Monday, February 9, 2026

Minneapolis Happenings on Superbowl Sunday

Sean Snow 2-9-26

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The conflict in Minnesota has moved from the streets to the suburbs and school zones, as federal agents are continuing to target "sensitive locations" previously considered off-limits. In response, the community is building a parallel infrastructure of care, ensuring that when the government steps away from its duty to protect, neighbors step in.


Today is Monday, February 9, 2026, here's what happened yesterday in Minneapolis:


1. Parents Detained at School Bus Stops: In a shocking escalation of "sensitive location" enforcement, reports confirmed Sunday that federal agents detained multiple parents at school bus stops in Fridley and Brooklyn Center on Friday. Witnesses described unmarked SUVs pulling up as children were being dropped off, with agents questioning and detaining adults in front of elementary students. This tactic breaches long-standing norms against enforcement at schools and has sent a wave of panic through suburban school districts.

 

2. DOJ Threatens "Felony" Charges for Observers: The Department of Justice issued a stern warning on Sunday, stating that protesters who "track, surveil, or share" the location of federal officers could face felony charges for obstruction. This announcement appears to be a direct response to the success of the 30,000-strong civilian observer network in Minnesota. Civil liberties groups immediately condemned the threat, calling it an attempt to criminalize the First Amendment right to document public law enforcement activity.

 

3. Congressional Oversight Blocked Again: For the second time in three days, Representatives Angie Craig and Betty McCollum were physically barred from entering the Whipple Federal Building on Sunday. Federal officials cited an unspecified "lawsuit" to limit occupancy to only 13 people, effectively shutting out congressional members. McCollum slammed the move as unconstitutional, stating she has never seen an administration so brazenly obstruct health and safety inspections.

 

4. Retaliatory Surveillance of Observers: A new report from The Marshall Project released Sunday documents an escalation in federal harassment against community watchers. Legal observers in Minneapolis reported that masked agents have begun calling them by name and following them back to their private homes. Civil rights groups are calling these "terror tactics" designed to dismantle the community's capacity to witness state violence.

Enough darkness… here's some reasons to hope:

 

5. The "Grocery Brigade" Mobilizes: With thousands of families too terrified to leave their homes due to the bus stop raids, a massive mutual aid effort dubbed the "Grocery Brigade" launched on Sunday. School social workers and neighbors are using a fleet of personal vehicles to deliver weeks' worth of food and medicine to immigrant families in the northwest suburbs. Organizers say they are building a "mobile pantry" to ensure that no neighbor goes hungry because of federal intimidation.

 

6. Former State Rep. Hosts "Resistance Training": In a bold display of political defiance, former Minnesota State Representative Ryan Winkler announced Sunday that he is hosting "resistance training" sessions at his private home. Winkler posted a video alleging that federal agents parked outside his residence in an attempt to intimidate attendees, but stated firmly, "I will not be intimidated. None of us in Minnesota should be intimidated." The move signals that political leaders are now using their own homes as organizing hubs.

 

7. The "Whistle" Defense Spreads: While anyone who has watched videos of ICE enforcement hears the unmistakable sound of whistles, neighborhoods across the Twin Cities are pushing for greater adoption of the tactic. Reports from Sunday indicate that residents and clergy are distributing thousands of whistles to be used as an immediate alert system during raids. The piercing sound is designed to draw witnesses out of their homes instantly, ensuring that agents can no longer operate in silence or isolation.

 

8. Evangelical Leaders Break Rank: In a significant cultural shift, prominent evangelical leaders in Minnesota began speaking out on Sunday against the crackdown. The Star Tribune reported that leaders from institutions like Bethel University are publicly questioning the morality of the raids, calling them "unjust" and contrary to the teachings of Jesus. This fracture in a key voting block suggests that the "moral cost" of the operation is becoming too high for even the administration's traditional allies to ignore.

 

Here are some national news stories you should know about:

1. Clergy Arrested on Capitol Hill: In a massive show of solidarity with Minnesota, over 500 faith leaders from across the nation descended on the Senate office buildings in D.C. to demand an end to ICE funding. The "Pray with Your Feet" day of action resulted in 54 arrests as clergy refused to leave the rotunda, singing hymns and reading testimonies from families separated by the surge. The protest successfully forced a national conversation on the morality of the budget.

2. GOP Revives "SAVE Act" to Purge Voter Rolls: Congressional Republicans have fast-tracked a new version of the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility" (SAVE) Act, a bill that would require every American to provide physical documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or original birth certificate, in order to register to vote. Voting rights advocates warn that this is a "solution in search of a problem" designed to disenfranchise over 21 million eligible citizens who lack ready access to these specific documents. The bill is expected to disproportionately purge young voters, communities of color, and millions of married women whose current legal names do not match their birth certificates, creating administrative chaos just ahead of the 2026 midterms.

 

Mend what is within reach


A great Mexican-American writer, Clarissa Pinkola Estés , said, "Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach." The resistance in Minnesota isn't about grand gestures…it's about the small, daily refusals to accept the unacceptable. Whether it is a whistle blown on a quiet street, a grocery delivery to a frightened neighbor, or taking action on educating others on important new legislation, these actions help mend the fabric of our community. We do not have to solve the whole problem to make a difference…we just have to protect what is in front of us. 


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