Minneapolis march shows solidarity with Honduran asylum seekers

Minneapolis, MN – As national attention has focused on the caravan of Central American refugees winding its way through Mexico towards the U.S.-Mexico border, on November 30 more than 250 immigrants and human rights activists in Minnesota rallied in support of the caravan.

An ad hoc coalition called Minnesota Caravan Solidarity organized the action, with participation from a dozen local organizations including Minnesota Hands Off Honduras, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, Immigrant Movement for Justice, Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, COPAL MN, Haiti Justice Committee of Minnesota, Morena Minnesota, Women’s March Minnesota, Anti-War Committee, Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, Women Against Military Madness, Minnesota Cuba Committee, and Puerto Ricans in Minnesota Committee.

The rally in front of the U.S. courthouse featured Honduran women sharing their stories as well as speakers highlighting how U.S. economic and military policy in Central America has created the conditions for the migration we’re seeing now.

The protesters marched through downtown Minneapolis at rush hour to a nearby Wells Fargo building to highlight that company’s complicity in for-profit detention centers that are being used to jail migrants.

A statement from organizers said, “U.S. foreign policy created many of the economic and political crises that our brothers and sisters from Honduras and Central America are desperate to escape. Migration has been taking place throughout human history, and the migrants now coming to the United States are seeking a better life for their families. We reject Trump’s vilification of immigrants as dangerous rapists and murderers. We want all migrants to know that we welcome them with open arms to our community. We call on Minnesotans to join us as we declare: ‘Refugees are welcome here! No troops at the border! No human being is illegal!’”

The Minneapolis protest took place during a national week of action initiated by the Legalization for All Network to support the caravan of asylum-seekers from Central America. Actions have taken place around the country.