“It starts with the people,” Maddow said. “It starts with the protests that we have seen. Principled, peaceful, relentless protest – it works. That is the source of this shift: peaceful, powerful, relentless, principled protest works. It uses democratic means to save democracy. That has what has made all of this political shifting happen.”
The administration has announced a reduction in the number of ICE agents in the city, but residents have made it clear they will continue to protest until the entire operation is over.
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