A planned visit by Vice President JD Vance to a new data center construction site near Harwood, North Dakota, prompted an unexpected protest on Monday, January 12, 2024. However, it was later revealed that the visitor was actually Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the U.S. Secretary of Labor, who is currently on a nationwide tour known as the America At Work Tour.
The protest, organized by Indivisible Fargo-Moorhead, occurred near the site of the $3 billion artificial intelligence data center being developed by Applied Digital. Approximately 20 demonstrators gathered at a gravel road intersection, chanting “JD Vance has got to go” and holding signs condemning fascism. The mobilization took place quickly after members learned of the supposed visit during the noon hour.
According to Blake Hankey, the Mayor of Harwood, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer arrived at the Fargo Jet Center on the morning of the protest. A convoy of black limousines was observed departing the jet center towards the data center site. Despite the misidentification of the visitor, the protestors remained focused on their opposition to various federal policies, particularly actions taken by the Trump administration.
The demonstration was partly sparked by the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by an ICE officer. Michael Southam, co-founder of FM Volunteers for Ukraine, attended the protest to express solidarity with those affected by ICE detentions. He noted that some Ukrainians in the Twin Cities with pending asylum cases were being detained, despite their legal status.
The atmosphere surrounding the protest was tense, with many community members expressing fear of potential ICE actions. “Some people are scared to leave their homes. Others are really afraid that ICE will break into their homes or into their apartments,” Southam stated, underscoring the anxiety felt within immigrant communities.
Lyn Dockter-Pinnick, a key organizer from Indivisible Fargo-Moorhead, emphasized that the protest was aimed at highlighting the negative consequences of federal immigration enforcement. She stated, “No good comes from that kind of occupation. No good comes from using military force against civilians in a peaceful time.” The protestors voiced their concerns over ICE operations and U.S. military actions abroad, including strikes against Venezuela.
Dockter-Pinnick criticized the portrayal of immigrants as criminals, referencing her father’s experiences as a WWII veteran. “We’re really, really concerned for our neighbors and we’re really, really concerned about what is happening in our country,” she remarked, calling for a more compassionate approach to immigration policy.
The protest on January 12 serves as a reflection of ongoing tensions regarding immigration enforcement in the United States, as communities grapple with the implications of federal actions on their lives.
