Which Americans have worked hardest this year? Which Americans have labored under the most dangerous conditions? Which Americans have toiled 24/7 week after week and then month after month to get the job done?
The answer? Minneapolitans.
What job? The job of getting ICE out of Minneapolis. The job of stopping the killing and bleeding of ordinary people. The job of staunching the hemorrhaging of the local economy. The job of restoring to those who lived and worked in the city their safety and security.
The leader in this situation was Donald Trump. Turned out though that among his ostensible followers – Minneapolitans – were many who refused to follow. Not only did they refuse to obey orders but more importantly, they did something as opposed to doing nothing.
As recently chronicled by Emily Witt in The New Yorker, the heavy lifting done by Minneapolitans in response to federal agents killing, wounding, frightening and intimidating them was to fight back.* Or in some other way to resist. Despite the below-freezing temperatures and icy streets they:
- Documented (filmed, recorded) ICE activities that threatened people and inflicted harm.
- Protested in front of lines of “masked and armed federal agents.”
- Filed legal appeals including thousands of petitions for protection under habeas corpus.
- Endured repeated attacks including by Tasers and pepper spray.
- Endured constant surveillance.
- Endured repeated aggression by ice agents as well as threats of arrests.
- Monitored federal agents every day and night – using their vehicles to track and tail them.
- Donated mountains of groceries and other supplies to people too scared to leave their homes to shop.
- Formed groups such as Haven Watch which raised $2.5 million to support detainees newly released from custody.
- Formed informal groups to help get kids to school and to make sure that rents were being paid.
- Gave money as individuals to assist those in need. (One donated $29 million.)
- Held fund raisers and organized “cash mobs” to help struggling businesses.
I could go on. But I’ve made the point. Refusing to follow where leaders lead is hard work. Hard work that can and sometimes does pay off.
*In the September 7, 2026, issue.