Tens of thousands of protesters on Thursday rallied in the northern US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, as part of the national “No Kings” movement, months after it was wracked with protests due to federal immigration raids. The January raids led to the deaths of two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, at the hands of federal agents, making the city a flashpoint of US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Minneapolis hosted the flagship event for the third “No Kings” protest since the grassroots movement started last year in protest of Trump’s strongman political leadership and right-wing agenda.
Organizers later said an estimated 200,000 people went to the event.
Photo: Reuters
Famed US musician Bruce Springsteen headlined the rally in neighboring “Twin City” capitol St. Paul, during which he played his song Streets of Minneapolis, which he wrote in tribute to Good and Pretti shortly after their deaths.
“Their bravery, their sacrifice and their names will not be forgotten,” Springsteen said about the two deceased Americans.
At the rally, thousands chanted the slogan: “no Kings, no ICE [US Immigration and Customs Enforcement], no war.”
“Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare and the invasions of American cities will not stand,” Springsteen told the crowd.
Pamela Sinness, 73, said she attended the rally, because she believes “in equal rights for all people, including the immigrants who come to our country.”
“It feels wonderful to see all the like-minded people gathered here, because the people of Minnesota were very traumatized by the violence and the disrespect shown to all people, and the murders in our streets of Renee Good and Alex Pretti,” she said.
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