The Inter Faculty Organization (IFO), representing faculty at seven Minnesota State universities, is urging members to observe a statewide Day of Truth and Freedom on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in response to a federal immigration enforcement operation and the recent killing of Renee Nicole Good. The union asks faculty to take a personal day or host teach-ins if classes continue, suggesting discussions on civil liberties, immigration policy, and community safety. As part of the action, members are asked to refrain from shopping that day as an economic "blackout." Fox News Digital sought comment from both the IFO and ICE.
Minnesota Faculty Urge Jan. 23 'Economic Blackout' and Day Off to Protest ICE Operation
Renee Nicole Good moments before she was shot and killed by a federal agent in Minneapolis.(Fox News)
An email obtained by Fox News Digital from the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) — the union representing faculty at the seven Minnesota State universities — is urging members to participate in an economic "blackout" to protest a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis this month.
The IFO says the call to action responds to what it describes as "the recent escalation of federal immigration enforcement presence under 'Operation Metro Surge'" and the "tragic killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good," which the email says have created "an environment of fear and instability that impacts us all."
The union is also urging members to refrain from shopping on Jan. 23 as part of the economic blackout.
The email notes that "a broad coalition of Minnesota faith leaders, labor unions, and community organizations has called for a statewide Day of Truth and Freedom on Friday, January 23, 2026." The union asks members to take a personal day on Jan. 23 and to refrain from work and campus activities as a show of solidarity.
For faculty who cannot cancel or reschedule classes, the IFO recommends hosting a "teach-in." The message suggests facilitating discussions on topics such as civil liberties, the history of labor movements, immigration policy, the U.S. Constitution, and community safety.
The union is asking participants of the "Day of Truth and Freedom" to take a personal day and not go to work and not go to school.
The union is also urging members to observe an economic blackout by refraining from making purchases on Friday, Jan. 23, as part of the protest campaign.
"You have the power to show that Minnesota’s faculty stand on the side of truth, justice, and community safety. When our neighbors are under attack, labor stands up," the IFO email reads.
ICE has faced increased scrutiny since the shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week. The IFO frames the boycott and the Day of Truth and Freedom as ways for faculty to join broader community organizing and express opposition to the federal operation.
Fox News Digital reached out to the IFO and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment.
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