After troubling news from Minneapolis, where a 37-year-old woman was shot and killed by an ICE agent, a late afternoon vigil in Mankato included a prayer and call for action.
Sponsored by the Mankato-St. Peter and Rochester branch of ISAIAH, a multi-faith organization, a somber crowd held signs, joined a quiet protest, and listened to several organizers encourage those in attendance to spur local elected officials to take stronger action against the growing federal law endorsement and deportation efforts by federal authorities.
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“Enough is enough,” said David Mesta, lead organizer for COPAL, an immigrant rights organization. “Our communities can’t wait any longer.”
ISAIAH organizer Olivia Bergen issued this statement, in part:
“Today, an ICE agent shot and killed a legal observer in Minneapolis …They have killed a U.S. citizen, and they are terrorizing our immigrant neighbors and anyone who looks Black and Brown. We must be clear: ICE’s attacks on our communities are motivated by hatred and fueled by violence and fueled by violence and incompetence, and the outcome is predictable and horrifying.
“We must speak out together, and demand ICE out of Minnesota now … Now is a moment to stand together with our neighbors, honor the victim and demand justice and accountability.”
Minneapolis officials identified the woman who died as Renee Nicole Good, who recently moved to the Twin Cities area. According to reports, she leaves a 6-year-old son.
Mesta, who has been active in the Greater Mankato area in training sessions for “constitutional observers,” said ICE activities in rural Minnesota include the St. James area. Other organizations have noted ICE efforts in the Worthington area, where reports include agents have turned up at schools.
“They put everyone at risk,” Mesta said of these ICE activities. “The families don’t even know where they are (if detained).”
Two local organizers, saying they are members of the Global Civilian Coalition, both called for deeper involvement from local elected officials.
“The (Mankato) city council has a lot of power in this but so far have been silent,” said Ava Corey-Gruenes of Mankato, formerly from Albert Lea.
She noted that Mankato Wards 1, 3 and 5 are up for election in 2026, adding that local residents should begin to attend governmental meetings and demand local action against ICE deportation efforts.
Corey-Gruenes was joined by fellow activist Chris Schoenstedt of Mankato, who struggled emotionally through reiterating a call for action.
For Mesta, the work continues, he said, but “this (vigil) has been meaningful” and hopes local efforts will continue “protecting our immigrant communities.”
“We are preparing,” he added. “We are preparing.”