2026 United States general strike

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2026 United States general strike
Part of the protests against mass deportation during the second Trump administration
PSL Triangle NC Stand with Minnesota Protest - Jan 30 2026. (2).jpg
ICE Out protest in Durham, North Carolina on January 30, 2026.
DateJanuary 30, 2026 [1]
Location
Flag of the United States.svg USA
Caused by
Goals
Methods General strike, demonstrations, walkouts, business closures
StatusConcluded
ConcessionsNone
Parties

Protesters and strikers:

Lead figures

    The 2026 United States general strike, also known as the National Shutdown or ICE Out, [9] [2] was a labor stoppage and protest which took place across the United States on January 30, 2026 in opposition to expanded federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and the Donald Trump administration's mass deportation policies. [10] [11] [12]

    Contents

    Background

    On January 23, 2026, the 2026 Minnesota general strike took place in opposition to Operation Metro Surge and in protest of the lack of investigation or prosecution of ICE agents involved in the Killing of Renée Good on January 7, 2026. Despite the success of the strike, the Federal Government did not meet the demands of the strikers and protesters. The following day, January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti was killed after being shot multiple times by Customs and Border Protection Agents. [13] [14]

    Organization

    An anti-ICE sign in Los Angeles featuring a frog Anti-Ice Protest Sign -- "No Kings, Just Frogs".jpg
    An anti-ICE sign in Los Angeles featuring a frog

    On January 26, 2026, University of Minnesota Student Unions called for a second general strike on January 30, 2026. [15] [16] This was in response to the killing of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, and the success of the first general strike. [17] On January 27, 2026, it was announced the event would be called the 'National Shutdown'. [5] The organizing coalition comprises the UMN Graduate Labor Union, AFSCME Local 3800, the Black Student Union, and the University of Minnesota's Student Government, among others. The organizers stated their demands are as follows:

    The organizers are also demanding for ICE be abolished. [18]

    Responses

    On January 30, amid the general strike, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that there would be a federal civil rights investigation into the killing of Pretti, and the DHS announced that the FBI would lead the investigation. [19] [20] Blanche refused to also lead an investigation regarding the killing of Renée Good. [21]

    Members of the Federal government, namely Donald Trump [22] and Stephen Miller, have stated there will be no de-escalation or change in policy. Steven Bannon has responded by saying “You don’t need to bring down the temperature, raise the temperature.” [23]

    Protests in Eugene, Oregon were declared a riot and the local police force deployed tear gas at the protesters. Police officials claimed that protesters had illegally entered the Police Department building, but there is no known evidence of this. [24]

    See also

    References

    1. ↑ Debusmann Jr, Bernd; Goodwin, Grace Eliza (January 29, 2026). "Republicans and Democrats reach funding package deal, US president says". BBC News . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    2. 1 2 3 Anderson, Brooke (January 29, 2026). "'National Shutdown Day': Anti-ICE general strike planned across US for 30 January". The New Arab . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    3. ↑ Kaplan, Juliana (January 29, 2026). "No work, no school, no shopping: A general strike to protest ICE is attempting to go national". Business Insider . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    4. 1 2 3 4 Akaolisa, Tom (January 26, 2026). "UMN Student Unions Escalate Protests With Second General Strike Set for Jan. 30". Minneapolimedia. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
    5. 1 2 3 4 "FRI JAN 30 NATIONAL SHUTDOWN". National Shutdown. January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Adamczeski, Ryan. "No work, no school, no shopping: What to know about the Jan. 30 general strike". Advocate . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    7. ↑ Litwin, Laura (January 30, 2026). "'We Have a Voice': Nurses Provide a Firsthand Look at the New York City Nurses Strike". Cancer Nursing Today.
    8. ↑ "PSL Statement: Another murder by federal agents in Minneapolis – Expand the General Strike!". January 24, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    9. ↑ "'ICE Out' strike and protests: what to know about demonstrations across the US". The Guardian . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    10. ↑ O'Connor, Michael. "Virginia groups join call for nationwide general strike on Friday". Virginia Dogwood. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    11. ↑ Garcia, Nia (January 27, 2026). "Anti-ICE "National Shutdown" protest scheduled for Friday". FOX11 . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    12. ↑ Barraza, Paris (January 29, 2026). "'What else can we do?' Boyle Heights to participate in Jan. 30 strike". USA Today.
    13. ↑ Mackey, Robert (January 25, 2026). "Alex Pretti did not brandish gun, witnesses say in sworn testimony". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on January 25, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
    14. ↑ Breen, Kerry (January 24, 2026). "37-year-old man shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. Here's what to know". CBS News . Archived from the original on January 25, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
    15. ↑ Walters, Lili (January 26, 2026). "Outrage and Organization in Minneapolis: Chronicle from a Historic Uprising". Left Voice. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
    16. ↑ Vračar, Ana (January 26, 2026). "Trade unions, left in Europe express solidarity with Minnesota general strike". People's Dispatch. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
    17. ↑ Kennedy, Kaitlyn (January 26, 2026). "University of Minnesota student groups call for expanded strike against ICE terror". Tag24 . Retrieved January 26, 2026.
    18. ↑ Stevenson, Sam (January 27, 2026). "Anti-ICE Protesters Call For Nationwide Shutdown on January 30". Newsweek . Retrieved January 27, 2026.
    19. ↑ Biesecker, Michael; Santana, Rebecca (January 30, 2026). "DOJ has opened a federal civil rights probe into the death of Alex Pretti, deputy AG says". AP News. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    20. ↑ "Massive crowds turn out at anti-ICE protests as DOJ opens civil rights probe into Pretti's shooting death". CNN. January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    21. ↑ Kim, Clarissa-Jan; McShane, Julianne (January 30, 2026). "DOJ doing civil rights investigation of Pretti killing after all". MS NOW . Retrieved January 30, 2026.
    22. ↑ Benen, Stephen (January 30, 2026). "Rejecting 'de-escalation,' Trump ups the ante in his offensive against Alex Pretti". MS NOW.
    23. ↑ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan (January 30, 2026). "Trump Called for 'De-Escalation' in Minneapolis. It Didn't Last Long". New York Times.
    24. ↑ Wilk, Nathan; Ziegler, Zac (January 30, 2026). "Protest in Eugene declared a 'riot' by police after daylong 'general strike' events". Oregon Public Broadcasting . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
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