Thousands of people paraded in Minneapolis on Friday to protest against the raids by the US immigration police, after weeks of tension that led to the shooting deaths of two activists.
The day of action, called “national blackout”, was called by organizations defending migrants after the commotion caused for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Among the participants was rock star Bruce Springsteen, who sang for the audience a song dedicated to the memory of both fallen activists.
The protest was also supported by Democrats who control the state of Minnesota and Minneapolis, a sanctuary city that refuses to cooperate with agencies that fight illegal immigration.
This policy of raids and deportations is one of the main points on Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Trump had announced this week a “de-escalation” of operations after the shock caused by those two deathsinvestigated by the federal government.
The president removed the Border Patrol commander who was leading the operations from Minneapolis and sent Tom Homan, his border czar, in his place.
But after the appearance of a new protest video by Alex Pretti, prior to his death, Trump once again showed a strong hand, calling the deceased activist an “agitator and, perhaps, an insurrectionist.”
Its attorney general, Pam Bondi, criticized for initially describing both activists as “terrorists,” announced charges against Don Lemon, a well-known journalist and former CNN anchor who entered a church in Saint Paul, an adjacent city to Minneapolis, two weeks ago with other reporters and activists.
That protest, broadcast live by Lemon, occurred because activists accused the pastor of being an official of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE).
Lemon’s lawyer confirmed that he was detained in Los Angeles, adding that his work covering the protest “It was no different from what he has always done”.
According to the testimonies collected in the initial investigation, Lemon would have entered along with the protesters and interrogated the parishioners live, frightened by this incursion.
Lemon is charged with conspiracy to deprive of rights and interfere with First Amendment rights, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told AFP.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects freedom of expression, including religion.
A judge in Minnesota last week declined to charge Lemon.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the “blatant attack” against the press.
The Democratic minority leader in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, called for the journalist’s immediate release.
Democrats, united in their attempt to block Trump’s immigration agenda, achieved government budget paralysis by refusing to vote on several budget items this Friday.
Negotiations between the White House and the opposition continue to reach an agreement between now and Monday.
Trump took to Truth Social to describe Pretti, the 37-year-old nurse shot dead by immigration agents on January 25, as an “agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist”.
“Alex Pretti’s value has plummeted with the newly released video in which he is seen screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE agent,” the president wrote.
Images shared online this week allegedly show Pretti in a struggle with federal agents 11 days before he was shot and killed.
AFP could not immediately verify the footage, which shows a man said to be Pretti kicking and breaking the taillight of the officers’ car before they get out and wrestle him to the ground.
During the struggle with the agents, what appears to be a holstered weapon can be seen at the back of the protester’s waist.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Friday that the Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death.
