CGIL Condemns Violence and repression in Minnesota, Expresses Solidarity with US Workers and Unions
The General Assembly of the Italian General Confederation of Labor (CGIL) has issued a strong condemnation of recent events in Minnesota, United States, expressing profound shock and indignation at the actions of Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE).A general strike and mass demonstration on January 23, 2026, highlighted concerns over repression and violence perpetrated by the agency.
The CGIL statement specifically mourns the deaths of Renee Good, a poet, and Alex Pretti, a healthcare worker, both of whom were unarmed when fatally shot while defending a woman during an arrest. The detention of minor Liam Conejo Ramos has also been cited as a grave violation of human rights. The assembly views these incidents as a direct assault on basic freedoms, including the right to peaceful protest and freedom of association.
The CGIL asserts that ICE, especially under the Trump governance, has operated as a force of repression, instilling fear through aggressive raids and intimidation tactics.These actions have disproportionately targeted workers, migrants, families, and children, extending even into workplaces and educational institutions. The institution also voiced solidarity with a RAI (Italian public broadcasting) crew that experienced threats and intimidation while reporting in Minnesota, deeming any potential presence of ICE officials at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy as a detrimental affront to democratic principles.
This situation is viewed as a significant detriment to the principles of fair labor and democratic society.The CGIL recognizes the Minnesota mobilization as a powerful example of civil and trade union resistance against what it describes as an authoritarian trend fueled by fear, racism, and repression.
The CGIL has pledged its full support to the families of the victims,the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO),and all individuals defending fundamental rights. the organization commits to strengthening its relationships with US trade unions and the broader international labor movement, offering support for ongoing mobilizations and advocating for the rights of migrants, minors, and the freedom to organize and protest globally.
Keywords: CGIL, ICE, Minnesota, Immigration, Human Rights, AFL-CIO, trade Unions, Protest, Repression, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Liam Conejo Ramos, Italian General confederation of Labour, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Workers Rights, Migrant Rights, Authoritarianism.