'They picked the wrong state': how Minneapolis is fighting back
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 747 Ratings
🗓️ 29 January 2026
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What's behind the organization of protests in Minneapolis? The city has seen the mobilization of local rapid response networks, mutual aid groups, and observers like Alex Pretti, who was fatally shot by federal immigration agents. Organizers are drawing on lessons from movements that emerged after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, building a sustained movement for community defense.
In this episode:
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Marcia Howard (@marciahoward38thstreet), President of Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59, Community Steward of George Floyd Square
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Tamara Khandaker, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Today, President Trump promises de-escalation of ice activity in Minnesota. |
| 0:17.0 | They declared war on my state. They declared war in my city. |
| 0:25.1 | How community organizers are still showing up day after day to protect their neighbors from ice. |
| 0:33.4 | I'm Malika Bilal and this is The Take. |
| 0:47.5 | Hey everyone. Today's episode is a heavy one. |
| 0:50.3 | So let us know what it evokes for you. |
| 0:53.0 | What do you make of what's happening in Minnesota? |
| 0:56.0 | And if you're listening to this on a podcast app, |
| 1:00.3 | leave us a review and a rating. It helps other people find the show. |
| 1:10.4 | I'm Marcia Howard. I'm a high school teacher of 27 years in South Minneapolis, Minnesota. And I'm also the president of the teacher's chapter of |
| 1:12.7 | Minneapolis Federation of Educators Local 59. And I'm a neighbor and a steward of George Floyd Square, |
| 1:21.0 | which is a memorial and protest site that sprung up after the lynching of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. |
| 1:30.3 | Well, Marsha, welcome to the take. It's good to have you here, although the circumstances are not. |
| 1:36.0 | You are speaking to me from your home in Minneapolis, a city that's been in the headlines and seemingly |
| 1:41.3 | at the heart of the Trump administration's latest immigration crackdown. |
| 1:46.2 | And I know that your city is in mourning. And it's not the first time. |
| 1:52.0 | Minneapolis residents gathering at a makeshift shrine for Alex Priddy, the second U.S. citizen killed by federal officers in Minnesota in less than a month. |
| 2:01.6 | In the Twin Cities, ice is everywhere. |
| 2:04.6 | And every day, a deluge of headlines. |
| 2:07.6 | The detention of a five-year-old. |
| 2:09.6 | An internal memo authorizing ICE officers to enter homes without a judge's warrant. |
... |
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