U.S. activists plan second protest to demand federal agents leave Minnesota

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Community organizers and labor groups in the United States are preparing for a second National Day of Action on Saturday to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents from the state of Minnesota.

The planned mobilization follows a massive protest on Jan. 23.

According to a statement posted by the 50501 Movement, the upcoming event has been endorsed by hundreds of groups across the country.

Organizers are demanding that the U.S. Congress freeze federal funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They are also seeking accountability for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Good was a community observer killed on Jan. 7, and Pretti was an intensive care unit nurse fatally shot on Jan. 24.

"Every day, ICE, Border Patrol and other enforcers of Trump's racist agenda are going into our communities to kidnap our neighbors and sow fear. It is time for us to all stand up together in a nationwide shutdown and say enough is enough," the statement read.

The first day of action on Jan. 23 saw an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 people march through downtown Minneapolis. This occurred despite temperatures reaching minus 23 degrees Celsius, with a windchill of minus 40 degrees. Local media reports noted that over 700 small businesses closed their doors to support the strike.