A walkout and two protests slated for Friday and Saturday in Astoria

Published 6:43 pm Thursday, January 29, 2026

Silhouetted in the afternoon sun, protesters stand on the sidewalk of Highway 101 to protest ICE's actions in Minnesota. (Jay Corella / The Astorian)

By ABIGAIL JABLON

The Astorian

In the aftermath of violent ICE interactions in Minnesota over the last few weeks, local organizers have pulled together a walkout and two protests for Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, Jan. 30, organizers are encouraging residents to leave work and school at noon in solidarity with Minnesota’s statewide walkout, which now has support nationwide. Participants in Astoria will then gather at 17th and Marine for a protest.

“Importantly, we are following the lead of activists and organizations out of Minneapolis,” said the event’s organizer, who requested anonymity. “When we saw the call for a general strike in solidarity, we were glad to act as ICE is already here and impacting our own local communities. Local community response actually inspired the noon protest at 17th and Marine. Initially, we were just distributing information about the general strike. To this, people began asking if there would also be a protest. Having a protest just makes sense. It increases visibility.”

Saturday’s protest, organized by the national group, 50501, is slated at 11 a.m., and will also be at 17th and Marine. The 50501 group is also encouraging people to participate in the walkout on Friday. Word of these events continues to spread across social media.

In the tradition of worker strikes and consumer boycotts, community members can find strength from each other, organizers said.

“I feel that one of the greatest values of community action is building a sense of solidarity, that we are indeed not alone in our fears and concerns. Doing so, to my mind, is the greatest way to recharge our communal energy to continue identifying and fighting back against apparent wrongs,” said the Friday event’s organizer. “It’s easy, when facing such seemingly impossible challenges, to want to isolate and to want to be more concerned with self than the whole. Walk outs and demonstrations do more than make a point. They build community.”