Late-night protests in the Minneapolis metro area turned hotel parking lots into noisy stages as demonstrators used live music and chants to disrupt the sleep of federal immigration officers believed to be staying there. Organizers said the “noise demonstrations” aimed to pressure hotels to stop hosting ICE and Border Patrol agents and to oppose ongoing immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
Late-Night Protests Turn Hotels Into Stages
Between midnight and 2 a.m. on a recent Friday, protesters moved across the Minneapolis metro area, targeting hotels believed to house ICE and Border Patrol agents. The stops included SpringHill Suites in St. Louis Park, Sheraton Minneapolis West in Minnetonka, and Home2 Suites in Plymouth.
At each location, demonstrators unloaded guitars, drums, amplifiers, and portable speakers onto sidewalks and parking lots. They also brought handmade signs reading “ICE OUT,” whistles, pots, pans, and megaphones. A makeshift rock band played loud covers of “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister, combining the music with anti-ICE chants. The noise echoed into hotel rooms, waking guests and drawing attention to the protests.
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Each stop lasted under 40 minutes before protesters packed up and moved to the next hotel. Organizers said the moving approach allowed them to reach multiple sites without long standoffs.
Hotel guests reacted in different ways: some closed shades, while others called hotel staff or local police to complain. Despite the disruption, there were no reported confrontations between protesters and federal officers. The events were part of a broader effort by activists to pressure hotels not to host ICE agents while raising public awareness about immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
Organizers Say Noise Is a Tool of Collective Power
Minneapolis musician Daisy Forester, who played bass during the protests, said the events were more than just music. She explained they were meant to show what people can do when they raise their voices together and to send a message to both federal agencies and the businesses that host them.
Organizers called the gatherings “noise demonstrations,” a tactic used repeatedly since ICE launched “Operation Metro Surge” in December. Since then, groups of dozens to hundreds have stood outside hotels during cold winter nights, using drums, whistles, shouting, and live music to make their presence known.
Supporters have also protested in other ways. Some have made and canceled hotel reservations at the last minute, while others posted negative reviews on travel sites. These actions aim to pressure hotels both financially and publicly.
Labor groups have raised concerns as well. The local hospitality union, Unite Here!, said hotels allowing ICE agents to stay create fear among staff who aren’t trained or paid to handle law enforcement situations. One protester, Esther, who traveled from Florida, said she joined out of a sense of shared responsibility and mutual aid, even without local ties.
Police Response and Rising Tensions Around ICE Operations in Minneapolis
During Friday’s demonstrations, St. Louis Park police were the only local law enforcement to respond. Hotel guests called officers to report the noise. They warned that citations might be issued if it continued. Protesters dispersed shortly afterward. Officers did not issue any citations. This keeps it simple and easy to read for news audiences.
None of the hotels involved commented publicly on the protests or confirmed whether federal agents were staying on their properties. The broader protest movement has sometimes escalated, including a tense demonstration last week at Home2 Suites on University Avenue in Minneapolis. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, federal agents used tear gas after some participants damaged property, before local police arrived.
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The protests followed the killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents the previous day, an incident that heightened anger and fear among activists. Caleb Batts, spokesperson for Sunrise Movement Twin Cities, which organized the Friday events, said the group focuses on peaceful, disciplined civil disobedience to oppose what organizers view as aggressive federal immigration enforcement.
Friday’s multi-location, band-led noise demonstrations marked a shift in style. Protesters used speed, coordination, and sound to draw attention, leaving behind complaints from guests and unanswered questions for hotel operators. Minnesota Reformer, which reported the events, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that maintains editorial independence. No official responses came from ICE, Border Patrol, or the hotels.