A coalition of activists is organizing a car sit-in outside Gov. Tim Walz’s residence Friday afternoon in an effort to call attention to their demands that state prisoners and ICE detainees be released from custody amid the coronavirus crisis.
Participants plan to stay in their vehicles due to social distancing guidelines before delivering a petition that has garnered some 800 signatures, according to Celeste Robinson, one of the activists.
The group will move to St. Paul’s ICE office later to make similar demands, Robinson said.
Protesters are calling for the release of all state prisoners and ICE detainees to protect inmates from a coronavirus outbreak.
The group is asking that the most vulnerable adults being held in the facilities be released first, along with non-violent criminals being held, Robinson said, noting that inmates at Rikers Island in New York were recently released due to the pandemic.
Among those involved are members of Release MN 8, No Cages Minnesota, Black Visions Collective, Minnesota Educators Against ICE, the Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, Interfaith Coalition on Immigration, Twin Cities Never Again Action, and the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America.
Ramsey and Hennepin counties have already released many low level offenders as well as inmates considered medically vulnerable in preparation for a COVID-19 outbreak in their facilities.
Minnesota’s Department of Corrections Commissioner, Paul Schnell, could not be immediately released for comment Friday, nor could anyone from ICE’s federal communications office.