Protesters mounted a disruptive sit-in at MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport on Friday to oppose deportation flights removing violent criminal migrants from Minnesota.
According to the Daily Caller, the demonstration was organized by the Minnesota chapter of the left-wing 50501 Movement, which issued a social media call-to-action early Friday, claiming a plane carrying shackled deportees would arrive at 12:40 p.m. Activists converged on a gated outdoor area, brandishing signs, linking arms and singing about how they would all go down to jail if necessary, as shown in footage published by the leftist outlet BreakThrough News.
The groups online post declared, Confirmed ICE deportation flight coming to MSP, Fri Jan 23, estimated arrival: 12:40 PM, and specified that Shackled deportees will board at Signature Aviation between Terminal 1 & 2. The organizers even instructed supporters on where to watch the operation, advising them to Observe from Terminal 1 parking ramp gold 7 is best, red 8 and silver 9 also work, and to Track: www.flightaware.com/live/flight/.
Leftist magazine In These Times reported that the protest escalated into civil disobedience as demonstrators flooded the roadway outside the gate, obstructing traffic at a major transportation hub. BreakThrough News likewise characterized the action as a sit-in, noting that activists camped on the sidewalk for at least an hour while chanting, singing, marching and delivering speeches through a megaphone.
While protesters attempted to portray the deportees as victims, federal authorities have emphasized the public-safety stakes of the operation. ICEs ongoing enforcement surge in Minnesota has targeted illegal immigrants convicted of grave offenses, including murder, criminal sexual conduct, assault and cruelty toward a child, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Video from the scene captured demonstrators singing, Everybodys got a right to live, and before this campaign fails, well all go down to jail, as they rallied against immigration enforcement. Marchers carried placards reading ICE out, prosecute ICE terrorists, De-ICE MN, No secret police and No kings, the latter a direct jab at President Donald Trump, alongside biblical-themed signs declaring Love thy neighbor and leave our neighbors alone!
The MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport media office did not immediately address why authorities allowed traffic-blocking tactics at a secure facility. The DHS likewise did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations requests for comment, even as federal agents continue efforts to remove dangerous criminal offenders who entered the country illegally.
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