Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette on what best guides authorities and the population through this moment.
More from Guest Commentary
Opinion | Anti-ICE church protest gives Trump a win
Invading churches and obstructing law enforcement is more likely to harden public opinion and expand support for immigration enforcement.
January 20, 2026
Opinion | Minnesota needs an off-ramp before it’s too late
Rhetoric is hardening on all sides, and with every passing day the probability of a single bad decision — by a protester, federal agent or local authority — rises.
January 20, 2026
Opinion | Stand united, Minnesota, and keep the focus on the source of the harm
We do it too often — turn on ourselves and let Donald Trump slip out of the center of the story.
January 19, 2026
Opinion | MLK didn’t hesitate to protest. Minnesotans shouldn’t either.
MLK Day was never meant to be comfortable. It was meant to remind us that progress comes when people stop complying with injustice.
January 19, 2026
Opinion | On MLK Day, ‘Be Good’ isn’t a slogan; it’s a moral obligation
It is about showing up — repeatedly — grounded in history, guided by conscience and unwilling to outsource responsibility to symbols, slogans or someone else’s courage.
January 18, 2026
Opinion | Minnesotans seem to be done playing ‘Minnesota Nice’
We appear to be developing a new state ethos that was encapsulated by the mayor of Minneapolis’ recent use of the F-bomb to denounce ICE.
January 18, 2026
Paul Douglas: My eyes are wide open to Boundary Waters threats
Pending legislation would turn a federal “no” on mining in the Boundary Waters into a congressional “proceed.”
January 18, 2026
Opinion | White parents, are we doing enough?
Is there more can we do beyond sidewalk patrols, GoFundMe efforts and whistles to make sure our children’s day care teachers stay safe from ICE?
January 17, 2026
Opinion | It’s OK to change what you support
Let’s run through this at low stakes.
January 16, 2026
Opinion | The crisis of the dinner plate
Why nutrition science is losing public trust.
January 16, 2026
Opinion | Hospitals are no place for ICE enforcement
Medical centers have a role in helping to address federal agents’ presence, and protecting the safety of their patients.
January 16, 2026
Opinion | Why Greenland isn’t a Manhattan real estate deal
Yes, it has resources and strategic value. But it isn’t simply up for grabs.
January 15, 2026
