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This holiday season, we ask you to take action. Shop at immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis: buy groceries, share a meal, purchase gifts, and spend time in our vibrant commercial corridors.
Your presence matters. Your support matters. We can help our immigrant neighbors and keep our communities strong during this difficult time.
With the increase in federal immigration enforcement actions in our community, we are seeing unspeakably traumatic and life-changing events; families are being torn apart, neighbors are being disappeared, and communities are being left to pick up the pieces.
Our office has been on the ground in our wards talking with residents and community members, working to connect impacted families with resources. One of the things we hear repeatedly is that our local businesses are facing a significant strain and chilling effect from the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations. Our local immigrant-owned businesses are dealing with employees and coworkers in fear of being abducted, and their main clientele is so scared to leave their homes. Some local immigrant-owned businesses have seen upwards of an 80% decrease in customers.
Together, we can stand up for our immigrant neighbors, and with your support, we can show our local immigrant-owned businesses that we know they make our city great. The diversity of our commercial corridors is the fabric of who we are as a city; they make Minneapolis vibrant and welcoming. We are resilient and rich in culture, art, and shared community because of them.
As we approach this holiday season, time off from work and school, visits from family and friends, and just some time to relax, please join us in supporting our immigrant neighbors. You can do so by shopping at the many wonderful immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis. We have grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, and more along these corridors that are a perfect place for us to spend time as we gather with loved ones and neighbors. This is one impactful way we can support each other during these hard times.
Signed by proud Immigrant and children of immigrant council members,
Aisha Chughtai – Minneapolis Council Vice-President
Jason Chavez – Minneapolis Ward 9 Council Member
Aurin Chowdhury – Minneapolis Ward 12 Council Member
Jamal Osman – Minneapolis Ward 6 Council Member
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