Breaking The Federal Wheel Will Require Coordination, Cooperation And Courage

By Conrad Zbikowskim and Kayseh Magan, Minnesota Reformer

January 23, 2026

President Donald Trump is replaying 2020, in the same city, blocks from the same intersection. This time he is unleashing everything to try to win. That is the only measure of success for the egoist. He sees the same governor as his opponent, the same mayor as a thorn in his paw. That’s why his administration launched a criminal investigation against them, even after six Minnesota federal prosecutors reportedly resigned in protest over the (non) investigation of the killing of Renee Good. This time, he is using every federal lever to escalate the conflict with Minneapolis and Minnesota as an accelerant to his authoritarian takeover. Gov. Tim Walz was right when he said in his address that Trump, “wants more violence on our streets.”

“We cannot give him what he wants,” Walz said. There are reports that 1,500 active duty military are on standby for deployment to Minneapolis.

The future of our democracy — or its grim alternative — is being decided on the streets of Minneapolis and cities and towns across this country.

The killing of Good has been uniquely radicalizing for tens of millions of people across America. Americans saw themselves in the face of Good, who was killed, according to an autopsy, by a shot to the left temple. “I am not afraid of you.”

I was in Powderhorn Park and on East Lake Street on Jan. 10. Twenty thousand demonstrators peaceably assembled and made their free voices heard — f*ck included. Signs read, “We don’t have enough salt,” “ICE out of our schools,” and “federal agents are domestic terrorists.” Indigenous dancers performed with drums.

“I want Trump to know Somali-Americans are always going to be here,” said Fahad Mo, 26, at the protest. “Immigrants are always going to be here.”

Mo is Somali American and part of the Cedar-Riverside Protection Alliance, working to protect the Somali community in the neighborhood.

The federal shooting in north Minneapolis further escalated things. Tear gas. Pepper balls. Rubber bullets. Trump’s men desperately want to start a riot on their own terms. On Jan. 15, Trump again threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act.

Shawn Jackson was accidentally caught in the middle on Jan. 14 with kids in the car. Flashbangs triggered the air bags. Tear gas caused the baby to stop breathing and Jackson started CPR resuscitation before the kids could make it to the hospital.

The videos of unconstitutional violence are self-evident. Most Americans know that racism and sexism are not patriotism. More and more parent groups and Bible studies across this country are becoming volunteer organizing committees. According to YouGov polling in the days after the killing of Good, only 28% of U.S. adult citizens thought the shooting was justified.

The narrow path forward out of fascism will take coordination and an unbreakable determination to avoid escalation to violence. That only would serve the interests of accelerationists like Trump and Stephen Miller, who would see the world burn to rule over the ashes.

There exists a delicate balance between checking Trump and showing resolve, and not giving a pretext for the activation of regular troops under the Insurrection Act. Trump either looks up to you or down at you; there is no equality in negotiation.

A large coalition, including Faith in Minnesota, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, Unidos, and partners are organizing a general strike, rally, and march in Minneapolis on Friday. We are allied against the occupation.

Building a coalition requires working together with folks with whom we may disagree on many things. It’s more important in the current environment that we all agree immigrants are our neighbors, that we all have humanity and dignity, that we are going to stand up for each other, and that we support civil liberties and human rights more broadly.

Courage takes patience to build up a tolerance for danger. The broader the coalition of allies, the more people who can gain courage, both on the streets and in the halls of power. Many look forward to Democratic leaders like U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer mustering the courage to see reality as many already do, but they are not going to get to where we need to go without added momentum.

You can join demonstrations on Friday and in the days and weeks and months ahead. Find food shelves to drop off supplies to. Volunteers are needed to drive groceries to families in hiding. There are also local groups organizing at-home laundromats. If you are trained and willing to take on much greater risk, neighborhood watch is critical. Being an observer — including recording incidents and blowing whistles — can help deescalate and prevent violence. Evidence of unconstitutional violence will have its day in court.

Thank you to neighbors for showing up for fellow neighbors. We are all human.

The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell..