EMU students took part in a Mennonite Action protest on Saturday, Feb. 14, which asked for Target to end its compliance with ICE. The protest took place at the Harrisonburg Target location and was a part of a wider protest occurring in cities across the United States that began in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ICE agents have made many controversial arrests across Minnesota, which has led to immense public scrutiny. This criticism has extended beyond ICE itself and onto corporations that have been compliant with the agency. Target, in particular, has faced backlash because of its connection to the city, with its corporate headquarters being located in Minneapolis.
Maria Longenecker, a senior at EMU, explained the importance of protesting Target in Harrisonburg, saying that it shows “solidarity with people in Minneapolis.” She also made it clear that this action was about protecting the local immigrant community in addition to the national one. Longenecker said that if implemented, the demands being made by Mennonite Action could help make Target a safer place.
Tim Godshall, a member of Mennonite Action, further emphasized the importance of protest across the country, saying, “Putting pressure on Target stores around the country sends a strong message to the corporate headquarters in Minnesota, that Christians and people of conscience around the country are looking to Target to take a moral stand against the cruelty we’ve seen from ICE.”
Protesters came together at the front of the store and sang hymns, which have long been used as an act of protest by Mennonites. According to the Mennonite Action Press Release, the protest made four demands of Target: “Publicly call for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave Minnesota. Post signs in its stores that deny entrance to immigration agents, absent a signed judicial warrant. Train store staff on how to respond if agents arrive. Publicly call for Congress to end ICE funding.”
Target’s CEO, Michael Fiddelke, was one of 60 CEO’s who signed a letter “calling for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions.” (via Associated Press). This letter came after the death of Alex Pretti.
Despite this letter, Target has yet to take any substantive action relating to ICE. Stores have taken action against protesters, with some protests resulting in arrests and store bans. The protesters in Harrisonburg were escorted out of the store by police less than ten minutes after the protest began.
When asked about Target’s action towards protesters and lack of response to ICE, Longenecker said, “It is just kind of frustrating and enraging…it’s becoming so clear where these large corporations stand, and how money is speaking so clearly in these situations. I think this is another instance that illustrates that.” Longenecker went on to say that “ICE has a lot of momentum and power” and that Target’s refusal to stand up to them only gives them more power.
Longenecker wanted to be clear that the blame should not be on everyday people who shop at Target; the message is targeted at the power of the corporation and the choices it is making. Godshall further highlighted the importance of targeting corporations, saying, “If we can get corporations to start withdrawing their support from injustice and overreach by authoritarian government, that just adds to the body of resistance. Corporations such as Target have brand recognition throughout the whole country. And I think having a corporation like that step out and say that they’re opposed to ICE would be a big boost to the movement.”
A partisan line has seemingly been drawn on the issue of immigration control, but the people of Mennonite Action are pushing against this line. Longenecker said, “This action, very specifically, wanted to exclude explicitly political language.” To her, immigration can be an issue that unites people across party lines rather than separates them. She continued, “This issue can be something that we can all agree on, regardless of what political party we’re in. And so I think grounding it in the theology of Mennonite action, liberation theology, was really central to what brought everyone together.”
Godshall spoke further to the importance of this action being rooted in theology. He said, “We’re speaking on our Mennonite and Christian values that are completely running opposite to what we see in ICE’s actions and cruel treatment of our immigrant neighbors. The Bible’s very clear in its call to welcome immigrants among us.” He added, “This seems to us like an outgrowth of our Christian faith.”
When asked what he would tell Christians who disagree with their protest and support ICE, Godshall said, “Look in the Bible and read the passages where it’s very clear how Jesus responded to the poorest among us, responded to the strangers and those who are outcast by society.” Godshall made it clear that Jesus did not just speak to the oppressed but also spoke out against and confronted those in power.
